Where does your money go?

The Arc of Katy's mission is to create opportunities for all children and adults with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities that enable each person to be a participating and respected member of our community. Current activities include educational programs for families, monthly socials, and the Adult Activity Day Program. Our current dreams include after school day care, respite care and increasing the types and range of disabilities that can attend the Day Program.

Our heartfelt appreciation goes to the Katy Community for its past generosity which has allowed us to expand our Day Program from 8 participants in 2005 to 30 this year. This year's enrollment is a 50% increase over last year's. We are very excited about the rapid growth we are experiencing, but are even more excited about the endless possibilities the future holds.

Our Day Program provides our participants meaningful activities in a safe environment, gives them the chance to improve their social and communication skills, and allows them to contribute back to the community. They have maintained flowerbeds in downtown Katy, decorated a local restaurant for the Christmas holiday, made toiletry bags for the residents of Katyville Nursing Home, packed goodie bags, folded church bulletins, labeled and stamped mail outs and entertained or volunteered at various community events.

This year we must locate a permanent Arc of Katy facility with adequate space for all our programs including the Day Program. We have been extremely blessed to have the use of the YMCA Camp Cinco over the past several years as well as Living Word Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kingsland Baptist Church, Memorial Lutheran Church and William's Elementary in Katy ISD. The inconsistent availability of these facilities, the need for additional programs, and the increase in our members dictate that we find a permanent facility. Each year we move furniture, sports equipment, computers, games and supplies from location to location a minimum of 10 times. Rather than spend our time moving, we want our members to enjoy additional days in our programs.

We invite you to come meet us and visit. Let us show you how important our programs are to our "kids". Call us at 832-754-9802 and we will make arrangements for you to visit.

Ways that you can help are:

1. Make a one time or monthly donation to The Arc of Katy by clicking on the donate button in the right hand column of this page.

2. Volunteer! Sign up for activities or duties that will help The Arc of Katy. Contact Pam Chapman ( hspschapman@aol.com ) if you are interested in volunteering your time or talent.

3. Attend or contribute to our upcoming "Together We Can!" ~ Gala Event that will be held in February. Contact Pam Chapman or Suzanne Winkler for more information. (hspschapman@aol.com or s.d.winkler@earthlink.net )

The Best Time of My Life

It is always so great to hear from the young adults that attend The Arc of Katy's Day Camp. I am so pleased to share a blog entry from Day Camp participant Jonathan Johnson, in his own words:


I love coming to Day Camp by the Katy YMCA. I love it when we go to Java Joz. I love bingo. I am hoping one of the prizes will be a movie with the actor Dylan McDermott, who was born in Waterbury, CT. One I really want is the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street, and another is Home for the Holidays, a Jody Foster movie with Dylan in it. I get so excited when it comes time to play bingo. I hope one of the prizes will be a movie with Dylan McDermott. I also like going out to eat, like at Fazoli’s. I like going to the dances. I see some of the attendants of the YMCA’s Day Camp at these dances. I like celebrating birthdays at Day Camp. We eat cake! We also have times when people want to celebrate their birthdays at Times Square Entertainment. I enjoy doing special things, cooking special meals, and having lots of fun in the sun! Remember Terry Jack’s “Seasons in the Sun”? I really enjoy getting the apartment for one week. I have my own space I can retreat to and think about 1994! We say prayers at Day Camp before eating lunch. I really like the Johnny Appleseed prayer. I really like going to the HEB grocery store off of 99 (I think it is 99). We play music in the gym sometimes. One CD I really liked had songs by the Backstreet Boys, N’SYNC, and others. I would like to hear that CD again sometime. I like snack time a lot. I can nourish my special interests at Day Camp, one being Asia. I really enjoy computer time. There is one game I really like that is where the Veggies on Veggie Tales go to a carnival. I wonder where we’ll eat out in March 2009? Other benefits of coming to Day Camp include getting exercise. I am looking forward to Easter at Day Camp. I am looking forward to playing bingo again this week, I think. I believe I am in the best time of my life right now. I have to say that 2009 is a great year so far and counting! I know 2010 will be even better! My name is Jonathan Johnson. I have been attending the [Arc of Katy] Day Program at YMCA’s Day Camp since 2008. I now attend day camp 3 days out of the week. I am typing this blog on March 10 and 11, 2009. I, as of March 2009, attend Day Program 3 days a week, not 8 days a week, like the old Beatles song. I also like music on Wednesdays. One song we do that I really like is “5-Day Blues.” Others are “Beans in my Ears” and “Aiken Drum,” a song about a man that lives in the moon that is made of food. I really like music a lot and it is what I look foreward to on Wednesdays! Tomorrow, we will play bingo and I am really looking forward to it! Bye, 4NOW! But I will be back.

World Down Syndrome Day

Thought this was a great video to watch on this World Down Syndrome Day! :)

I think you will also enjoy the video below.

Check back for an upcoming post from a participant in The Arc of Katy's Adult Day Camp.....coming soon!

Also, to become a follower of Happenings from The Arc of Katy, look for the link to join on the right hand side of this page.

Enjoy your Sunday tomorrow!

Blessings,

Amy

2009 Mardi Gras Gala benefitting Arc of Katy

Well, what can I say... A great time was had by all who attended The Club at Falcon Point's 3rd annual Charity Gala...The Arc of Katy Mardi Gras Gala. Special thanks to Melissa Spalding from Fox Channel 26 news for being there and speaking on behalf of The Arc of Katy! The Mardi Gras Gala was the place to be! It was so fun to see so many happy faces. If you missed it, it is a must for next year! I will write more later and post more pictures, but wanted to at least post what I have so far. Thanks to all who came and supported The Arc of Katy last night! Your support and your prayers on behalf of The Arc mean so much to us! I think you could tell from the smiles on the Arc "kids" faces, that your support means a lot to them as well.

By participating in this event, I hope you realize that you are planting seeds for the future, and the future looks bright! As Rhonda Johnstone said last night, "When God and the Katy Community come together for something good.... great things happen!

Will write more soon!

Amy

All I Ever Needed to Know

We are so excited about our upcoming Mardi Gras Gala coming up on February 2oth! Click here to find out more!

All I Ever Needed to Know

As a teacher of students with developmental and intellectual disabilities, I always strive to find a way to teach important skills and ideas in a way that is easy to understand and fun to learn. Not only is it challenging, but it is also very rewarding.

How great it is to see a young mind grow and achieve, no matter how large or small the success. I am constantly humbled, however, when I realize that many of life’s greatest lessons I have learned from my students. I am talking about life lessons; about love, respect, compassion, joy, forgiveness, self-discipline, and faith, to name a few. One such lesson was taught to me by a most gracious and patient teacher, my student Gabriel.

Gabriel is a happy-go-lucky young man, always in a good mood and always willing to help others. One day as I was teaching my class, I told one of my students to put their backpack out of the way of others who were coming into our class…I guess I never realized that my instructions must have sounded more like orders, but after making the request, I heard a soft quiet voice say; “pleeease” from the back of our small classroom. It was Gabriel, and instantly I knew he was right. I should have said: “please” when asking the other student to retrieve their backpack. I quickly corrected my mistake and restated my request adding the word “please”. Instantly, Gabriel flashed a big smile in my direction.

Over the course of the next week (or two), Gabriel patiently reminded me to say: “please” when I was making requests of others. Each time I acknowledged that he was right, apologized to the class and quickly corrected my mistake while thinking to myself; "When will I learn?!"

Then one day, while making a request of a student in class, I remembered to precede the request with the word “please”. As soon as I had made the request, I looked at Gabriel; he smiled and triumphantly gave me the thumbs up.
My heart was warmed as I realized I had indeed learned a very important lesson; one that I have not forgotten.

Blessings,

Amy Campbell

P.S. Gabriel is a member of The Arc of Katy and holds down 2 jobs in our local community.

“To teach is to learn twice” ~ Joseph Joubert ~ French moralist and essayist

Mardi Gras Gala coming up! February 20th!

The Club at Falcon Point's 3rd Annual Charity Gala "Mardi Gras" benefiting The Arc of Katy will be February 20, 2009 at seven o'clock in the evening. I hope you will take time out of your busy week to make this event a priority. You will not be disappointed!

The event will feature Cocktail Hour~Exquisite Cuisine~Entertainment~ Premier Reserved Seating and a Silent Auction. Dress will be Festive Attire.

Individual tickets are $100.00

Green Sponsor ~$500.00 includes 2 tickets; Company Name in Program; 1 Round of Golf for 4 Players at the Club at Falcon Point; Sponsorship of 1 Arc Participant

Purple Sponsor ~ $750.00 includes 4 tickets; Company Name on Sponsor Board & Program; 1 Round of Golf for 4 Players at the Club at Falcon Point; Sponsorship of 1 Arc Participant

Gold Sponsor ~ $1,000.00 includes table for 8; Company Name on Sponsor Board & Program; Red / White Wine on table; 2 Rounds of Golf for 4 Players at the Club at Falcon Point; Sponsorship of 2 Arc Participants

To purchase tickets or sponsorships, please call: The Club at Falcon Point, (281) 392-7888 or e-mail Lisa Bechtold - lisa.bechtold@ourclub.com

Address for The Club at Falcon Point:

24503 Falcon Point Drive
Katy, Texas 77493

Arc of Katy - Camper's point of view

Contributing to the blog today is Sarah Fugitt, a wonderful young lady and high school junior who was a "camper" in the Arc of Katy Day Camp this past summer.

In her own words:

Hi my name is Sarah. The Arc of Katy means a lot to me. Last summer was my first time at the Arc. Mrs. Rosemary is very nice to all of the kids. It is very fun and you get to met people with other disabilities there too. You get to play games and during the summer time we got to go to the garden and water the plants. There are also volunteers that help out too. Everyone helps out with things like whenever it’s time to go home we have to clean out the room and move stuff into another room. This summer is going to be my second time there at the Arc. It’s a safe place to be at because when you are upset or just need to chill out, they will let anyone go into a safe area and just relax. We also go to a gym and jog ten laps to get our exercise and maybe do some basketball too. It was very hard and scary for me at first, but when I saw a few of the kids in my school there, I was fine. I go to Taylor High School by the way. There are lots of kids from different high schools and there were people who are all ready out of high school. Now I know a lot of people there. They do dances and things like that during the school year. The volunteers are great. They get to help us or play with us. If no one knows Mrs. Jennings, she is like the sweetest and the kindest person you would have ever known.


Sarah fugitt

Thank you Sarah for your comments! AC

New Years Dance

Fun was had by all last night as the Arc of Katy celebrated the New Year with the National Charity League at the Living Word Lutheran Church in Katy. Each month during the school year, the National Charity League sponsors and volunteers with The Arc of Katy to provide dances, bingo nights and all out fun times for our Arc of Katy "kids". Actually, our Arc of Katy"kids" are anywhere from high school age to age 60. Special thanks to the Living Word Lutheran Church for always providing the space for these fun events!
Now that's community at work! :)

Check out the photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thearcofkaty/?saved=1

AC

Community - You'll love Katy

It has always been a joy to live and work in Katy. As part of The Arc of Katy I am always amazed and pleased to see how our Katy community works together to support a need in the community. So many people come together to support The Arc of Katy and we are truly so very appreciative. We are thankful and blessed by people like Ann Hodge and the Katy Chamber of Commerce, The Katy Family YMCA, the National Charity League, Katy ArtReach, Consolidated Communications, The Club at Falcon Point, The Katy Rotary Club, Lori Gunn and Katy Lifestyles and Homes magazine. Without the Good Lord and the caring hearts of the people like those listed above, we would not be where we are today. The Arc of Katy is growing because the need is growing, but we would not be able to provide such opportunities for our citizens with developmental and intellectual disabilities if it weren't for people and groups like the ones I just mentioned. I know that I have most likely left someone off the list that deserves to be mentioned, so I will add them in another post. I hope that if you have not seen our Arc of Katy day camp in action, that you will make time for a visit. It is a wonderful top-notch program and is providing meaningful activities 4 days a week for our Katy citizens with developmental and intellectual disabilities. If you would like to make a visit, call our Executive Director, Rhonda Johnstone and make an appointment. Her number is: 832-754-9802.
Today is a beautiful day in Katy, get out there and make the best of it! :)
AC

Mardi Gras Gala coming up

Hi and welcome to the new blog from and for The Arc of Katy.

Currently we are getting ready for our second annual Mardi Gras Gala coming up in Feburary 20, 2009. This is such a fun event. Last year we had a blast and we plan for it to be even better this year!

We need help collecting silent auction items and also the decorating/planning committee could use some extra volunteers. Of course any and all monetary donations are always accepted. You can always comment directly to the blog, or contact our Executive Director, Rhonda Johnstone: rjohnstone003@comcast.net .

Also, the mailing address for The Arc of Katy is:

P.O. Box 6133

Katy, Texas 77491

Let us know if you want to help or if you would like us to mail you an invitation to the Gala.

Thanks,
AC