Who are the UCP Blues Brothers?

The 2012 Evening at the Palace Gala is encompassing a Blues Brothers theme, inspired by Actor Dan Aykroyd, who will co-host this year’s fundraising event alongside Actress Cheryl Hines. The concept is included on UCPGala.com, all collateral pieces and of course will be celebrated at the grand event to be held on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at the Buena Vista Hotel and Spa.

The Blues Brothers film, which opened in 1980, starred co-starred Aykroyd and John Belushi. But who are the young Blues Brothers appearing in the Evening at the Palace campaign? Meet Andrew and EJ, UCP of Central Florida students and now models for the annual fundraising event! Andrew and EJ quickly showed during their photo shoot that they have just as much style, charisma and talent as the Hollywood icons they portrayed.

Meet Andrew
Andrew was born at 35 weeks alongside his twin sister Katelyn, who was born without a disability. He weighed just over 4 pounds and was diagnosed with Spina Bifida, hydrocephalus and club feet. Because Andrew’s spinal nerves were exposed, he required immediate surgery.
When you meet Andrew, now 7, you might notice his physical challenges like the ankle-foot orthoses that help him walk or the full body brace that allows him to stand straight with scoliosis that affects his body. But Andrew doesn’t see any challenges, he sees possibilities. As he pulls his shirt up to reveal the brace, he says “this is my Superman brace and it makes me feel like a man of steel”.

Andrew’s mom and dad, Rose Mary and David Lumm, have dedicated the last seven years to providing their “man of steel” with the best medical care and early intervention possible, including their decision to select UCP of Central Florida (East Orange/Bailes Campus) for his education and therapy. 
As an educator and child advocate by profession, Rose Mary understood the importance of having children with and without disabilities in the same classroom, an education method called Inclusion practiced at UCP.   According to her, children learn from their peers.  An inclusive model allows Andrew the opportunity to learn with students of varied abilities under the direction of talented, loving teachers. Within six months of his initial attendance, Andrew’s writing skills blossomed and his verbal language increased.  Andrew even calls himself a “little artist.”

When you ask Rose Mary and David what they want for their children now, they say, “We want them to be helped but also to help others; to be viewed as independent individuals; to be part of a school community where teachers meet them at their developmental level through creative teaching methods and for each of them to be happy, empathetic and have the skills needed to make friends.  At UCP, our children have these experiences and more. They give us another reason to believe.”

For more information on the 2012 Evening at the Palace, please visit www.UCPGala.com
 

UCP sponsorship offers a mutually beneficial opportunity

Did you know that sponsoring the Evening at the Palace Gala will not only impact UCP, but also help your business? According to cause marketing statistics through a Cone Communications study, American consumers consider a business’s support of social issues when making a purchase. Findings illustrate the following consumer trends: 

• 85% have a more positive image of a product or company when it supports a cause they care about
• 80% are likely to switch brands, similar in price and quality, to one that supports a cause
• 61% of Americans say they would be willing to try a new brand or one unfamiliar to them if aligned with a cause
• Nearly one-in-five consumers (19%) would be willing to purchase a more expensive brand aligned with a cause

Consider sponsoring the 2012 Evening at the Palace on Saturday, March 10th for a great two-for-one deal…a mutually beneficial opportunity impacting your businesses bottom-line and the efforts of UCP of Central Florida.

Sponsorship Levels
Tables are set for 10 guests

Platinum Table $5,000
Diamond Table $3,500
Gold Table $3,000
Silver Table $2,500
Bronze Seat $250

Click here for information on additional sponsorship opportunities.

Visit UCPGala.com for information and benefit descriptions or contact sponsorships@ucpcfl.org or (407) 352-3352.
 

UCP of Central Florida will celebrate a star-studded event at An Evening at the Palace Gala to be held on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa in the Walt Disney World Resort. The evening’s two celebrity co-hosts, Emmy-Award Winning Actor Dan Aykroyd and Emmy-Nominated Actress Cheryl Hines, will be joined by local stars impacting the mission of UCP of Central Florida, throughout six campuses providing support, education and therapy to children with and without disabilities.

The 19th annual fundraiser will present two of the organizations prestigious distinctions: the Jack Holloway Star of Gratitude Award and The Jackie Bailes Legacy Award. The Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation has been chosen as this year’s recipient of the Jack Holloway Star of Gratitude Award. The award is named after Jack Holloway, founder of ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, for his life's work as an entrepreneur and philanthropist of many worthwhile causes including UCP of Central Florida. Honorees who receive the Star of Gratitude Award have demonstrated, through their community and philanthropic efforts, a commitment to continuing the legacy of serving children with disabilities. The generous support of The Martin Andersen-Garcia Andersen Foundation over the past decade has significantly impacted the development of UCP’s East Orange/Bailes campus and enrichment of services offered at various locations including UCP’s Pine Hills campus. 

Dr. Donald and Mrs. Cindy Diebel, of Winter Park, are the fourth recipients of the Jackie Bailes Legacy Award. The recognition honors passionate individuals whose love and guidance has helped UCP children and families build a better life, feel respected in striving toward specialized goals and realize their value as members of our community. The scope of Dr. Donald and Mrs. Cindy Diebel’s reach has truly been extraordinary by serving as the primary sponsor of The Faces Behind the Miracles Fundraising Breakfast, one of UCP’s signature events. Their leadership of this event over the past six years has been instrumental in communicating the value of UCP’s programs, while inspiring other community influencers to also embrace the mission to support our children.

In addition to the award honorees, the Evening at the Palace Gala is pleased to welcome an Honorary Host Committee. These ambassadors champion the mission of UCP at this fundraiser and throughout the year. The  2012 Honorary Host Committee includes Representative Sandy Adams, Chas & Kim Bailes, Charlie & Jackie Bailes, Cynthia Bailes, Jess & Betsy Bailes, Dick & Andrea Batchelor, The Honorable Rich Crotty, Sheriff Jerry and Val Demings, Commissioner Phil Diamond, Mayor Buddy Dyer, Dr. Deborah German, Dr. John Hitt, John W. Holloway, Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Orange County Chief of Staff Graciela Noriega Jacoby, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., State Attorney Lawson Lamar, Roger & Janet Larue, John Morgan, Senator Bill & Grace Nelson, Representative Scott Plakon, Commissioner John "Q" Quiñones, Representative Scott Randolph, Senator Marco Rubio, Dr. Sandy Shugart, Senator David Simmons, Representative Darren Soto, Chairman Bill Sublette and Commissioner Jennifer Thompson.

An Evening at the Palace is presented by Premier Beverage and sponsored by Fishback Dominck, Baterby’s Art Auction Gallery, Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa, Walt Disney World, Freeman, PSAV Presentation Services, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits and Orlando Home & Leisure. All proceeds benefit support, education and therapy programs provided by UCP of Central Florida for children with and without disabilities. Sponsorships and tickets are available at www.ucpgala.com. For information, please call (407) 852-3352 or email mmannarino@ucpcfl.org.