September 2022

Dear Friends of UCP Heartland,

I hope everyone is winding down a very good summer and getting ready for fall. By the way, this is my favorite time of year, from weather to end of year Cardinal baseball excitement, plus football season is ramping up and then in the beginning of November college basketball starts!

Since my last communication, there have been some exciting things happening at UCP Heartland and more to come on the horizon. Thank you to the 962 people that attended Wing Ding at The Factory on August 30^th. It was an incredible evening with overwhelming response and as a result, UCP Heartland raised just over $79,000 dollars. It was our first in-person Wing Ding in 3 years and at a new location. There was a bit of trepidation on expectations, but they were exceeded and then some. I personally cannot say thank you enough to all our committee members, sponsors, judges, restaurants, volunteers, The Factory personnel, and ultimately everyone that attended. We appreciate your support and hope to make it even better next year.

From September 12^th-16^th, UCP Heartland celebrated all our employees during our Employee Recognition Week. Different activities, tokens of appreciation, and food were the theme throughout the week, but most importantly it was a time for all employees to celebrate the vital role everyone plays to support UCP Heartland in meeting our mission. Thank you to our Human Resources department and leadership team for working together to make this a special week for all.

We are also excited about our new Autism Center in St. Louis. It is located at 6325 Clayton Avenue in the Dogtown Business District. This space is in the final stages of being completed and we hope to provide services to children and families in October. Thank you to our partner, Developmental Disability Resources, for supporting this new initiative for UCP Heartland in St. Louis City. More details to come on our official open house, but pencil in October 26^th.

We are also looking forward to the UCP Heartland Fall Classic that is being held October 6^th in Jefferson City. This fundraising event will support the incredible work happening at the Gibbs Center for Independence and our plans for expansion beginning in November. Thank you to the Gibbs family and our Fall Classic planning committee for making this successful event become a reality. I cannot wait to share our success with you in my October communication.

As always, if you have any questions or want to learn more about UCP Heartland, please do not hesitate to contact me.

With sincere gratitude,

Clint Bolser
President and CEO
UCP Heartland
636.779.2252