March 2024
Dear Friends of UCP Heartland,
March 2024
Dear Friends of UCP Heartland,
I hope everyone is having a great start to spring. For those of you who were able to get down to Florida to watch a little Cardinal spring training, I am hopeful you have good and positive vibes for the 2024 baseball season. I’m anticipating a strong year from the Cardinals and a bit of redemption from the ‘23 campaign.
The month of March has been and continues to be a busy month for UCP Heartland. If you did not know, we have been celebrating Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This is important throughout the year, but the month of March is a great way for UCP Heartland, along with our partners, to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with disabilities in all facets of life. It is also a time we can advocate and bring focus to barriers that are still faced by the people we support in their quest to be as independent as possible.
UCP Heartland Gala
The month kicked off with UCP Heartland’s 70 Years of Service Gala in St. Louis. I want to personally thank all 250 people who attended, invested over $315k, and celebrated UCP Heartland’s incredible impact in Eastern and Central Missouri. Your support, commitment, and most importantly, your belief in a brighter future for people with differing abilities is what continues to drive us forward.
Congratulations to Bill Siedhoff for being awarded the Heart of the Community Award for his unwavering, selfless commitment to service in St. Louis and specifically his work, leadership, and support of people with differing abilities in this area. See Bill’s impact here.
We also shared Darin’s story that night, which you can watch here. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Gala a huge success!
Disability Rights Legislative Day
“We Are Here” was the theme for Disability Rights Legislative Day at the Missouri State Capitol on March 13th. If you happened to be there, this became loud and clear during the rally in the people’s house. It was wonderful to be a part of a community of people with disabilities, employees, and other constituents who gathered together to make sure their voices were heard and speak directly to Legislators. UCP Heartland was proud to take a group of 61 people, led by Duane Gruis, UCP Heartland’s Client Advocate/Service Navigator. As you see in the pictures, we all had t-shirts with the saying “Advocate with Passion,” and this group did just that, as they participated and had great conversations with different Senators and Representatives.
In partnership with Starling, the priority message was to 1. ensure people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities receive essential services to live and work in their communities by appropriating sufficient funding for these services. 2. Strengthen employment services for individuals with disabilities to join Missouri’s workforce by supporting Employment First initiatives and funding community employment services. 3. No changes to Missouri’s property tax structure because they play a vital role in funding community services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
COMO Wing Ding
If you live in the central Missouri area, please join UCP Heartland at Logboat Brewing Company on April 16th at 6:00 p.m. for COMO Wing Ding! Enjoy Columbia’s best wings from 9 different restaurants and meet some celebrity judges while supporting UCP Heartland’s mission. Tickets are available here.
As always, I want to thank each of you for your continued support and interest in UCP Heartland, our services, our impact, and most importantly the people we serve. If you ever want to learn more about our programs, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
Clint Bolser
President and CEO
UCP Heartland
636.779.2252
Donor Difference
We are grateful for our loyal donors. With your kindness and generosity, UCP Heartland will continue to push for the social, legal, and technological changes that increase accessibility and independence, while providing the extraordinary care to children and adults living with differing abilities. Together, we can be a stronger voice in representing the needs and rights of people living with disabilities.
Diamond Heart: United Way of Greater St. Louis; R B Kahn Trust; Rich Fitzer; Hallie Gibbs
Gold Heart: Souers Charitable Trust; PLB – St. Louis County; Bill Siedhoff; TUMS
Silver Heart: Home Builder’s Association; Industrial Warehouse & Distribution Group; ROSCH Company; Anonymous; Gateway to Innovation; United Way of Central Missouri; GFI Digital; Clint & Stacy Bolser; Jeff Rayfield; Rusty Drewing; Modern Land Company; Paula & Rodger Riney; Rusty Drewing Toyota
Bronze Heart: Heart of Missouri United Way, Inc.; Larry Kolb; Jennifer Bierling & Jeff Eichholz; American Direct Marketing Resources (ADMR); Bayer; Netsmart; Williams-Keepers; Alter Trading; Corey & Paula Bauckes; Central Bank; CliftonLarsonAllen LLP; Farmco; Gibbs Pool & Turner; Robert Goth; Grapevine Giving Foundation; Stan Koenigsfeld; Krieger & Krieger; Larry Neill; Renewal by Andersen; Chase Ungs; US Machinery Moving Inc; Eddie Welsh
Teal Heart: Andrew & Lauren Gillentine; Jacques & Donna Thro; Marisa May; Bellows; Candice Michaelson; Chester Gloyd; Liz Hansen; Hal Swaringim; Jane Kaiser; Daniel & Henry; Gibson Insurance; George Hunter; Lesa Johnson; Microsoft; Paul Birner & Denise Vandervort; Paula DeRuntz; Marilyn Amstutz; Kevin Buchek; Christine & David Houston Charitable Fund; Jamie Mealey; Wesley Scrogham; Michael Hammack; Joyce Garvin; Wendell Shorthose; Brian Zerr; Scott Calhoun; City Wide; Hoffmann Brothers; Matt Moore; Moneta Group; Beth Morris; Mutual of America; Orscheln Industries Foundation; R.V. Wagner; Jen Schnieders; Cody Stokes; US Foods; Dan & Mary Hebrank; Lori Burch; Michael & Jill Larsen; Missouri Employers Mutual; Triad Financial; Stephanie Kut; Mark Yaeger; Jim Riley; Everspring; Jamey Shields; Helen Heimann; Sander & Meena Liebert; Caroline Gibbs; Accent Group Solutions; Finteris Wealth Management; David Gordon; Stryker Construction; Capitol Eye Care; First State Community Bank; Kathi Harness; Jefferson Bank; Kolb Properties; Wallace Architects; Winter-Dent; Tim & Kelli Williams; Pat Busch & Teresa Mitchelson; Becky Willard; Ed Balmes; Jessica Cinquemani; Kelley Putnam; Joe & Ashley Beaubien; Judy Grainger; John & Sara Brunnquell; Sam Turner; Harold Carter; Castle Rock Agent Services; Chaney Windows & Doors; COMO Cubs Pediatrics; Scott Drinkard; Shadi Haddadin; Govindarajulu Nagaldinne; Kendall Newton; Miguel Salazar; Ryan Shorthose; Timothy Sigmund; Dan Springman; American Clean/Lawn Care; Boeing; BSI Constructors; Phylis Campbell; Ramon DeArmas; William Deeken; Dive Bomb Industries; Melissa Georgeoff; Russell Goldammer; Holland Construction; Jason & Erica Hughes; Sarah Joplin; Kearney & Associates; Lions Club of Webster Groves; James Luetkemeyer; Brenda Mainer & Bob Wetzel; RJ Meuth; Odyssey Group Foundation; Jeff Patrick; Pro Food Systems, Inc.; Amanda Riley; Gemma Riley; Kevin Riley; Roanoke Construction; David Schilp; Jay & Maria Shields; Tory Smith; Success Brands; Ken Theroff; TSG Factory STL, LLC; United HealthCare Services, Inc.; Allen Walz; Watina LLC; Thomas Wolf
Previous communications from our CEO:
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