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 )

Don't be like the deer caught in the headlights!

Have you ever seen what happens to a "deer caught in the headlights"? It is not pretty.

With all that is going on with the economy, it is easy to see why people get in that "deer in the headlights" mode with their charitable giving, but that is not what those of faith are called to do.

With the generous donations that The Arc of Katy received this past year, we were able to increase the enrollment of our Adult Day Activity Camp by 50% and expand the number of days of our program from three to four. The Arc of Katy monthly socials have become so popular and well attended, that we had to move them to a larger facility! Our Arc participants have given back to the community as well by participating in Katy Area Chamber events, maintaining some of the flowerbeds in downtown Katy, and by serving others in need like the residents of a local nursing home.

Our goal for the upcoming year is to find a permanent location for our Adult Day Activity Camp. We have been so fortunate to have the Katy Family YMCA as partners, because without them we would not have a day camp at all. Because of the success of the program, however, we are outgrowing the facility that the YMCA so generously allows us to use.

Don't get caught staring into the headlights! Now is the time to make a move, take a stand, make a difference in the lives of our Arc of Katy participants!

Won't you join me in "priming the pump" so to speak, by becoming a regular monthly donor to The Arc of Katy?

With the support of community members like YOU, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of our Arc participants.

To make a donation to The Arc of Katy by clicking on the "Donate" button on the right hand side of this blog page, or go to http://www.thearcofkaty.org/ and click on the "donations" button at the top of the page, or you can mail your donation directly to The Arc of Katy, P.O. Box 6133, Katy, Texas 77491.

We look forward to the continued success of The Arc of Katy and its dedication to serving those with developmental and intellectual disabilities in the Katy area community.

Be blessed by being a blessing!

Amy

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."

2 Corinthians 9:8

Remember that being is more important than getting.

“If you want peace of mind, remember that being is more important than getting. It is not what you have in life, it’s what you are. It is not the accumulation of things, but the acquisition of character.” ~ Robert H. Schuller

In our rushed society, we sometimes lose our focus and mistakenly equate our personal success as well as the success of others with house size and location, the type of car one drives, or what exotic vacation we’ve been on, and so on. Robert Schuller’s statement above reminds me of several experiences I have had with Arc of Katy “kids” that have changed me forever for the better and have helped me to realize that being is more important than getting.

I think of a few years ago when Austin H. stood at the door of the Katy Social Services building and cheerfully greeted guests that came to congratulate his grandmother for being Katy Senior Citizen of the Year. Austin was so personable! He knew everyone by name, shook their hand or hugged their neck, greeted them with a smile and thanked them for coming to his grandmother’s celebration. I thought then; “I want to be more like him!”

Then there is Lisa S., a former student of mine from years past who has taken the time to call and wish me a happy birthday each year for the past 20 years or so. Each time I receive that cheerful birthday greeting I think; “I want to be more like her!”

Then there is Susan B. who recently performed in the Arc’s Summer Day Camp talent show titled; “Let Us Entertain You”. As Susan danced so elegantly across the stage to beautiful classical music, she showed no sign of fear…only her passion for dancing and music. As tears of joy streamed down my face I thought; “I want to be passionate about what I believe in, I want to be more like her!”
Each time I am around our Arc of Katy “kids”, some of who are over 60 years old, I am filled with gratitude for the things that they have taught me. They have true wealth because they are people of great character. I want to be more like them!
Amy

To find out more about The Arc of Katy, please visit our website:

www.thearcofkaty.org .

News from The Arc of Katy - latest newsletter

Check out our latest newsletter to catch up on the scoop! Click here to read newsletter.
Amy

Aren't you glad we're Friends?

In reflecting about the recent golf tournament benefitting The Arc of Katy, I was once again reminded of the wonderful friendships that have been established by those that have been envolved with The Arc of Katy through the years. Some friendships have turned into 20 year friendships and others are just beginning. God is good!
Get involved, you won't regret it!

I hope you enjoy this little video showing a few of The Arc of Katy's activities from this past year.
Amy

2009 Golf Classic Photos

The Arc of Katy thanks all the many people who made this week's Golf Classic a great success!!!
Please enjoy the photos:

What have you done today to make you feel proud?

With one of The Arc of Katy's two major fundraisers just around the corner, I thought it worth reminding all of us that The Arc of Katy's programs are possible due to the donations of people like you and me.

This summer, great things are happening at the Arc's Summer Day Camp. Campers are enjoying learning through music, rhythm, and dance as well as through sports, art, and exercise. When I go, I see smiles on faces and everyone having a great time. It is truly a blessed program.

In addition to the very successful Day Camp, another group is forming for individuals with specialized needs. This is also exciting as it means that The Arc of Katy is growing to meet the needs of more individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Katy area.

Please take this time to consider how you can help The Arc of Katy. Because of people like you, great things can happen.

The Consolidated Communications~Arc of Katy 2009 Golf Classic is coming up on July 20th, 2009. Please consider participating,volunteering, or making a donation of some kind. For more information please click here.