Brian Morin
Educational Director
Futures School

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

Futures School is deeply committed to diversity in all we do and stand for. It is at the heart of our work to provide opportunities and empower students with disabilities and those who are disadvantaged to pursue life to its fullest and know the satisfaction of personal accomplishments.

Archive for January, 2010

Futures Gift Shop to Open in Middletown, CT

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Come March 1st Futures Middletown office will be sporting a new look.  As you enter Sweet Harmony Café located on the first floor of Futures Office you will find a new gift shop.

Supporting a good cause close to home will be easy as the store is packed with unique gifts for family and friends. All proceeds will benefit Futures special needs students and clients who may come from economically disadvantaged families.  Recreational activities, computer hardware and software, and educational materials will be purchased with the money raised.

Staffed by students and clients the shop will offer a wide selection of gifts and special services including, woman’s accessories: such as jewelry and purses, home furnishings; including hostess gifts and gardening products, and specialty foods. Custom gift baskets and wedding and shower favors can be ordered for that special occasion.  Stop by during the holidays, as specialty products will be added each season.

Gift Shop hours will be Monday though Saturday 11-3:00p.m.  Private appointments can be scheduled by calling Mary Greene at (860) 347-5099 ext. 211.

Futures receives $1000 from Carse Foundation Fund

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Futures School was recently awarded a grant from the Elizabeth Carse Foundation. The fund, which is managed by Bank of America, was established in 1970 to promote education and child welfare in Connecticut.   Funding from the grant will be used for educational materials for our No child Left Behind tutoring service.  1 on 1 and 2 on 1 instruction is provided to K-12 students from a variety of Connecticut school districts.

The 2009-2010 school year has seen an increase in students needing our services and we expect this number to continue to grow.  These additional dollars ensure Futures ability to provide the latest educational materials and tools for our students. Futures School thanks the Carse Foundation and the Bank of America for their generous support.

A Computer for Every Futures Student

Friday, January 29th, 2010

It was early summer when Fundraising Coordinator Mary Greene had an idea. Let’s raise money to ensure that every student at our school has the opportunity to work and learn on a computer. Most of the wealthiest communities in our country ensure computer access for their students. We knew providing this access was crucial to the social and educational development of our clients. So our initial fundraising began.

Our first event was an Open House and Wine Tasting on October 17th. . Karen Carchidi of Old Cider Mill Wine & Spirits of Simsbury, CT graciously opened her home for this wonderful event, which was attended by over 70 friends, community members, and local business people. For a $25 donation, attendees enjoyed a fun-filled evening of wine, good food, delectable desserts from Sweet Harmony Café of Middletown, CT and a chance to win several baskets made possible thanks to the generosity of The Middletown Inn, First and Last Tavern, It’s Only Natural Restaurant, and Yankee Candle.

In a single evening we raised over $2000, an incredible start to reaching our goal. If you would like to help make this goal a reality or have ideas on how to secure computers for our students, please contact Mary Greene at mgreene@ futures-ct.org

Futures Plans Collaborative Events with Area Recreation Group

Friday, January 29th, 2010

It’s a fact that recreation opportunities play a critical role in successfully transitioning young adults into active participants in the community. Futures School continues to lead the way in providing social outings for young adults with the creation of a pilot program with The Out & About Recreation Group of Kensington/Berlin. This new collaborative program plans recreational, cultural and social outlets that enable these young adults to continue being involved in their own community.

To support these events, Futures is hosting variety of fundraising events. Most recently, Futures teamed up with PowerHouse Gym in Berlin, CT where 40 women participated in a Belly Dancing Class and enjoyed snacks and refreshments afterwards. The proceeds help support the recreational activities.

Futures offers a calendar of fun-filled events including an annual Halloween Costume Party, St. Patrick’s Day party with music and dancing, a summer picnic, and regular monthly “drop-in nights” that provide an opportunity for the group to catch up and spend time with friends.  Futures School and The Out & About Recreation Group will be announcing additional activities throughout the year for everyone to participate in.

2009-2010 Curriculum Includes Cultural & Community Events

Monday, January 4th, 2010

We at Futures are committed to community inclusion for all of our students. This year’s curriculum will offer students an increased opportunity to participate in cultural and community events including The Connecticut Science Center, local theatres, and museums. These outings continue to be made possible through increased fundraising efforts and the generous support of our community.

To kick off the school year, our students went to Lyman Orchards and the Big E. The calendar continues to fill up with plans to attend the Hartford Stage, Warner Theatre, and Garde Arts Center. Regular social outings such as these enable our students to become active participants in their community.

If you have suggestions of how we can obtain free or discounted tickets for our clients, please contact Mary Greene at mgreene@futures-ct.org