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LDANR March Newsletter
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Message From The Executive Director

Each year, as spring creeps closer and winter programs are well underway, LDANR is busy preparing for it's Annual Appreciation Dinner. While the main purpose of this event is to show appreciation to our many volunteers it is also an opportunity to thank all who contribute, from funders and donors to our board of directors and staff. Since 2010, LDANR has acknowledged and thanked hundreds of individuals who have made a difference for children with learning disabilities and their families in Niagara during this annual event. Again, this year we thank PenFinancial for sponsoring the event allowing us to do more for our LDANR friends and for the first time this year we have a venue away from the LDANR office - thanks Amici's Banquet Centre! A sincere thank you to all who support LDANR and it's mission and congratulations to this year's Top Facilitator and Volunteer of the Year!

Finally, as I prepare for my second maternity leave, I would like to welcome Sam Sendzik into my position of Executive Director and wish her all the best along with the rest of the LDANR team!

Ashley Short, M.A. 

Program Update
Spring 2016 Programs:
Application Dates: March 21st at 6:00am - April 6th (midnight)

Reading Rocks - St. Catharines
Better Emotional & Social Times (BEST) - St. Catharines
Reading Rocks Junior - NPI project sites (St. Catharines) and Fort Erie
Let's READ - Fort Erie

Summer 2016 Programs:
Application Dates: March 21st - two weeks prior to the date you're applying for.

Summer Learning Achievement & More (SLAM) - St. Catharines, Welland and Niagara Falls
NEW* Reading Rocks Junior - Niagara Falls (thanks to Sleep Cheap Charity Reaps!)
 
The Niagara Prosperity Initiative 
Reading Rocks Junior Project


This program season, the LDANR was successful in securing a grant through the Niagara Prosperity Initiative to expand the Reading Rocks Junior program! The project is being offered this winter and spring at two sites in St. Catharines; Harriet Tubman Public School and St. Nicholas Elementary School. The expansion project introduces a new technology component that incorporates a technology workshop for program participant families as well as research around the use of tablets in the program. Specifically, we have teamed up with Brock University's education department to research the difference in the child participants' level of engagement with and without the use of a tablet. We are hopeful that the research from this project will give us insight regarding the use of technology in programming that we can implement into future programs! Thank you to Dr. Tiffany Gallagher and her graduate student, Rochelle Tkach for supporting this project. 
H.O.P.E.
Support group meetings for caregivers of children with ADHD. Please visit LDANiagara.org for the Spring meeting schedule and topics.

This year, HOPE is supported, for the first time, by a Parents Reaching Out (PRO) grant allowing funds to offer child care for parents during meetings, refreshments, more guest speakers and resources than in previous years. Thank you to our February guest speakers from the DSBN: Therese Grenier, Franca Beifuss and Kathy Ditto.

A sincere thank you goes to the HOPE volunteer team: Debbie, Lynn & Glenda for their ongoing commitment to HOPE. We also thank Niagara Region for their continued support.

If you would like to be contacted with information and meeting reminders please email programsLDAN@cogeco.net to be added to the HOPE database.
 
Volunteers of the Month
A big thank you to all our wonderful volunteers. Below you can read about some volunteers that really went above and beyond to support LDANR!
 
December: Jessica Williams
January: Ken Lu
February: Brandi Saunders
December:
Jessica Williams, Fire Prevention and Public Education Officer with The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Fire and Emergency Services.
How did you get involved with the LDNAR?
I got involved with LDNAR when my son began to use the Reading Rocks program.  A call went out for Bingo volunteers and I have been helping ever since, just over a year now.
What program have you volunteered (past and present) and for how long?
I volunteer at the Delta Bingo in Niagara Falls.  I help greet patrons, help the staff when Bingo is called and help clean up after their session.  The time flies by and it is so much fun to interact with people.
Main reasons for joining the LDANR as a volunteer:
The main reason I joined LDANR as a volunteer was after seeing the dedication LDNAR gave and the amazing support my son was receiving through the Reading Rocks program I thought it was the least I could do to give back and to say thank you!
From looking at you, no one would guess that…
I love the outdoors.  Camping, Hiking, Fishing – anything that takes me outside and far away from Technology.
Favourite place to eat:
Syndicate Restaurant
What’s on your book shelf?
Quite a variety.  Everything from John Grisham, Nicholas Sparks, Nora Roberts to Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Shakespeare.
Who’s your hero?
My Dad is my hero.  He lost a courageous battle with cancer and that taught me what is really important in life.
 
January:
Ken(Kenneth)  Lu, Student (Brock University)
How did you get involved with the LDNAR?
Came across the opportunity on the Brock Job Board.
What program have you volunteered (past and present) and for how long?
Participated in the Best Program (spring of 2015), Champs Program (winter 2016-present). Currently volunteering in the LDANR office.
Main reasons for joining the LDANR as a volunteer:
Give back to the community, and try to make a difference.
Favourite place to eat:
Sushi!!
What’s on your book shelf?
Le Petite Prince
Who’s your hero?
My Father

 
February:
Brandi Saunders, Student at Brock University
How did you get involved with the LDANR?
I first got involved with the LDNAR through Brock University's Career Zone website. I am currently volunteering for LDNAR's Reading Rocks Junior program.
Please describe briefly your volunteer job(s):
During Reading Rocks Junior, we start off with getting the children to complete an alphabet puzzle, helping them sound out their alphabet and understand its order. After our instructor Steph reads a book, we separate to different stations where we either help the children with their sight words, phonics or fluency. We create interesting games and activities for the children to help them learn new words and sounds.
Main reasons for joining the LDANR as a volunteer:
My main reason for becoming an LDANR volunteer was to gain some knowledge and experience of working with children. Helping children with learning disabilities really stood out to me because my younger brother struggles with a learning disability as well and he had very limited resources to help him through his written and verbal communication when he was this age. My goal in this position is to just help as many of them as I can and hopefully give them a stepping stone for a bigger and better vocabulary. 
From looking at you, no one would guess that...
...that I am very competitive. Whether it be a game of cards, a board game or a sport, I tend to do everything that I can in order to win.
Favourite place to eat:
An all you can eat sushi bar. Sushi is one of my favorite foods, and it’s a great place to go with a group of family or friends.
What is on your book shelf?
I absolutely love to read all kinds of novels, so my bookshelf is filled with numerous authors and types of novels including, romance, sci-fi, horror, crime, biographies etc. I do have to say that I have about every Nicholas Sparks novel he has every written, and I am completely obsessed with the Harry Potter collection. I have read the whole collection of novels over about 6 times.
Who is your hero?
My hero would most definitely have to be my mom. Just looking at all of the things she sacrifices and does to help my brother achieve in school and other activities shows how much she cares and wants him to have opportunities just like everyone else. Also looking back on everything that she has done to get me to where I am today and how much she has helped build me as a person, really helps create her hero complexion among a million other things. 
Special Thank You!
 
Lancaster, Brooks & Welch (sponsor)
LDANR has been reaching out further into the community across Niagara to assist in the sustainability of LDANR programs as demand for support increases. It is well known that the need is out there, as approximately 2 children in every classroom have a learning disability. As Rob Welch and Georgene Adam's became more aware of this situation they were quick to ask how they could help support LDANR programs in reaching more children. As a result, LB&W has become the first LDANR Program sponsor, contributing to our current program season as a Silver Sponsor. LB&W has also provided assistance in LDANR speaking with other potential sponsors and providing feedback on LDANR's new sponsorship proposal. The goal is for LDANR to build more relationships like this with more professionals and businesses in and outside of Niagara. It's a great opportunity to give back and get involved with the community. 
The Donnelly Family (donor)
A very sincere thank you to the generous donation made by The Donnelly Family to support the work of LDANR. Your support is greatly appreciated by all!

Fundraising

For more information click on flyer
Our Leadership Niagara this team has had a busy few months since our previous newsletter. Coming this JUNE 11th is LDANR's first Golf Tournament Fundraiser at Sparrow Lakes! Thank you to our LN team who has been working at pulling together this exciting fundraiser to support LDANR's work. We hope to see many of our members and friends out on the course in a few months!  


Photo (left to right): Jo-Ann, Steve K, Ted, Scott, Steve S, Jayne; Absent: Robbin St. Pierre and Brenda Taylor. Includes LDANR Board member (and past-LN team member) Steve Karnay.
New Website Coming soon... 
...thanks to a grant from the Niagara Community Foundation, LDANR has once again teamed up with Future Access to build a new website! You can expect this website to have a fresh new up to date look, be mobile/tablet-friendly, have a calendar of events and so much more! Thank you Niagara Community Foundation for their support and thank you to Future Access for being so good at what you do! 
LDANR Volunteer Board of Directors & Staff
Volunteer Board of Directors

Chair: Dawn Lagesten, CPA
Past Chair: John McNamara, Ph.D
Treasurer: Sandra Wilson,
CPA, CGA
Secretary: Michael Reich, OCT
Director: Steve Karnay
Director: Cynthia Palumbo, OCT
Director: Mario Palumbo

 
LDANR Staff

Executive Director: Ashley Short, B.Ed., M.A.
Program Coordinator: Sarah Farrell, B.Ed., M.A.
Project Coordinator: Samantha Sendzik, B.Ed., M.A.
LDANR Supporters
Silver Sponsor:
Another huge thank you to LDANR's first 2016 sponsorship: Lancaster, Brooks & Welch are 2016 sponsor's supporting LDANR's Winter programs across the region. Rob Welch and Georgene Adams have been great supporters of LDANR supporting the sponsorship program and we are very pleased to have this local firm as sponsors.
Copyright © 2016 Learning Disabilities Association of NIagara Region, All rights reserved.
LDANR Winter Newsletter.



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366 St. Paul Street, 
St. Catharines, ON
L2R3N2

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www.LDANiagara.org    905-641-1021   Charity # 124567145 RR 0002