"DAY OF CARING" JUST KEEPS GETTING BIGGER!

Once again, United Way's signature volunteer event "Day of Caring" brought hundreds of entusiastic supproters to many CLO homes in Johnson County. The volunteers completed variety of projects, including landscaping, building, cleaning, powerwashing, painting and much more.


The event took place on Saturday June 7th. Read more and view the galleries HERE


THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!



Annual Kansas Summer Classic Horse Show Benefits CLO’s Midnight Farm

Sunday, June 22, 2008, horse enthusiasts converged at the arena at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Lawrence, competing in a variety of classes showing the different equestrian skill areas, both to win prizes and raise money for Community Living Opportunities.
The 5th Annual Kansas Summer Classic Horse Show started at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 22.
Beautiful horses and their experienced riders arrived in Lawrence to compte in many categories and showcase their skills. The event proved extremely popular and was well attended by the public and many CLO families.

READ THE LAWRENCE JOURNAL WORLD ARTICLE HERE or
WATCH THE CHANNEL 6 NEWS BROADCAST HERE!

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation was the lead show sponsor; several other area businesses also sponsored the event.  Proceeds benefited CLO’s Midnight Farm. David Owen and Scott Utt from Enterprise were pleased to present CLO with a $5,000 sponsorship check.  “Being a partner with Community Living Opportunities is a rewarding experience for Enterprise Fleet Management and we are proud to be part of this very successful effort and to support the Kansas City community,” said David Owen, Enterprise Group Sales Manager.



Pictured from left to right: Yolanda Hargett(CLO senior administrator), David Owen (Enterprise), Dr. Mike Strouse (CLO's
Executive Director), and Scott Utt (Enterprise).

“Enterprise is a local company with a presence in the thousands of neighborhoods we serve, placing us on a first-name basis with the people who call those neighborhoods home,” said Owen. “We realize we owe our success to the support and good will of the people who live in those communities and who do business with us. That's why we are committed to involving ourselves in the support of worthwhile endeavors in the hometowns and cities where we operate our businesses.”  To learn more about Enterprise and their efforts to help our community visit them at www.enterprise.com


Dr. Michael Strouse and friends

CLO is developing Midnight Farm to offer an additional lifestyle option for the persons they serve – complete with residential, equestrian, recreational and work-related opportunities – in the more relaxed, country environment of a 40-acre farm located five miles south of Eudora.“CLO’s goal is to provide a good life for each person we serve.  Each one of us has a different idea of what constitutes “the good life,” and people with developmental disabilities are no different,” said Michael Strouse, CLO’s Chief Executive Officer.“For the last three decades, CLO has been providing services in the bustling Kansas City suburbs of Johnson County and in the dynamic small city of Lawrence.  But we realized a long time ago that the busy, traffic-filled suburban way of life, or the lively college-town lifestyle isn’t for everyone,” said Strouse.  “There are people who feel better and are more at home in the calm of the countryside.  Some of the people CLO already serves would prefer a more rural lifestyle; others would like to experience a little piece of the quiet, country life from time to time.  That’s why CLO is starting Midnight Farm – to provide another option for ‘the good life’ for people with disabilities.”

CLO acquired the 40 acres of farmland in 2005 and remodeled an existing farm house to make it accessible for people with disabilities.  Ultimately, CLO plans to have four of what it calls Family-Teaching Homes on the farm, typically housing two people with developmental disabilities in each home, along with their teaching family, which are live-in families whom CLO trains to provide specialized developmental disability services and some health-care services.  In addition, CLO is planning a wide array of therapeutic, recreational, and work opportunities to be offered at Midnight Farm.

Midnight Farm’s centerpiece will be a large, combination barn/arena/meeting lodge.  There, CLO plans to offer a horseback riding program for challenged and beginning riders, including individuals they already serve, as well as others in the community with various disabilities.  Plans also call for an on-site rustic meeting lodge and guest bunk house that would be available to various community groups for a fee or in exchange for volunteer service at the farm, a petting paddock attraction featuring friendly farm animals, walking and riding trails for people of all abilities, camping areas, a fishing pond, picnic shelters, a greenhouse for growing operations and horticultural therapy, and more.

This is the second year the Kansas Summer Classic Horse Show is benefitting CLO’s Midnight Farm.  The show is part of the Pony Express Horse Show Circuit, a multi-breed horse show circuit serving Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Nebraska.  This year’s Classic featured more than 30 classes; show directors Mary and Brady Sharp reported riders from across the region.

CLO Celebrates 30th Anniversary in Style!




CLO celebrated its 30th Birthday on Friday, April 11th. It was a night to remember! The benchmark anniversary took place at the beautiful Ritz Charles in Overland Park, Kansas and included formal dinner and fabulous entertainment. The event was attended by men and women served by Community Living Opportunities as well as by hundreds of CLO's friends, supporters and extended family members. Four Individuals served by CLO received the prestiguous "Lifetime Achievement Award" presented by Dr. James Sherman and Dr. Jan Sheldon.
Kansas Lieutenant Governor Mark Parkinson delivered the keynote address



SEE THE GALLERY HERE

As it celebrates 30 years of service, CLO now supports nearly 400 individuals and relies on community support in order to fulfill its mission. Your gift will enable CLO to make great strides on the important initiatives described here and in our 30th anniversary special publication.

We invite you to partner with us to make a meaningful difference in the lives of persons with disabilities!

Would you like to find out about five of CLO's major initiatives and how you can support them?
(Click on the image below!)




THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
Without you our unforgettable annniversary event wouldn't have been possible!



"LEADER" LEVEL SPONSORS ($5000 - $9,999):

Robert E. Miller Insurance


At Robert E. Miller Insurance, their more than 600 years of combined experience focused on several niches helped make them one of Kansas City’s leading property and casualty agencies. For construction, transportation, manufacturing, real estate and non-profits, they have the expertise to help you manage risk and control costs while protecting your business assets.

Robert E. Miller Insurance Agency delivers this 6-Point Value Strategy to every customer:

* The most coverage. * The best price. * Service directly focused on you and your company. * A narrow industry focus that gives us depth and breadth of experience. * Tailored risk management. * Unmatched ability to place tough surety bonds.

Qualicare Pharmacy



QualiCare, Inc was opened in 1993 by Tamara Willits, RPh and her father Gary Beasley. It was Tammy and Gary’s goal to bring quality pharmaceutical care to the elderly population in Northeast Kansas.

The focus of our pharmacy is long-term care residents, assisted living residents and hospice patients.
2336 Ridge Ct
Lawrence, KS 66046
Phone: (785) 841-1950


"PARTNERS" LEVELS SPONSORS ($2500 - $4, 999)


Custom Truck and Equipment




Metcalf Bank





"ADVOCATES" LEVELS SPONSORS ($1000 - $2, 499)

Minuteman Press
Sue & Dick Steele
Mike Hammond
Don & Theresa Hecht

"FRIENDS" LEVELS SPONSORS ($100 - $999)

Delta Dental
Security Bank (D. Ginardi)
Roberts Pontiac GMC, Inc.
(ref. By D. Ginardi)
Dave Ginardi
Colonial Insurance
Ron and Ruth Holzschuh
Delbert & Delores Nelson
Barney & Judy Barnhart
D.D. Shrewsburry (ref. by D. Ginardi)
United Waste Systems (ref. by D. Ginardi)
Trip Frizell
Lanny Tate


30th Anniversary Special Publication Available Here:
(click on the image below)

CLO Services are now available in South East Kansas!
Our new office in Iola has opened its doors and CLO is prepared to provide full range of services for men and women with developmental disabilities in the South East Kansas counties.


To find out more call us at 620-212-3717
Come in for a tour!
Our office is located in beautiful downtown Iola at 118 West Madison Street

At Community Living Opportunities (CLO), we believe in not only providing the highest quality of life for persons with disabilities, but also in preserving Mother Earth. Since 1993, CLO has successfully run the Community  Recycling Center near WAL-MART in Lawrence.  Every month, we recycle nearly 200 tons of materials which might otherwise be thrown away. Now, we want you to park it at your curb.  For a small fee CLO staff and the men and women we serve will come to your house and pick up your recyclables. This creates a win-win situation.You will receive a great service for a small monthly fee, while providing enriching work opportunities for men and women with disabilities.  All this, while helping preserve the environment for future generations. 

Prices:

Residential: $15 per month
(Once -a-week pick up)

Commercial: $20 per month
(Once-a-week pick up)

(Available only in Lawrence)

Recyclables Accepted!
(Want to sign up? Find out more here)

NEW! DONATE TO CLO ONLINE!