We just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone again for their donations and support during our Give4Marion Event!  Two of our Ocala CIL Team members, Kevin and Brandon, were able to attend the wrap-up party and they had a blast celebrating with their fellow Marion County non-profit community members!

Here are a few words from Kevin about the event: “It was an honor for Brandon and I to go to the aftermath of Give 4 Marion. We met a lot of people in the non-profit area and sponsors. I can tell you some records were broken last night. We reached our donation goal, and there was more total giving at the end of the night. Great job everyone in Ocala and Gainesville for getting the word out.”

Here are the final outcomes and results for all of the participating non-profits during Give4Marion 2022:  $771,075 Raised, 2,537 Donors and 3,714 Gifts…wow!  Thank you again for supporting Give4Marion and we look forward to raising even more for our consumers with disabilities next year!

Image is a selfie of Brandon (left) and Kevin (right) at the event, sitting in red auditorium chairs during the presentations.

Are you an employed Florida resident with a disability who depends on personal care assistance to help with your daily activities?  If so, you may be eligible for the James Patrick Memorial Work Incentive Personal Assistant Services (JP-PAS) Program!  This program provides monthly stipends to qualified Floridians with disabilities who are employed and require personal assistance services to attain and maintain competitive and integrated employment.

The Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living (FACIL) is always accepting applications for JP-PAS, so if you would like to learn more about eligibility, or know someone who would benefit from this amazing program, please visit http://www.floridacils.org/pca-services-program.

We hope everyone is doing ok after the storm.  Please reach out if assistance is needed, and we hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Image description: Starry sky background with darker blue at the top, fading into lighter blues towards the middle and bottom. At the very bottom is a black border consisting of tree tops in the distance. The top of the image reads: “The JP-PAS Personal Attendant Services and Employment Assistance Program” in large white lettering. In the bottom center of the graphic, there is a picture of a person in a wheelchair, working at a computer on a table in an office, and they are looking at the screen. The FACIL logo is in the center of the graphic on the left side and the JP-PAS logo is in the center on the right side. In between them is the program’s website, written in the above paragraph.

Hurricane Ian is fast approaching, and we hope everyone is staying safe and has their emergency action plans in place and ready to go!  We wanted to let everyone know that the CILNCF will be closed Wednesday, September 28^th through Friday, September 30^th.  However, our team will continue to work remotely and provide CIL services throughout the storm.  We will re-open our doors on Monday, October 3^rd. 

Please check out our Hurricane Preparedness page on our website for any resources you need, as well as information about shelters throughout Alachua County.

Stay safe and please reach out to us if needed by calling 352-378-7474 or emailing cilncf.org@gmail.com

CILNCF Hurricane Preparedness Page:  https://www.cilncf.org/emergency-preparedness/

Alachua County Shelters:  https://alachuacountyready.com/incidents/hurricaneian/shelters

Special Needs Shelter:  Alachua County has now opens a Special Needs Shelter (msn.com)

The fall season is officially here, and we are so excited that in-person classes are BACK at the CIL, so please join us this October!  Please note we are still offering one online class per week for those of you who prefer that option.

Independence Hacks (ILS) classes will be on Tuesdays in Ocala, Wednesdays on Zoom, and Thursdays in Gainesville.  All classes will be from 10:30am – 12pm.

Youth Leadership and Social Group classes are still on Tuesdays from 3:30-5pm.  So far, they will continue to be conducted online until further notice. 

For every online class, the meeting username is 352-378-7474 and the password is cilclass!

Please be sure to share this with anyone who would like to participate, and contact Terri Poucher at 352-378-7474 or tpoucher@cilncf.org with any questions.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

Image Description: Orange background with the CIL logo at the top left and to the right of the logo is a black text heading that reads, “October Calendar”.  Underneath to the left are orange pumpkins with “Tuesdays”, “Wednesdays” and “Thursdays” inside, with black text.  The class titles and meeting times are to the right in black text, next to their corresponding weekday, and the meeting ID and password is written in black text at the bottom of the image.   

Our High School High Tech (HSHT) students are learning how to reduce their stress and practice positivity during challenging situations.  At a recent workshop, they learned how to utilize positive words of affirmation within their daily routines.  Thanks to a wonderful donation, students were also able to receive a cool stress ball of their choice!

ID: Picture of the HSHT workshop at Williston High School, with (from left to right) a Levy County HSHT student, Program Coordinator Drew Dees and another Levy County HSHT student.  They are all holding up various stress balls.

Woohoo that’s a wrap!  #Give4Marion has come to an end, and thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor during the last few minutes, we were able to reach our goal of $1,000!!  We are SO THANKFUL for our donors and to those of you who helped spread the word over the last two days!  Your support helps us make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities and our Employment Program.  On behalf of the CIL staff and consumers, thank you so much!!

https://www.give4marion.org/organizations/center-for-independent-living-of-north-central-florida

ID:  Background consists of a lake, with a grass path and surrounding fence in the foreground, and a weeping willow tree and branches covering the top part of the image.  “Thank You” is at the top right in white text, in blue rectangular shapes.  “For supporting our giving day” is in green text below, and the Give4Marion logo is beneath that.

Wow, we are close to the FINAL HOUR of #Give4Marion!  Thank you so much everyone for donating and supporting us.  Let’s keep the giving going during this last hour with a Matching Moment and a chance to DOUBLE your donation!

At 6pm, all online gifts up to $100 will be matched dollar for dollar by DeLuca Toyota until the $5,000 runs out!  Only gifts made online during the specified moments will be eligible.  Please consider a donation during this time and encourage your contacts to do the same!

Thank you for continuing to spread the word to support the CIL and our Marion County consumers in our Employment Program!

https://www.give4marion.org/organizations/center-for-independent-living-of-north-central-florida

ID:  White background with a hexagon shaped badge in the middle.  Inside the hexagon, is a white background with red border.  The Give4Marion logo is up top and below is white text stating, “Donor” inside a green banner.  The Give4Marion website is below the banner in blue text.

THANK YOU so much to those of you who have donated to the CIL during Give4Marion throughout the last two days!  Please enjoy this video from our Executive Director, Tony Delisle, expressing his thanks for all of your support!

Thank you for continuing to share our page link below during these last few hours.  Let’s finish strong!

https://www.give4marion.org/organizations/center-for-independent-living-of-north-central-florida

Good Morning!  We still have 10 hours left of #Give4Marion!  Thank you so much to those who have donated so far.  Let’s have a great day during these final hours!  Please keep spreading the word!  

You can support the CIL and our Marion County consumers in our Employment Program by clicking on the link below!

https://www.give4marion.org/organizations/center-for-independent-living-of-north-central-florida

ID:  Picture of CIL Ocala Team outside of the Appleton Museum.  Colleen is in the forefront taking a selfie with the CIL team in the background.  From left to right are Kevin, Andrea, Lucinda, Lauren, Amanda and Brandon.

#Give4Marion has been well under way and we couldn’t be more appreciative of our wonderful donors!  Keep spreading the word and keep the excitement going.  We have until tomorrow at 7pm to raise funding that will directly support our Marion County consumers looking for meaningful job opportunities in our Employment Program!

Check out our page link below to learn more and to donate!

https://www.give4marion.org/organizations/center-for-independent-living-of-north-central-florida

ID:  White background with a hexagon shaped badge in the middle.  Inside the hexagon, is a white background with green border.  The Give4Marion logo is up top and below is the white text stating, “I Gave” inside a red banner.  The Give4Marion website is below the banner in blue text.