O K F D Faces - Oklahoma Foundation for the DisabledO K F D Faces A Publication of Oklahoma...

8421 N. Walker Ave.Oklahoma City, OK 73114405-842-6636

[email protected]

O K F D FacesA Publication of Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled Spring 2012

it’s Thursday, it must be Foundation FunNite!, the only program of its kind in central Oklahoma, where adults with disabilities can gather weekly for an evening of

fun, food, dancing, friendship, music, exercise and games. On an average night, 150 participants attend and they come from as far away as Chandler and Guthrie to take part. The Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled provides door-to-door transportation for many of them.

- Foundation FunNite! -

Continued on page 2

PRESORTFIRST CLASS US POSTAGE

PAIDOKLA CITY, OKPERMIT NO 607

A Publication of Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled

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Foundation FunNite! provides adults with similar physical and mental challenges a safe place to come together and experience camaraderie and beneficial activities that stimulate both the body and the mind.

Foundation FunNite! usually has a theme and includes national holidays like the Fourth of July, President’s Day and Labor Day and special occasions like Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day, in addition to religious holidays like Easter and Christmas. Thanksgiving is also a well-attended party.

Foundation FunNite! is held on 50 Thursday evenings throughout the year at the Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled, Inc. headquarters at 8421 N. Walker in Oklahoma City.

See Page 5 for details on how you can be part of Foundation FunNite!

Continued from page 1

Devon Energy Corporation Community and Public Affairs staff team members Macay McComas and Greg Ansolabehere (below right) show two canvases representative of two large six-piece murals Devon employees painted as a volunteer outreach project in March. The parrot mural is shown completed (below left). The murals will be permanently on display in OKFD’s Impact Oklahoma Recreation Center.

A United Way of Central Oklahoma Allocation Subcommittee visited OKFD on April 9 and included the following volunteers:

Tristan Adler, Frank Barnes, Jim Gray, Dean Kiser, Cori Loomis, Candie McKee, Art Oneal, Janis Reeser, Pamela Roberts,

John Schaller, Shardae Tarkington and Pam Whinery, in addition to UW staff member Annette Kennedy.

Community Connection


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OKFD Employee Receives Statewide Recognition Jessica Jackson, ACMA, who is an OKFD activity director, has been named Employee of the Year by LeadingAge Oklahoma, a 100-member statewide association of nonprofit homes and services for the aging.

At OKFD, Jessica works in both Direct Care and Residential Services, where she comes in contact with some of OKFD’s most fragile clients. Jessica has direct responsibility for a group of three clients, and she supervises four staff that care for an additional 24 persons.

In nominating her an OKFD employee wrote: “There isn’t anything here she won’t do or help with. She is able to relay

information from her supervisor in a way that her staff can understand and act upon. Jessica is honest, alert, hard working, self-motivated, caring, and compassionate. She wants the best from and for her clients and staff. She does not like to disappoint anyone.”

While Jessica’s clients have many physical challenges, they also have lots of opportunities to enjoy life and to be active. In fact, she and her staff recently started a new program for people that have severe disabilities. Her clients do arts and crafts, and they perform the pledge of allegiance to the flag every morning. There are beds they can lie in and recliners they can sit in when they need to get out of their wheelchairs. They go bowling on Mondays and to Walmart on Tuesdays, have speech and dance classes on Wednesdays, and movies on Thursdays. There are special outings at least quarterly. It takes a lot of work to get all of the field trips organized, what with medications and brief changes required for most clients.

“When we discovered that we needed someone to get more certification for tube feeding and diabetic testing, Jessica went back to school. She now administers all medication, tube feedings, and diabetic testing along with everything else she accomplishes throughout the day,” says Mary Haddad, Jessica’s supervisor.

Interview with a Foundation FunNite! SponsorThe annual Christmas party at OKFD has blossomed since Keith and Jan Rasmussen got involved. Keith, a senior geologist with Chesapeake Energy Corporation, and Jan, a retired LPN, have grown the event by getting other family members, business colleagues and friends involved.

OKFD - When did you first visit OKFD?

The Rasmussens - Keith was asked to organize a United Way “Day of Caring” activity when he was with EOG Resources back in 2002. Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled appeared to be a worthy organization, and we wanted to do some special projects that would bless the lives of the clients and staff.

A small EOG Resources employee group designed the landscaping and gazebos for the courtyard area and obtained all the necessary materials. On the “Day of Caring” more than 50 EOG employees worked from morning until dark to complete the landscaping, gazebos, and a decorative retaining wall.

OKFD – Have you been involved with other OKFD projects?

The Rasmussens - Keith has been involved in a few painting projects, and we also donated the large Christmas tree and decorations that are used every holiday season. We began sponsoring a client Christmas activity four years ago.

OKFD – Tell us about how you have recruited other volunteers and what their involvement is.

The Rasmussens – We have involved our children, grandchildren and some close friends in the yearly Christmas “store” or “auction.” Keith’s fellow Chesapeake geologist Doug Jordan has also been very helpful.


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Everyone gets involved purchasing approximately 300 items to “sell” or “auction” at the activity. The OKFD clients are each given play money that allows them to buy items including DVDs, jewelry, stuffed animals, candy and games. We have noticed that many of these special adults are extremely excited to participate because they want to buy something to give to a friend or a loved one. They reflect the true meaning of Christmas with their genuine and innocent love for others. We have sponsored four of these activities so far and hope to continue many years in the future. Our children and grandchildren have caught the spirit of this activity and future generations are learning to appreciate the joy and satisfaction that only comes through blessing the lives of others.

OKFD - What did you do for the most recent Christmas party as far as activities and gifts?

The Rasmussens - We set up four “stores” that were color-coded for the clients. Each client had enough play money to purchase two to three items depending on the cost. We had family and friends staff the stores as the clients shopped for their treasures.

OKFD - What do you personally receive back from your involvement with OKFD and its clients?

The Rasmussens - We sense a deeper appreciation for the myriad blessings that are ours, and a feeling of contentment and joy as we feel their excitement and love.

OKFD - Are you involved with other nonprofit organizations?

The Rasmussens - We actively donate to the United Way, and participate in many Church of Jesus Christ LDS service projects.

Foundation FunNite! Sponors Sought

Foundation FunNite! is the perfect community service project.

Organizations and businesses can sponsor a

Foundation FunNite! for as little as $500

and the commitment of 8 to 10 volunteers who are

present on their night to interact with party goers.

Sponsors can choose a special holiday

or party theme, too.

To learn more about how your organization or business can become a sponsor

contact Georgia Devening at 842-6636.

We also support two extended families in Honduras and Costa Rica with their business enterprises and assist with the college educations of their children. Keith served a two-year mission to Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica in 1974-76.

OKFD - Would you recommend others get involved at OKFD through their companies or organizations?

The Rasmussens - OKFD is fairly unique in providing critical services and social activities for a segment of our society that is largely disenfranchised.

One doesn’t have to spend much time with these disabled adults to realize the OKFD programs are the highlight of their lives. Interacting with these special persons fosters an immediate fondness and love.



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Continued on page 4

OKFD Employee Receives Statewide Recognition Jessica Jackson, ACMA, who is an OKFD activity director, has been named Employee of the Year by LeadingAge Oklahoma, a 100-member statewide association of nonprofit homes and services for the aging.

At OKFD, Jessica works in both Direct Care and Residential Services, where she comes in contact with some of OKFD’s most fragile clients. Jessica has direct responsibility for a group of three clients, and she supervises four staff that care for an additional 24 persons.

In nominating her an OKFD employee wrote: “There isn’t anything here she won’t do or help with. She is able to relay

information from her supervisor in a way that her staff can understand and act upon. Jessica is honest, alert, hard working, self-motivated, caring, and compassionate. She wants the best from and for her clients and staff. She does not like to disappoint anyone.”

While Jessica’s clients have many physical challenges, they also have lots of opportunities to enjoy life and to be active. In fact, she and her staff recently started a new program for people that have severe disabilities. Her clients do arts and crafts, and they perform the pledge of allegiance to the flag every morning. There are beds they can lie in and recliners they can sit in when they need to get out of their wheelchairs. They go bowling on Mondays and to Walmart on Tuesdays, have speech and dance classes on Wednesdays, and movies on Thursdays. There are special outings at least quarterly. It takes a lot of work to get all of the field trips organized, what with medications and brief changes required for most clients.

“When we discovered that we needed someone to get more certification for tube feeding and diabetic testing, Jessica went back to school. She now administers all medication, tube feedings, and diabetic testing along with everything else she accomplishes throughout the day,” says Mary Haddad, Jessica’s supervisor.

Interview with a Foundation FunNite! SponsorThe annual Christmas party at OKFD has blossomed since Keith and Jan Rasmussen got involved. Keith, a senior geologist with Chesapeake Energy Corporation, and Jan, a retired LPN, have grown the event by getting other family members, business colleagues and friends involved.

OKFD - When did you first visit OKFD?

The Rasmussens - Keith was asked to organize a United Way “Day of Caring” activity when he was with EOG Resources back in 2002. Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled appeared to be a worthy organization, and we wanted to do some special projects that would bless the lives of the clients and staff.

A small EOG Resources employee group designed the landscaping and gazebos for the courtyard area and obtained all the necessary materials. On the “Day of Caring” more than 50 EOG employees worked from morning until dark to complete the landscaping, gazebos, and a decorative retaining wall.

OKFD – Have you been involved with other OKFD projects?

The Rasmussens - Keith has been involved in a few painting projects, and we also donated the large Christmas tree and decorations that are used every holiday season. We began sponsoring a client Christmas activity four years ago.

OKFD – Tell us about how you have recruited other volunteers and what their involvement is.

The Rasmussens – We have involved our children, grandchildren and some close friends in the yearly Christmas “store” or “auction.” Keith’s fellow Chesapeake geologist Doug Jordan has also been very helpful.


2 7

Foundation FunNite! provides adults with similar physical and mental challenges a safe place to come together and experience camaraderie and beneficial activities that stimulate both the body and the mind.

Foundation FunNite! usually has a theme and includes national holidays like the Fourth of July, President’s Day and Labor Day and special occasions like Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day, in addition to religious holidays like Easter and Christmas. Thanksgiving is also a well-attended party.

Foundation FunNite! is held on 50 Thursday evenings throughout the year at the Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled, Inc. headquarters at 8421 N. Walker in Oklahoma City.

See Page 5 for details on how you can be part of Foundation FunNite!


Devon Energy Corporation Community and Public Affairs staff team members Macay McComas and Greg Ansolabehere (below right) show two canvases representative of two large six-piece murals Devon employees painted as a volunteer outreach project in March. The parrot mural is shown completed (below left). The murals will be permanently on display in OKFD’s Impact Oklahoma Recreation Center.

A United Way of Central Oklahoma Allocation Subcommittee visited OKFD on April 9 and included the following volunteers:

Tristan Adler, Frank Barnes, Jim Gray, Dean Kiser, Cori Loomis, Candie McKee, Art Oneal, Janis Reeser, Pamela Roberts,

John Schaller, Shardae Tarkington and Pam Whinery, in addition to UW staff member Annette Kennedy.

Community Connection

8421 N. Walker Ave.Oklahoma City, OK 73114405-842-6636

[email protected]

O K F D FacesA Publication of Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled Spring 2012

it’s Thursday, it must be Foundation FunNite!, the only program of its kind in central Oklahoma, where adults with disabilities can gather weekly for an evening of

fun, food, dancing, friendship, music, exercise and games. On an average night, 150 participants attend and they come from as far away as Chandler and Guthrie to take part. The Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled provides door-to-door transportation for many of them.

- Foundation FunNite! -

Continued on page 2

PRESORTFIRST CLASS US POSTAGE

PAIDOKLA CITY, OKPERMIT NO 607

O K F D Faces - Oklahoma Foundation for the DisabledO K F D Faces A Publication of Oklahoma...

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