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Hello Friends of Vocational Visions!
The first two months of 2024 have gone by in a flash. We barely had any time to reflect on our successes of last year, like being recognized as one of the Top Workplaces in Orange County, or achieving a three-year accreditation from CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) for our employment services. A new year means new challenges and opportunities, and this year has been very busy so far.
We have been working hard to create more opportunities for people we serve to participate in their communities, from establishing several new and diverse volunteer placements so people we support can learn skills and give back to the community, to increasing paid job placements in Supported Employment. We have been ramping up our fundraising efforts, and we are already seeing a positive difference with grantors and funders.
The expected state budget shortfall means that our next scheduled rate increase for our services may be delayed by a year, which will make it harder for services like ours across the state to hire and retain good employees who will provide the high-quality services that people deserve. We understand that this is a challenging budget year in our state, but it is our obligation to highlight the importance of our services for legislators as they establish budget priorities for the coming year. We will work on our own and with our statewide network, the California Disability Services Association, to promote funding for these essential services. If you would like to know how you can get involved and have your voice heard, please reach out to me directly.
Finally, we are very excited to be in the final planning stages for our 50th Anniversary Gala event! We have a very fun evening planned. Great care is going into creating a diverse selection of valuable silent and live auction items. We will be raffling a two-night stay at the Montage Laguna Beach Resort. We have chosen a beautiful venue for this special night, Wedgewood Events in Aliso Viejo. There will be good food and drinks, recognitions and awards, and even dancing! Although the majority of tables and tickets have already been sold, there is still time to reserve your spot to join us for this important and joyous event at vocationalvisions.org/Gala. We hope you can join us. We would love to celebrate with you.
Sincerely,
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