AbilityFirst teamed up again with the Los Angeles Rotary Club (LA5 Rotary) for their 15th annual bowling party for children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and epilepsy. The AbilityFirst LA Rotary Club Bowling Party was held on Saturday, March 21, at the AMF Bowling Lanes in Montebello.
AF and Rotary5 Bowling Party“This was really a fun event for the children and adults with disabilities,” said AbilityFirst President and CEO Lori Gangemi. “We have had a long history with the Rotary Club of Los Angeles. We have valued their support of our organization for the last 89 years. It has been a remarkable relationship derived from business leaders who care and want to continually encourage people with disabilities to excel.”
The LA Rotary Club has supported AbilityFirst since it was founded in 1926 under its previous name, the Crippled Children’s Society of Southern California. With the club’s support, AbilityFirst has pioneered essential community services and launched advocacy campaigns in support of disability rights. Over their long history together accomplishments include: setting a model standard in accessibility with the design and construction of one of the very first fully accessible camps in the nation; opening one of the first vocational training programs in the country for adults with disabilities; being a forerunner in supported employment helping adults with developmental disabilities succeed in competitive community jobs; and recently averting a programming crisis by sponsoring and helping to secure passage of state Senate Bill 309, which now ensures that young adults with developmental disabilities can receive after school care throughout high school.
The Rotary Club sponsored event started with an active morning of bowling followed by a pizza lunch and awards. Rotary Club volunteers helped bowlers choose a ball and put on bowling shoes; provided support and encouragement with bowling pointers and scoring; assisted with serving lunch; and presented medals to all the participants.
The AbilityFirst LA5 Rotary Club Bowling Party included 76 children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities from six of AbilityFirst’s’ program sites including community centers in Costa Mesa, East Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Pasadena, as well as two group homes in Pasadena. LA5 Rotarians were the hands-on hosts and volunteers working directly with AbilityFirst bowlers.
About AbilityFirst
Established in 1926 AbilityFirst, formerly Crippled Children’s Society of Southern California, provides programs and services to help children and adults with disabilities reach their full potential. Through 25 locations across Southern California, they offer a broad range of employment, recreational and socialization programs as well as accessible residential housing complexes and an accessible camp, Camp Paivika, for both children and adults.
