by MAKE IT SOAR | Mar 6, 2015 | What's Happening
SOAR Fox Cities Launches a New Logo to Match the New Name!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2015 – Appleton, WI – SOAR Fox Cities launched a new logo to match its new name during the SOAR to the Stars Event at Fox Cities Stadium last evening. The event marked the organization’s new brand taking flight for the first time. WBAY TV Action 2
News Anchor, Kathryn Bracho was the event emcee. STARS attending the event were Appleton City Mayor Tim Hanna, SOAR Fox Cities Executive Director Sonia Barham, event sponsors and a enthusiastic crowd of nearly 300 people. The event was also a time to celebrate and recognize SOAR Fox Cities program participants and their families and the employers who empower the participants through jobs in the Fox Valley Community.
Among the distinguished guests, 32 companies were recognized for their support and job placement of SOAR Fox Cities program participants. Those companies recognized were:
ACE Hardware, Appleton
Affinity Health System A to Z Machine Bergstrom
Bethesda Retail Shop Appleton
Chances Animal Rescue Chuck E. Cheese Culver’s, Darboy
Discover Little Miracles Daycare
Donaldson’s Cleaners. Dunkin’ Donuts Famous Dave’s
Festival Foods, Neenah
Gardan, Inc. Goodwill Industries Home Depot
Lakeside Packaging Plus Lawrence University Manderfield’s
Marcus Theaters Orion Labels Pick n’ Save Piggly Wiggly Pizza Ranch Rogan’s Shoes RR Donnelley Sam’s Club Scheels
Shopko, Neenah. Touchmark
Valley Packaging Industries
Wal-Mart, Neenah
SOAR Fox Cities also launched a brand new website to match their new name and look: www.soarfoxcities.com. Check out the new website to learn more about the meaning of the new name and logo, and for more information about the organization and how you can help.
Contact: Lori Allman – Director of Development, [email protected] 920.731.9831 ext.114
SOAR Fox Cities, Inc. is a local non-profit organization that provides programs and services to individuals with developmental disabilities. We serve close to 1,200 participants and touch over 19,000 family and community members. Our variety of services range from Youth, Adult & Family Programs, Advocacy, Camp, Community Education and the third largest Special Olympics in the state!
SOAR Fox Cities, Inc. 211 E. Franklin Street, Suite A, Appleton, WI 54911
#WatchUsSOAR
#DDAwarenessMonth
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by MAKE IT SOAR | Mar 6, 2015 | What's Happening
Article originally posted on WHBY on 03/06/2015.
A group that helps people with developmental disabilities, and their families, is going through the final stages of a rebranding process.
ARC Fox Cities changed its name to SOAR last summer, and the nonprofit unveiled its new logo last night. Executive director Sonia Barham says the group was named ARC when it was founded 59 years ago. She says the “R” stood for a derogatory term, and people took offense.
The group provides activities for people with developmental disabilities, and respite services for their families. Barham says they serve over 1,200 people.
To listen to the audio clip, click here. It begins at 2:11.
by MAKE IT SOAR | Mar 6, 2015 | What's Happening
Article originally posted on www.postcrescent.com on 3/6/2015.
By Jim Collar
APPLETON – The Arc Fox Cities, which has improved the lives of those with developmental disabilities for decades, has changed its name to match its mission.
The organization is now known as SOAR Fox Cities.
“This is what family members want for their loved ones,” said Executive Director Sonia Barham. “They want them to soar in life.”
SOAR Fox Cities will use March — Developmental Disabilities Month — as a springboard to acclimate the community to its new name and brand.
The name change became official in July, but leaders took a slow, patient approach to making the transition. They wanted to ensure that participants were comfortable with the name change.
The new logo will be unveiled at a Thursday banquet dubbed “SOAR to the Stars” at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute.
SOAR Fox Cities accommodates roughly 1,200 participants and has 19,000 client contacts each year. Its Special Olympics program includes nearly 230 athletes.
The organization serves as an advocate and as a resource for families, and it helps people of all ages.
Adult programming includes health and safety, conflict resolution and independent living. SOAR offers camps and a variety of structured activities such as dances and trips to events.
It provides assistance to families as well as participants. As participants learn, socialize and enjoy the community, parents can shop, recreate or simply relax while knowing their loved ones are in good hands.
Terry Wadel of Appleton said her son Brett, who has Down syndrome, has established lifelong friendships. It has given him access to the world that some take for granted. The 27-year-old, unlike his siblings, can’t simply hop in the car and head to the mall.
“Without all of these activities, his world would be very small,” Terry Wadel said.
SOAR isn’t an acronym. Capital letters were chosen to make a bold expression.
Barham said the typical response of families to the name change is: “It’s about time.”
The organization began as the Association of Retarded Children. It later became the Association of Retarded Citizens. While the acronym was removed from the name in the early 1990s, the awareness of what Arc stands for hasn’t faded away.
SOAR Fox Cities will bring its message to the community in several ways this month. On the week of March 9, officials will head to Fox Valley schools to raise awareness about developmental disabilities. On March 26, “positive picket” will be held in downtown Appleton to spread the word.
The name change is the latest of several milestones in the last decade.
The current nonprofit began in 2006 with the merger of Neenah-Menasha and Outagamie County Arcs. In 2013, the Arc joined with NAMI Fox Valley to purchase the office building at 211 E. Franklin St. in Appleton. The move brought higher participation due to the close proximity of the building to the Valley Transit Center.
Fox Valley Arc organizations were developed by families in the 1950s who were dissatisfied with the services and wanted more for their children. It was a time when people with developmental disabilities were either institutionalized or kept in the home. An effort was undertaken to make them true members of the community.
Times have changed, but there’s still room for progress and the name change is another step, Barham said.
Wadel said the name is more than a description; it sets a direction.
“For me, it simply means we’re rising to new heights,” Wadel said.
— Jim Collar: 920-993-1000, ext. 216, or [email protected]; on Twitter @JimCollar
If you go
What: SOAR to the Stars. The event will include hors d’oeuvres, musicians from the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, awards and a fireworks display.
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Fox Cities Stadium, club level
Tickets: $35. They are available at www.arcfoxcities.com.
Donations: Those who can’t attend the event can make a financial donation. There is a matching gift grant from a donor within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. The grant will match donations up to $7,500.
Arc Fox Cities aims to ‘SOAR’
by MAKE IT SOAR | Mar 3, 2015 | What's Happening
Originally posted on www.postcrescent.com on 03/03/2015.
By Jim Collar
It’s been striking in my two years of covering social services in the Fox Valley to realize our issues and needs aren’t always so easy to notice.
Quite often, it’s because of the great work happening among agencies and volunteers to make sure those needs are well met.
That sense returned in recent weeks while writing about SOAR Fox Cities. I was familiar with the organization. There was still a lot to learn about the depth of their efforts.
SOAR, formerly the Arc Fox Cities, will begin a month long effort Thursday to bring their new name, story and greater awareness of developmental disabilities to our region. They’ll unveil a new logo and branding during their SOAR to the Stars event at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute.
The organization has been with us since the mid 1950s, though “people still don’t know us,” executive director Sonia Barham said.
In that time, they’ve opened the world to those with developmental disabilities, provided advocacy and given support to families.
It’s easy for those of us unaffected by disability to lose sight of their important community role. Their efforts are bright and clear from one perspective.
We see those with developmental disabilities enjoying the community alongside us. They’re welcomed. They’re afforded dignity like never before. SOAR has played a key role.
Take a moment to get familiar with their work by visiting www.arcfoxcities.com. It’s a great time to contribute. A donor within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region has offered a $7,500 matching grant.
As the organization celebrates, there’s reason for us to do the same. We’re fortunate to have so many working diligently to meet the needs of neighbors.
Jim Collar: 9209931000, ext. 216, or [email protected]; on Twitter @JimCollar
by MAKE IT SOAR | Mar 2, 2015 | Monthly Activities
SOAR Fox Cities, Inc. Calendar of Events for March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month:
Thursday, March 5, 2015
SOAR to the Stars:
Banquet Venue at Fox Cities Stadium
2400 North Casaloma Drive, Appleton, WI
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Program begins at 6:15 p.m.
Join us for a fun night of networking, hors d’oeuvres, music from the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, fireworks and awards for local businesses who employ our participants.
Saturday, March 7, 2015
K.I.T.E. Conference:
(Knowledge. Independence. Togetherness. Empowerment.)
St. Bernadette’s School
2331 E. Lourdes Dr. Appleton, WI 54915
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
An opportunity for parents and caregivers of people with disabilities to meet and speak with community resources focusing on planning for the future.
The conference will include the following: A welcome from SOAR Fox Cities, three educational sessions on the topics of housing, guardianship, and employment, educational booths from community agencies and resources, a box lunch and note-taking materials, and day long program activities for children and adults (with a fee).
Conference is free with an option available for child care for ages 3-12 ($20)
March 9 – 13, 2015
Spirit Week:
Various Local Area School Districts
SOAR Fox Cities will be visiting local area schools to raise awareness for developmental disabilities. Hands on workshops, penny wars and fun all week!
Check out the spirit week flyer for more info!
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Disability Advocacy Day:
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
One John Nolen Drive, Madison, WI
Disability Advocacy Day is designed to connect you with your legislators so you can share your story with them. You are the expert in sharing how legislative policies affect people with disabilities in their everyday lives.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Positive Picket:
Houdini Plaza:
Appleton, WI
Join SOAR Fox Cities and our participants throughout the day, as we march up and down College Ave. in Appleton, sharing positive messages with the community.
Call (920) 731-9831 for details.
SOAR Fox Cities Inc. is a local non-profit organization that provides programs and services to individuals with developmental disabilities. We serve close to 1,200 participants and touch over 19,000 family and community members. Our variety of services range from Youth, Adult and Family Programs, Advocacy, Community Education and the third largest Special Olympics in the state!
Will you SOAR with us?
#WatchUsSOAR
#DDAwarenessMonth
