Grant Proposal
Content
Quest, Inc. of Central Florida 500 E. Colonial Drive Orlando, FL 32803 Phone: 407.218.4300 October 22, 2013 Mr. Leonard E. Williams Application Contact Wayne M Densch Charitable Trust 1603 E Marks Street Orlando, FL 32803-4135 Dear Mr. Williams: Quest builds communities where people with disabilities achieve their goals. Quest, Inc. has been providing comprehensive services to children, teenagers, and adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities since 1962. Quest was founded with the name Life Concepts, Inc. by a group of parents to ensure vocational opportunities for their children with disabilities once formal education from the public school system was complete. Since then, we have grown to include programs that help with every stage of life a person’s life. Quest seeks to achieve its goal of a better quality life for those impacted with these issues. With nearly 166,000 individuals living with a disability in Central Florida alone, Quest has now reached a critical stage in its development. One of our main programs is Camp Thunderbird, which seeks to alleviate the needs of our participants struggling with things like isolation, low self-esteem, hostile environments, and of course, their learning, behavioral, and cognitive issues. Many of those who would like to attend camp cannot afford it, and Quest is in need of aid to make their dreams a reality. We are requesting $10,000 from the Wayne M Densch Charitable Trust in order to provide scholarships so that people of all ages can receive care. Since its inception, Quest has transformed the lives of over 20,000 individuals. . Quest is thankful for these ongoing partnerships, and hopeful that the Wayne M. Densch Foundation will become the newest supporter of Camp Thunderbird. Attached is a copy of our grant proposal. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Angela White-Jones Grants Coordinator, Quest Inc.
Introduction Quest has a simple, but compelling, vision: we strive to empower and nurture individuals with learning disabilities through programs and professional care. According to the Administration of Developmental Disabilities, there are approximately 4.5 million people in the United States struggling similarly. Quest’s wish is to make sure that their disabilities do not shape their future. Turning these philosophies into an actuality can create equal opportunities for thousands of children and adults in Central Florida. Quest was founded in 1962 with the name Life Concepts, Inc. by a group of parents to ensure vocational opportunities for their children with disabilities once formal education from the public school system was complete. Since then, we have grown to include programs that help with every stage of life a person’s life. Our goal is to help people who have been diagnosed with a developmental disability reach their dream, and we do this through our 25 locations throughout Orlando and Tampa. Since its inception, Quest has transformed the lives of over 20,000 individuals. We offer opportunities such as Quest Kids Academy, Florida Autism Center of Excellence (FACE), Adult Day Training Program, Camp Thunderbird and more. Programs such as these give people a chance to live, work, learn and play. Through Quest children and adults can lead the life they always imagined and achieve their full capabilities. Quest has a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, the highest level of accreditation for providing health and human services. Quest is active in the community and state health and disability related issues. We are also members of the Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (FARF). Quest received the Beacon Award for its efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the Central Florida workforce. Quest was also the recipient of Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Award in the Neighborhood Builders category. The Neighborhood Builder Award recognizes and rewards nonprofit organizations that work to improve their local communities. We have the passion to help our clients live a more productive and meaningful life. That’s what makes Quest different in the field of service. With nearly 166,000 individuals impacted by a disability in Central Florida alone, our vision and our mission have never been more important or relevant. Statement of Need The physical and behavioral challenges associated with developmental disabilities are demanding, but they are not unmanageable with appropriate programs and assistance. About half of those apart of Quest are on the autism spectrum, while the remaining 50 percent have developmental delays, learning differences, Down Syndrome, Cerebral
Palsy, chromosomal abnormalities and other learning and behavior concerns. Often, those struggling with these issues are considered second class citizens. This makes opportunities for them and their caregivers to participate in recreational, learning, and fun activities difficult to experience. The diminished quality of life is an unfortunate and unavoidable result when an individual is living with a cognitive, mental, or emotional disability. But as new, positive ways of looking at these issues arise, we realize the immediate importance of support for those we serve, and eventual growth. According to a study from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, learning disabilities in children have increased by 7.66% since 2008. The need for aid is imperative. Unfortunately, the majority of families have to rely on their own financial resources to take care of their children and teens with learning disabilities. As for the adults, of people who are 16-64, about 18.2 million (12 percent) have a disability that affects their work. Out of these people, 8 million were prevented from working by their disability. From the National Survey of American Families, 40 percent of the surveyed families with disabled children who earned between two to three times the federal poverty level (between $36,200 and $54,300 for a family of four, for example) experienced at least one food hardship, including worrying that food would run out or skipping meals because of a lack of funds. Money isn’t the only issue. Teenagers and adults struggle to develop self-esteem and self-worth in a world that might seem as though it wasn’t made for them to succeed. Through no fault of their own, they face isolation and a lack of friends because of their disability. Support is the key to growth, and without a network, growth is not possible. Childhood is the most critical time for a person with learning disabilities. Through early intervention, children have a higher chance of succeeding in mainstream education, obtaining a career and fully participating in their families and communities. A child’s attendance at camp is crucial in their development. To address these needs, we created Camp Thunderbird, a place where those with developmental disabilities can be themselves, relax, acquire opportunities for growth and learning, and build lasting relationships. Program Description Quest’s Camp Thunderbird is a unique and exciting opportunity for people with special needs to participate in a real summer camp experience. The activities planned during this six or twelve day retreat facilitate the specific recreational and developmental needs of the participants through three programs: Youth, teen, and adult. Quest wishes to provide this service for as many beneficiaries as possible.
Age-specific programming ensures that all the unique recreational and developmental needs of the participants are met. • Youth: Our youth camp program is one of only a few in the state of Florida with a specific focus on inclusion – where children of ALL abilities are able to play, learn and grow together. Campers are exposed to a variety of activities including arts & crafts, music & drama, aquatics, sports & games, nature study, a ropes course, and other opportunities that may not have been accessible to them in the past. • Teen: Our teen program focuses on what these individuals CAN do, while creating a fun and enjoyable environment that is more conducive to learning. Goals such as increasing independence and developing social and daily living skills are more easily achieved because they take on the challenges together and can relate to one another’s struggles. • Adult: Offers vacation experiences and social opportunities through retreat camping. In comparison to other camp programs, our team serves “guests” vs. “campers” to create an age appropriate environment where independence is promoted and guest service is a focus. Participants have the opportunity to meet up to 80 individuals within the program, many of whom become lifelong friends. Scholarship & Candidate Criteria Each year, approximately 450 campers fill over 500 available slots in Camp Thunderbird. Individuals self pay or families pay for their loved ones to attend, either privately or by raising funds. The costs for Camp is not covered by insurance, or are there social programs to assist. Low-income families who struggle to make the payment are encouraged to apply for “camperships”. An internal Quest committee determines who meets the qualifications, based on an application and supporting documentations provided by the family. Quest specifically request funding without age restrictions in order to provide service to all. For summer of 2014 we anticipate $80,000 in request for financial assistance from campers or their families/caregivers, because our six-day sessions go for $650.00 while our twelve-day camp will run a family over $1,250.00. The Quest Kids Scholarship Committee provides several important criteria: Income, household size, crisis level behavior, and time are all taken into consideration when selecting our recipients. Most attendees receive a partial reduction of the cost for camp, anywhere from $300 to $500 from grant dollars. They are responsible for paying the balance remaining. Only families in dire financial situations, the full week is paid to attend through the campership fund. Such distribution of funds allows for many more guests to attend, while reducing the financial burden for a substantial number of families. Therefore a $10,000 donation from Wayne M. Densch Foundation will provide campership for 20-30 guests for summer of 2014. Evaluation
Camp Thunderbird evaluates the success of the program by year to year comparisons and analysis of enrollment. We then use this data to determine growth, advertising necessities, and more. We also utilize customer service surveys, which are given to our clients. Quest has seen a rising success in recent years. The number of campers increases every year, resulting in a need to add more sessions in 2013 and 2014. Due to popular demand two winter sessions have already been added. 2012 surveys revealed 99% of caregivers felt comfortable leaving their loved one at a camp and 100% found the staff at Camp Thunderbird to be helpful and caring, results all found among positive questionnaires. Camp Thunderbird following is very dedicated with at least 75% of clients returning year after year. Some returning campers are going on 10 years, few have even returned for over 25 years! These numbers are encouraging, but we continue to work and develop new and innovative ways to measure our impact. Future and Other Necessary Funding Quest has already secured $40,000 from funders such as Newman’s Own Foundation, Publix Supermarket Charities, and others. However many funders express a desire to support children and youth camperships, which is only about 25% of attendance. Quest specifically request funding without age restrictions so that we may accommodate our guests with Camperships. There are funders who choose to support Camp Thunderbird in other ways than Camperships. Including the Magruder Foundation and VNA Foundation who provide coverage for the medical staff and expenses. Push America provided funds and volunteer hours for physical improvements for recreational areas of the camp. The Orlando Health Foundation made a donation for technology upgrades as well. All of theses are other funding that helps Camp Thunderbird survive.
Introduction Quest has a simple, but compelling, vision: we strive to empower and nurture individuals with learning disabilities through programs and professional care. According to the Administration of Developmental Disabilities, there are approximately 4.5 million people in the United States struggling similarly. Quest’s wish is to make sure that their disabilities do not shape their future. Turning these philosophies into an actuality can create equal opportunities for thousands of children and adults in Central Florida. Quest was founded in 1962 with the name Life Concepts, Inc. by a group of parents to ensure vocational opportunities for their children with disabilities once formal education from the public school system was complete. Since then, we have grown to include programs that help with every stage of life a person’s life. Our goal is to help people who have been diagnosed with a developmental disability reach their dream, and we do this through our 25 locations throughout Orlando and Tampa. Since its inception, Quest has transformed the lives of over 20,000 individuals. We offer opportunities such as Quest Kids Academy, Florida Autism Center of Excellence (FACE), Adult Day Training Program, Camp Thunderbird and more. Programs such as these give people a chance to live, work, learn and play. Through Quest children and adults can lead the life they always imagined and achieve their full capabilities. Quest has a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, the highest level of accreditation for providing health and human services. Quest is active in the community and state health and disability related issues. We are also members of the Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (FARF). Quest received the Beacon Award for its efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the Central Florida workforce. Quest was also the recipient of Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Award in the Neighborhood Builders category. The Neighborhood Builder Award recognizes and rewards nonprofit organizations that work to improve their local communities. We have the passion to help our clients live a more productive and meaningful life. That’s what makes Quest different in the field of service. With nearly 166,000 individuals impacted by a disability in Central Florida alone, our vision and our mission have never been more important or relevant. Statement of Need The physical and behavioral challenges associated with developmental disabilities are demanding, but they are not unmanageable with appropriate programs and assistance. About half of those apart of Quest are on the autism spectrum, while the remaining 50 percent have developmental delays, learning differences, Down Syndrome, Cerebral
Palsy, chromosomal abnormalities and other learning and behavior concerns. Often, those struggling with these issues are considered second class citizens. This makes opportunities for them and their caregivers to participate in recreational, learning, and fun activities difficult to experience. The diminished quality of life is an unfortunate and unavoidable result when an individual is living with a cognitive, mental, or emotional disability. But as new, positive ways of looking at these issues arise, we realize the immediate importance of support for those we serve, and eventual growth. According to a study from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, learning disabilities in children have increased by 7.66% since 2008. The need for aid is imperative. Unfortunately, the majority of families have to rely on their own financial resources to take care of their children and teens with learning disabilities. As for the adults, of people who are 16-64, about 18.2 million (12 percent) have a disability that affects their work. Out of these people, 8 million were prevented from working by their disability. From the National Survey of American Families, 40 percent of the surveyed families with disabled children who earned between two to three times the federal poverty level (between $36,200 and $54,300 for a family of four, for example) experienced at least one food hardship, including worrying that food would run out or skipping meals because of a lack of funds. Money isn’t the only issue. Teenagers and adults struggle to develop self-esteem and self-worth in a world that might seem as though it wasn’t made for them to succeed. Through no fault of their own, they face isolation and a lack of friends because of their disability. Support is the key to growth, and without a network, growth is not possible. Childhood is the most critical time for a person with learning disabilities. Through early intervention, children have a higher chance of succeeding in mainstream education, obtaining a career and fully participating in their families and communities. A child’s attendance at camp is crucial in their development. To address these needs, we created Camp Thunderbird, a place where those with developmental disabilities can be themselves, relax, acquire opportunities for growth and learning, and build lasting relationships. Program Description Quest’s Camp Thunderbird is a unique and exciting opportunity for people with special needs to participate in a real summer camp experience. The activities planned during this six or twelve day retreat facilitate the specific recreational and developmental needs of the participants through three programs: Youth, teen, and adult. Quest wishes to provide this service for as many beneficiaries as possible.
Age-specific programming ensures that all the unique recreational and developmental needs of the participants are met. • Youth: Our youth camp program is one of only a few in the state of Florida with a specific focus on inclusion – where children of ALL abilities are able to play, learn and grow together. Campers are exposed to a variety of activities including arts & crafts, music & drama, aquatics, sports & games, nature study, a ropes course, and other opportunities that may not have been accessible to them in the past. • Teen: Our teen program focuses on what these individuals CAN do, while creating a fun and enjoyable environment that is more conducive to learning. Goals such as increasing independence and developing social and daily living skills are more easily achieved because they take on the challenges together and can relate to one another’s struggles. • Adult: Offers vacation experiences and social opportunities through retreat camping. In comparison to other camp programs, our team serves “guests” vs. “campers” to create an age appropriate environment where independence is promoted and guest service is a focus. Participants have the opportunity to meet up to 80 individuals within the program, many of whom become lifelong friends. Scholarship & Candidate Criteria Each year, approximately 450 campers fill over 500 available slots in Camp Thunderbird. Individuals self pay or families pay for their loved ones to attend, either privately or by raising funds. The costs for Camp is not covered by insurance, or are there social programs to assist. Low-income families who struggle to make the payment are encouraged to apply for “camperships”. An internal Quest committee determines who meets the qualifications, based on an application and supporting documentations provided by the family. Quest specifically request funding without age restrictions in order to provide service to all. For summer of 2014 we anticipate $80,000 in request for financial assistance from campers or their families/caregivers, because our six-day sessions go for $650.00 while our twelve-day camp will run a family over $1,250.00. The Quest Kids Scholarship Committee provides several important criteria: Income, household size, crisis level behavior, and time are all taken into consideration when selecting our recipients. Most attendees receive a partial reduction of the cost for camp, anywhere from $300 to $500 from grant dollars. They are responsible for paying the balance remaining. Only families in dire financial situations, the full week is paid to attend through the campership fund. Such distribution of funds allows for many more guests to attend, while reducing the financial burden for a substantial number of families. Therefore a $10,000 donation from Wayne M. Densch Foundation will provide campership for 20-30 guests for summer of 2014. Evaluation
Camp Thunderbird evaluates the success of the program by year to year comparisons and analysis of enrollment. We then use this data to determine growth, advertising necessities, and more. We also utilize customer service surveys, which are given to our clients. Quest has seen a rising success in recent years. The number of campers increases every year, resulting in a need to add more sessions in 2013 and 2014. Due to popular demand two winter sessions have already been added. 2012 surveys revealed 99% of caregivers felt comfortable leaving their loved one at a camp and 100% found the staff at Camp Thunderbird to be helpful and caring, results all found among positive questionnaires. Camp Thunderbird following is very dedicated with at least 75% of clients returning year after year. Some returning campers are going on 10 years, few have even returned for over 25 years! These numbers are encouraging, but we continue to work and develop new and innovative ways to measure our impact. Future and Other Necessary Funding Quest has already secured $40,000 from funders such as Newman’s Own Foundation, Publix Supermarket Charities, and others. However many funders express a desire to support children and youth camperships, which is only about 25% of attendance. Quest specifically request funding without age restrictions so that we may accommodate our guests with Camperships. There are funders who choose to support Camp Thunderbird in other ways than Camperships. Including the Magruder Foundation and VNA Foundation who provide coverage for the medical staff and expenses. Push America provided funds and volunteer hours for physical improvements for recreational areas of the camp. The Orlando Health Foundation made a donation for technology upgrades as well. All of theses are other funding that helps Camp Thunderbird survive.
