Via Services Together With CUPERTINO ROTARY BRING JOY AND SNOW TO

Cupertino Rotary (www.cupertinorotary.org) together with Via Services (www.viaservices.org) kicked off the first two weekends in December with successful days of snow, play, and music for children and adults with special needs. The majority of these kids encountered snow and sledding for the first time and the live music and arts and crafts for the adults were also rare experiences for them!

Cupertino Rotary believes partnership with non-profits such as Via Services provides the best support for the community, said Orrin Mahoney, Past District Governor, Cupertino Rotary.

Children, young adults and seniors have an opportunity to enjoy holiday spirit they will never forget. That’s what makes this project so special, “ he added.

“Via West’s families are very grateful for this annual event chaired by Cupertino Rotary. Over 150 participants benefited from the holiday fun – music, art AND SNOW play in the South Bay, “ says Leslie Davis, VP of Via Services. “We all couldn’t be luckier,” she added

OPERATION SNOWFLAKE– (www.viaservices.org)

Via Services presented the wonderful winter festivities that were sponsored by Cupertino Rotarians with the assistance of many community volubnteers at the Via West Campus in Stevens Creek County Park on both these past Saturdays – the 7thand 14th of December. Rotarians along with other community members put together this fun event at the Via West Campus which annually serves over 2000 kids and teens and adults with special needs.

This festival involves over 100 volunteers putting many hours into the event on the first two Saturdays of December. Community helpers from the Bellarmine JV Football team, the Willow Rose Chapter of the National Charities League, the SJSU Chapter of the ATO Fraternity, the Monta Vista Interact Club and assorted individuals labored through pouring rain for hours and hours to make all of this happen for the participants. One weekend is filled with 13 tons of snow – sledding and snowball fun along with crafts and other various nondenominational holiday activities. The second weekend is jam packed with an afternoon of live music by the “Grateful Dads”and a visit by the local firefighters to teach safety during the holiday season and even more extensive art projects. Via West participants also are taught to give back and they decorate and stuff stockings to bring to the West Valley Community Services’ families.

These holiday celebrations are anticipated all year long with sign-ups for the activities generally wait listed and filled up by August.

ABOUT Via Services - For nearly 75 years, Via has helped thousands of individuals with developmental and physical disabilities (autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.) across the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond achieve greater self-sufficiency and lead richer lives through research and development of innovative, quality programs to fill critical service gaps in the community. We maximize quality and efficiency of programs and operations through best business practices and stable, ongoing funding mechanisms. Via’s three programs provide seamless transitions across the lifespan: 1) First Step Early Intervention Program, a family-oriented, outreach & screening, diagnostic and therapy service from birth through 12 years of age, 2) Altitude at Via camps for high-functioning youths and young adults with social/cognitive challenges to help them function more competently and comfortably at home, school and community, and 3) Via West Campus, a nationally-accredited 13-acre special needs camp with school year weekend respite programs and longer summer programs for children, teens and adults that combine outdoor therapeutic recreation with independent living skills training and community integration outings in the company of peers. To learn more, visit the website – www.viaservices.org

ABOUT Cupertino Rotary - Chartered in 1955, the Rotary Club of Cupertino represents a broad cross section of local residents, businesses, and professions. Members of the club are involved in a wide array of leadership and volunteer activities. Together, we make a difference in both our local community and in communities around the world.

The club meets every Wednesday at Noon for a lunch program and a guest speaker at Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino. To learn more, visit the website at www.cupertinorotary.org