Puppet Palooza 2011

There were lots of new and familiar faces at this year’s Puppet Palooza, and everyone helped create nearly 400 puppets!  The puppets will be sent to preschool children in Haiti, because they weigh very little and are more easily transported than heavier toys.  Thanks to everyone for your support!

Many of the puppets from Puppet Palooza 2010 were sent with Helping Hands Touching Hearts to the children of Massingir Velho Village in Mozambique, Africa.  Take a look at our Puppet Palooza page for more information.

2011 March Madness Raffle

Our March Madness Raffle is approaching quickly! Be sure to contact any of the ConnectUS Directors to get your tickets!

After you’ve bought your tickets, watch this post every night in March after 7 p.m. to see if you’ve won!!

2011 ConnectUS Spaghetti Dinner

2010 Bowling for a Change and Silent Auction

Thanks, everyone, for making this year’s bowling event another success!  Over 100 bowlers turned out for a great afternoon of fun, and the silent auction winners went home with dozens of fabulous prizes, including a beautiful armoire, a trip to Traverse City, two hand-made quilts, original framed photographs, autographed novels, tickets to sporting events, shopping and restaurant gift cards, lots of chocolate and coffee, and many more! 

Special thanks to Laura Burke and Laraine Larkin for obtaining all of the donated items for the auction, to Novi Bowl for hosting the event, to Michelle White for photography, to Laura Burke, Laraine Larkin and Eileen Whalen for organizing the event, and to everyone who was able to come and enjoy the fun.

Hope to see you all again next year!

March Madness Raffle

Our March Madness Raffle is approaching quickly! Be sure to contact any of the ConnectUS Directors to get your tickets!

After you’ve bought your tickets, watch this post every night in March after 7 p.m. to see if you’ve won!!

ConnectUS Spaghetti Dinner

Last Friday was the first ever ConnectUS Spaghetti Dinner.  Over 100 attendees gathered at Faith Lutheran Church in Livonia to enjoy salad, spaghetti, and (of course) cake.  Our guests also had an opportunity and to view posters, scrapbooks, and displays showcasing our progress since we began in August of 2008.  A great time was had by all, despite the bitter cold outside!!

The dinner was success for many reasons, but the best part was seeing so many old and new friends together.  Thank you to Faith Lutheran Church, to all those who prepared food or display items, and to those who assisted with set-up, serving, and clean-up.  Special thanks to everyone who attended, and to Laraine Larkin,  Laura Wooton, Rosanne and Chelsea Romanczyk, Megan Burke, Kathy Procailo, Shelley and Janet Kopka and Beth Carlson and Lynda Waldeck  for all your help.  Thank you especially to Laura Burke for the many hours of hard work she put in to produce a great dinner and such a nice evening.

Welcome

Welcome, everyone, to the inaugural post of the ConnectUS blog.   We hope to keep you updated and informed as ConnectUS continues to move forward toward our goal of providing day programs for multiply-impaired young adults after graduation.  Please feel free to share your comments here.