PLANO, Texas, Oct. 24, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- My Possibilities (MP), a Plano-based non-profit education center dedicated to empowering adults with cognitive disabilities, is growing with the help of friends and business leaders throughout North Texas and beyond.
"With more than 200,000 special needs adults living within the DFW Metroplex, the need for quality educational services is great," said Charmaine Solomon, chairman of My Possibilities. "What started out as a wish list / business plan sketched on a Starbucks napkin seven years ago, has grown from serving ten students with a handful of volunteers to a dedicated facility with a professional staff serving 320 students each week. This level of growth would not have been possible without the help of the kind-hearted friends, families and businesses."
Much has happened during the past three months. Most recently, Starbucks published an article on the Starbucks Newsroom discussing how the idea for the center came about when Solomon was enjoying a cup of coffee in one of the company's Plano locations. The article is available at this link: http://news.starbucks.com/news/my-business-plan-started-on-a-starbucks-napkin.
In August, during the My Possibilities Annual Golf Tournament, business leaders throughout North Texas turned out to raise money for the school, and see our students, the Hugely Important People known as HIPsters, learn to play golf. This golf tournament has grown rapidly during the past five years, and we raised more than $65,000 during the event.
In September, the Communities Foundation of Texas held their annual North Texas Giving Day on Sept. 18th. The North Texas Giving Day campaign gives a percentage of matching funds for the amount of money each non-profit raises during the event. The My Possibilities campaign was a resounding success. Starting with an aggressive social media campaign built around HIPster Heroes, the center promoted North Texas Giving Day for several weeks leading up to the event. The center's executive director, Michael Thomas, issued several challenge grants throughout the day. By midnight, 362 individual donors help raise almost $100,000 in funds for the 2014 North Texas Giving Day.
And, in recognition of the HIPster Hero Campaign, My Possibilities was awarded the North Texas Giving Day Marketing award. Out of more than 1,000 non-profit campaigns throughout North Texas, MP has been selected to receive the North Texas Giving Day's Best Marketing Campaign. The cash prize for the award was $5,000.
"The generosity of our supporters is amazing," said Thomas. "Everyone responded enthusiastically to our challenge grants to fund future growth for the center, and we more than doubled the amount we raised during the 2013 event."
Thomas, who led MP's fundraising campaign, challenged donors to surpass last year's total of $40,000, promising to spray his hair green. Donations shot past $45,000, and MP staffers posted a Facebook video of Thomas having his hair dyed green. Later in the evening, Thomas promised to shave his head, if donations reached $75,000. Money poured in and donations shot past the new goal reaching almost $100,000. In keeping with the challenge grant, Thomas is now sporting a bald head.
Proceeds from all of My Possibilities' fund-raising efforts go directly to the school's operating fund to pay for expenses related to the HIPsters' educational programs and activities.
As a result of My Possibilities' growing profile within the community, Michael Thomas has been invited to speak at two events regarding issues facing adults with disabilities: The AccessAbility Summit and the Autism Education Summit.
The AccessAbility Summit took place on Oct. 13, 2014 at the Davidson Auditorium of the UT Dallas Campus. The event addressed the educational needs and diversity challenges of the community with disabilities, specifically focusing on the accessibility standards in Texas and at UT Dallas. Thomas sat on a panel that gave an overview of state accessibility laws and an update on the laws that require federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.
During the inaugural Autism Education Summit held at The Fairmont Dallas Hotel on Oct. 17-18, 2014, Michael Thomas made a presentation to discuss the educational opportunities for special needs adults. The event showcased how implementing a holistic approach and treating the whole individual can ease the medical conditions and behavioral symptoms common in children, adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
Recognized as a unique program for adults with cognitive disabilities, My Possibilities provides continuing education and vocational training for adults with Autism, Down Syndrome, Asperger's and others. "State funding for families with special needs adults is limited in Texas, and we deeply appreciate the support we receive from our corporate sponsors, friends, neighbors and others that are the foundation of our program," said Solomon.
To learn more about My Possibilities, contact Charmaine Solomon at (469) 631-1372 or by email at lalchar@aol.com. To reach Michael Thomas, the MP executive director, call 469-241-9100 ext. 123 or email him at director@mptx.org. Additional information is also available on the website at www.mypossibilities.org.
About My Possibilities:
My Possibilities is a Plano, Texas-based non-profit, charity - 501(c)(3), for adults with disabilities (Autism, Down Syndrome, Asperger's, Prader-Willi, Head Injuries, etc.). Started in June 2008, this organization is the FIRST full-day, full-year program in Collin County for Texans, who have "aged out" of secondary education. My Possibilities helps special needs adults build independence and vocational skills in a safe and nurturing environment. To learn more, please go to www.mypossibilities.org.