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NYSARC trusts awards $5,000 recreation grant to Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation

by jmaloni
Fri, Aug 10th 2012 07:00 am

Press release

Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara, the Niagara County chapter of NYSARC Inc., received a much needed $5,000 grant from the trustees of the NYSARC trusts to enhance recreational opportunities for more than 150 individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities served by the agency who live in the Niagara community.

Recreational therapy provides remarkable rewards for individuals living with a developmental disability as it aids the development of skills necessary to enhance their functional independence and to promote a higher quality of life for them and their family. This is a major focus of NYSARC and its chapters. While giving family members a well-deserved "break" or respite, recreational activities enable an individual to also make new friends and enrich their lives through participation in a variety of social and physically oriented, community-based activities.

Both youth (10- to 18-year-olds) and adult (19 years old and up) activities are available to eligible individuals residing in Niagara County and neighboring communities. Trained and caring employees provide appropriate supervision to all participants in a group setting.

A variety of social activities are offered, ranging from sporting events to musicals, movies, concerts, sporting events and theme parks. There are also selected physical activities such as roller skating, dances and community walks to promote exercise as an important component of an individual's life - at any age. Camp Happiness, a June week-long day camp on Lake Ontario, is also available as an activity.

For information on how to enroll your family member, call 716-504-2617 or visitwww.opportunitiesunlimited.org.

The NYSARC trusts administer supplemental needs trusts that enable persons with disabilities to remain in their home and community and retain their Medicaid-eligible services. The trustees utilize remainder funds to benefit other persons with disabilities, including unfunded chapter guardianship as provided by statute. During the past year, the trustees have granted more than $900,000 to support chapter guardianship and $250,000 in recreational grants for the benefit of chapter program participants. For more information, call 1-800-735-8924 or visitwww.nysarctrustservices.org.

The mission of the Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation is to provide a long-term source of financial support to Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara, which ensures people with developmental disabilities have opportunities toward independence and integration within the community.

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