eConnect

July 2022

Message from Our Executive Director
Dr. Anay Abraham

“I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday.” Elenor Roosevelt

Choices are something we may take for granted on a daily basis.  What to wear, what to eat, where to work, etc.  Everyone should have the right to choose where they live as well.  Over the past 

twenty years, housing choices for persons with disabilities have expanded.  However, while the development of dynamic affordable housing communities, designed to meet the needs of special populations are being built across the country, affordable housing supportive choices for individuals with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities remains limited.  

We have included informative links below that will provide an understanding of this issue and the need for affordable enriched communities like we envision for future residents of Casa Familia.

• Fueling Housing & Community Options for Adults with Autism and other Neurodiversities  
• Opening Doors: A Discussion of Residential Options for Adults Living with Autism and Related Disorders 
• Supportive Housing for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 
• Autism Housing Network Housing Directory 

2022-23 Legislative Appropriation Awarded to Casa Familia! 

We are grateful for the support of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Lt. Gov. Jeannette Nunez and our legislative champions Sen. Manny Diaz, Jr. and Rep. Anthony Rodriguez as we announce that Casa Familia, Inc. was awarded $2 million in the 2022-23 Legislative Budget.  This funding has been approved for the planning and development of a community designed to maximize independence and promote community engagement for individuals who will benefit from full-time services and supports to live in a residential setting. 

Are You Interested in Taking A (Virtual) Tour

of Casa Familia?

Plan to pour yourself a cup of coffee (or tea) and join us on Wednesday, September 28th at 3:00 PM for Coffee at the Casa!  During this short virtual tour you will learn about and see the vision for the Village of Casa Familia as presented by members of the Casa Familia family.  Space is limited so please click on the button below to sign up and we will provide the link to attend prior to the date. We look forward to having you join us!

Spotlight on Advisory Board Member

Elena Bluntzer

This quarter we are delighted to feature Elena Bluntzer. Elena is a successful Real Estate Professional at ONE Sotheby’s International Realty with over 36 years experience in Miami-Dade County. She joined our advisory board in December 2021 and immediately became an integral member of the Fund Development Committee.

Elena has a personal connection to Casa Familia's mission. Her 63-year old brother Carlos  is developmentally disabled.  He has lived with their now elderly mother for most of his life.  Elena and her mother have worked tirelessly to ensure that Carlos lives a happy and fulfilled life.  She looks forward to the opportunity for Carlos to live at the Village of Casa Familia where he can make wonderful friendships and receive the support he needs to live independently.  As part of the Advisory Board she hopes to help bring attention, awareness and financial support from her real estate clients and colleagues to Casa Familia as well as lend a hand in any capacity in which she may be able and qualified.    

Elena feels that Casa Familia confirms what she has always believed:  NOTHING can replace what a group of passionate, goal-oriented individuals can accomplish when there is a defined vision and genuine love and respect for a worthy cause.  She is inspired by Casa Familia and its culture that she describes as “open to everyone’s ideas that stem from individual experiences and history”.  We are grateful to Elena  for her commitment to Casa Familia and championing our cause.

Potential Resident Spotlight

Meet Zachary (Zach) Tovin! Zach is grateful for the possibility of becoming a resident of the Village of Casa Familia. He is looking forward to living and working on his own, enjoying the amenities at the Village, and making new friends. He is on the Autism Spectrum and grew up in South Florida. After high school, Zach attended the Horizons School in Birmingham, Alabama where he studied and honed the skills he needed to live and  work independently. In 2019, he graduated from ARC Broward Culinary Arts program where he received his Culinary Arts certification in knife and cooking skills. He currently works as a cook & server at Nova Southeastern University’s Razors Reef in Fort Lauderdale. 

When he is not working, he enjoys photography, listening to music, playing video games and hanging out with friends. Zach is a member of the Camera Club at Flamingo Gardens and has displayed his photography at various events in South Florida. You can find more information about his photography at his website "Zach Tovin Photography". 

We are extremely appreciative for Zach’s input at our Round Table Events and look forward to Zach becoming more involved in Casa Familia.   

Welcome Founders Society Members 

Thank you to Erivaldo Arraes and Truman & Scarlett Brooks, our newest members, who recently joined as Friends of the Founders Society.  We are delighted to have you as part of our family! 

If you are interested in learning more about the Founders Society and how you can become a member, please contact Debbie Korge at dkorge@casafamiliainc.org, visit our website at https://casafamiliainc.org/founders/ or click on the link below.

Visiting ARC Jacksonville Village

The ARC Jacksonville Village Team, led by Casa Familia Advisory Board Member and former ARC CEO, Jim Whittaker, graciously hosted representatives from Casa Familia, and our partners at Atlantic Pacific Communities (AP) and United Community Options (UCO) for a tour of their state of the art residential community.  

During our visit, we had the opportunity to learn about the inner workings of this vibrant community, meet many of the Village residents, and be invited into their homes. It was inspiring to witness this community in action and how it supports its residents to live their best lives.  ARC Jacksonville Village is a shining example of a successful supported housing solution designed to serve individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.  We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from this amazing team.    

Thank you to Jim Whittaker and the ARC Village staff for their help and guidance.

2022 Silver Seal of Transparency

We’re excited to share that our organization has earned a 2022 Silver Seal of Transparency with Candid! Now, you can support our work with trust and confidence by viewing our Nonprofit Profile

Support Our Mission

to create sustainable, enriched and affordable housing communities, with features, amenities and services designed to benefit adults with intellectual, developmental, and other related disabilities.

In this critical year of our planned groundbreaking of the Village of Casa Familia, our greatest need is mission-building support. You can help make a lasting impact in your community. Your donation to Casa Familia will give adults with IDD the gift of affordable residential options and a pathway to independence. Ways to help:

Make Us Smile

You can help Casa Familia every time you shop online by using AmazonSmile and asking your friends to do the same. AmazonPrime members enjoy all the same benefits on AmazonSmile and Amazon donates .5% of your qualifying purchases to Casa Familia.

PILLAR

Trager Family Foundation

Mrs. Willard Wheeler

STEWARD
Anne and Jim Davis
Marc S. Plonskier

BUILDER

The Family of H.R. Dunn Arencibia

The Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation

The Rainforth Foundation, Inc.

Tom and Marie-Ilene Whitehurst

BENEFACTOR

Sue and Fred Diamond Charitable Foundation

The Miami Foundation

Cecilia Montero
Michael Moran

The Ward Family

PATRON
Casa Familia Bankers Alliance/Erbi Blanco-True

Carol Whitehurst Deeser

First Horizon Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. K. Lawrence Gragg
The Inamdar Family
Karin and Lane Jawitz

Joselow Foundation/Adam Bierman

Vicki Kroviak and Steve Grieder

The Rossel Family & Friends
Ryder Charitable Foundation
Lourdes Sanchez

Jan and Bernie Silver Family

The Wiseheart Foundation

FRIEND

Erivaldo Arraes

Bradesco BAC Florida Bank

Truman and Scarlett Brooks

Carol and Gerald B. Cope, Jr.

Carol Whitehurst Deeser

The Feldman Family
Marcell & Veronica Felipe/ Daniel Felipe

Dave Lawrence Jr./The Children’s Movement of Florida

Lena Johnson and John Lowell

MasTec

Mrs. Edward N. Moylan

Peacock Foundation
Frank and Maria M. Perez

Nestor J. Plana
Margaret and Roger Starner

Jack & Maxine Wishart Charitable Trust/
Lisa Wishart Chaffin

Founders of the Village of Casa Familia are making a real impact in their own community and in the lives of some very exceptional people by helping to build the first affordable housing community in Miami-Dade County for adults with IDD.

Leave a lasting legacy by becoming a Founder of the Village of Casa Familia. 

Casa Familia, Inc. Recognizes Our
Village of Casa Familia Partners

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