October 20th Ability to Compete Together Games

23rd Annual *ACT* Ability to Compete Together games
Blaze Sports Sacramento
Sponsored by City of Sacramento Access Leisure

ACT Games Mission Statement
"Challenge Me, I Will Succeed" The A.C.T. Games contribute to the physical social and psychological development of children, youth and teens with physical disabilities. The A.C.T. Games provides many opportunities for growth. Each athlete is given the opportunity to improve physical fitness, learn new skills, experiment with challenging new sports equipment, express courage and make new friends.

I was honored with the "Honorary Games Director" for A.C.T. Games
Thank you! "Access Leisure" for the plaque and reminding me of "Why! I entered the Ms Wheelchair pageant." I had the most wonderful time to be a part of the children's experience of their year and being reminded of the impact that I make on everyone that I meet.

October 19th Disability Awareness

Today Independent Living Resource Center in Contra Costa county celebrated Disability Awareness month. We had a barbecue and invited several county guest to celebrate the accomplishments of people with disabilities and to bring awareness to the barriers one has with disabilities. We had a great afternoon!

October 12th Hawaii at the Hilton

The Fairfield Suisun Community Action Council Presents an Indooor Luau & Fudraising Event at the Hilton Garden Inn on October 12th. Community Action Council is a nonprofit that provides Basic Needs and Safety Net Services directly to the public, that is emergency-food, clothes, rental assistance, employment services, life-skills classes, literacy sessions and homeless prevention services all free of charge. Their client base is the working poor, low-income, senior citizens, disabled, and homeless population living in and around the Fairfield/ Suisun area. Their website is http://www.fairfieldcac.org/ check out their next event.

October 5th-7th Yountville Days Parade and Festival

I had the honor of riding in the Yountville Days Parade that honors are Veterans. The parade started at the Nelson Holderman Hospital (Home for are Vets) through the town of Yountville. Yountville is located in the beautiful wine country in the Napa Valley.
Yountville is located in the heart of Napa Valley the premier world famous wine growing region of Northern California, just off of Highway 29.
In 1999 the area around Yountville was approved an American Vitacultural Area (AVA), a unique area for growing grapes. Its boundaries were primarily established by those of the other existing or proposed AVA's in the large Napa Valley AVA-Oak Knoll district on the south, Oakville on the north, Stags Leap district on the east, and Mount Veeder on the west. The Town of Yountville takes its name from George C. Yount (its founding father), who had a large land grant in the Napa Valley and who was the first to plant grapes there. The Yountville AVA is warmer than the Carneros AVA, but cooler than areas to the west and north of it. The area encompasses about 8,260 acres with not quite half of that planted to vineyards. Chardonnay is the dominant of varietals, especially in vineyards to the south where it's coolest. Merlot and Cabernet Franc do well here, as does Cabernet Sauvignon in the AVA's northern portion.
Visitors will enjoy its small town atmosphere, renowned work-class restaurants, luxury hotels and inns, premium wineries and shopping. http://www.townofyountville.com/index.html

North Bay Stand Down October 2 - 4

Veterans and a Community Helping Veterans
"A hand up, not a hand out!"
All veterans in need, and their families, are welcome!

What is Stand Down?
Stand Downs are typically one to three day events providing services to homeless veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings; California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA), United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Social Security benefits counseling; and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment.

Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between CDVA Veterans Services Division district offices (Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego), the VA, the California Employment Development Department, California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, other government agencies, and community agencies who serve the homeless, including the members of the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies.

The first Stand Down was organized in 1988 by Vietnam Veterans of San Diego. Since then, Stand Downs have been used as an effective tool in reaching out to homeless veterans, reaching more than 200,000 veterans and their family members nationwide between 1994-2000. http://www.northbaystanddown.org/

I have participated in the past few years at the North Bay Stand Down as a Benefits Specialist. Thank you! Everyone for helping out!