Summer 2008 Newsletter
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Open House July 3rd, 2008

2008 Bowl-a-thon Receives Rave Reviews
Elwyn California’s 10th Annual Bowl-a-thon held on March 8, 2008 at Fountain Bowl raised $45,803 to support programs for people with disabilities. The event was sponsored by Time Warner Cable, Pacifica Foods, The Monkey Hook, and Dan Reardon. Bowling, Silent Auction, Opportunity Prize Drawings, and Casino Style Games provided participants with lots of entertainment.

The Fountain Valley Police Department and Firefighters Association competed and the losing team was challenged to make an additional $500.00 contribution to Elwyn. The Firefighter’s Association was very gracious in their loss and presented the $500 to Elwyn that night.

Event volunteers included Elwyn staff and the Fountain Bowl Ambassadors.

“We are again so very grateful to the community for their support; funds raised will be used to complete the renovation currently underway in our Fountain Valley facility” said Joan McKinney, Executive Director of Elwyn California. See Images on this page

Spring 2008 Newsletter
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Holiday Dinner Dance 2007
The Holiday Dinner Dance was held on Friday, December 7, 2007 and 215 people attended.  This year the event was held at David L. Baker Memorial Golf Course in Fountain Valley. Five Star Entertainment provided the DJ and dancing seemed to be everyone’s favorite part of the night.  Gifts for the event were provided in part by donations from Bonnie Pistey, Donna Bernbrock (Elwyn California board member), Mary Ann Barnett; and the Mandl Family. The table centerpieces were made by participants in the Fountain Valley Adult Day Program. Catering for the event was provided by Chef Phil Carter.

$10,000 donation from the Vons Foundation.
The funds are designated for purchasing new tables and chairs for the work center. The VONS Foundation is funded by VONS employee contributions. Elwyn California's Supported Employment program has seven clients who work for VONS stores in Orange & Los Angeles Counties.

Left to Right: Leisa Weston - Von's Human Resources Representative, Norm Campbell - VONS Store Manager, Mark Sorenson - Elwyn California Board of Managers Chairperson,  Joan McKinney - Elwyn California Executive Director, Geoff Iguchi - VONS Store Manager and Duane Enslow - VONS District Manager.
 

2006-2007 Annual Report Available
The 2006-2007 Annual Report is complete and available online in PDF format. If you would like to have a hard copy mailed to you, please contact Elwyn at 714-557-6313.

Annual Picnic
Elwyn California held its annual picnic at Mile Square Park September 15. The Rotary Club of Fountain Valley donated food and supplies for 200+, and they cheerfully cooked and served. They were assisted by students from Los Amigos High School, who also earned community service units. The students excel in operating the games and provide a lot of one-on-one assistance. It’s a real family affair, with others volunteering as well - care providers, Elwyn staff and family members. Everyone enjoyed all of the activities including: a bean bag toss, a "prize" walk, and three rousing games of BINGO.

Fall 2007 Newsletter
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From the Desk of the Executive Director

I am so very excited to announce that we received approval to go forward with the Fountain Valley building renovations project. I met with the contractor and his representatives on August 23, 2007 to work on some of the unique aspects of our project. A restroom trailer will be placed in our back yard area during the project. The contractor wants to get that installed and have it here for about a week to give our clients time to adjust to it before demolishing the existing restrooms. I was so pleased that he thought about that, shows he is very much concerned about our clients. In addition to the restrooms being gutted and rebuilt, we will be replacing all the skylights; replacing carpeting in all offices; painting the building inside and outside; new landscaping; revamping the front entrance; new sign for the building; and a host of other small detail items. The contractor estimates that the project will take 8 weeks. We’ll be inconvenienced for the duration of the project, but when it’s done we’ll all have a much improved work environment.

A new state budget was passed on 8/22/07, only 54 days late. Our programs did not receive any of the additional funding we requested, but at least we did not receive any funding cuts this year. The state deficit situation will still have to be dealt with throughout 2007-08 and when the legislature addresses the 2008-09 budget.

Joan McKinney

2005-2006 Annual Report Available
The 2005-2006 Annual Report is complete and available online in PDF format. If you would like to have a hard copy mailed to you, please contact Elwyn at 714-557-6313.

This article appeared in the Orange County Business Journal in June, 2007

Elwyn California, a Fountain Valley based non-profit community rehabilitation program, is one of Orange County’s premier social service agencies.  Specializing in employment programs and services for people with disabilities, Elwyn California serves more than 500 individuals each year. Everyone benefits when people with disabilities have meaningful employment. 

Elwyn’s partnerships with the business community are instrumental to meeting the agency’s mission.  In addition to matching workers with disabilities to businesses to fill key jobs, Elwyn also provides contract labor services in their Fountain Valley work facility.  Elwyn has long searched for a partner that will provide long-term, high volume work opportunities for participants in our work services program.  In 2006 that kind of partner found Elwyn while driving by the Fountain Valley work center, which is highly visible from the 405 freeway at the Euclid Street exit.

David Kurrasch, Founder and Managing Member of The Amazing Monkey Hook®, LLC has partnered with Elwyn California as his ‘Go To” source for packaging and shipping of the Monkey Hook product to local and national retail hardware chains. Monkey Hook® retailers include ACE Hardware, The Home Depot and Harbor Freight Tools.  The Amazing Monkey Hook® is truly an ‘amazing’ product that hangs pictures on drywall or sheetrock and requires no tools.  So simple…even a human can do it.  The Monkey Hook® is the 2005 Winner of the prestigious Retailer’s Choice Award at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas.

Workers with disabilities, with support of Elwyn staff, sort, quality-check and package the product. Then, they package it into a variety of case configurations based on retailer’s specifications. Orders for the Monkey Hook® are increasing rapidly and Elwyn’s work force has worked diligently to respond to this increase in demand. 

“Elwyn has been able to scale with us through explosive growth over the past 12 months. That’s been rather remarkable,” says Kurrasch. “The leadership has earned our trust, and we expect to be part of each other’s success for quite some time.” Kurrasch is passionate about providing work opportunities for people with disabilities, especially as a father of an Autistic 15-year-old son. “We get a real value for our business, and get to play a part in putting capable people to work who might not otherwise have the chance.”

Joan McKinney, Elwyn California Executive Director, is delighted with the Elwyn / Monkey Hook® partnership.  “This partnership provides meaningful, consistent work opportunities for our participants, including those with severe disabilities; it is allowing us to enhance our services; a real win-win relationship. We look forward to our continued partnership and future growth with the Amazing Monkey Hook®.”

 For more information about Elwyn California visit the website: www.caelwyn.org and for more information about the Monkey Hook: www.monkeyhook.com.