48th Annual UCP Telethon Slated for Sunday
"We serve some 2,200 adults and children with physical and developmental disabilities," she said in a phone interview. "It's not just for people with cerebral palsy. We see people with brain injuries, muscular dystrophy, MS, autism; we see everything. I've noticed that lately a lot of middle class people who were doing fine taking care of someone in their family, now with the times, they are really struggling. We need them to find us."
Money raised from the telethon will go directly into UCP's programming, including its $500,000 assistive technology center which loans out adaptive devices such as wheelchairs, listening devices and visual scanners to those who need them.
"This is open to anybody in the community," Singer said. "People can borrow these devices for two to four weeks and if they really like them we can try to get a grant for them to have one or they can ask a friend or family member to buy one for them if that's possible. We also have medical equipment on loan such as wheelchairs and walkers. A lot of times on a Friday night we'll get a call from the hospital saying so-and-so can go home if they have a wheelchair. So we loan them one."
Adaptive equipment is not the only service that UCP of Berkshire County provides. It also offers school vacation and leadership programs for children with a variety of mental and physical disabilities. Jessica Peck, a UCP volunteer, works with many of the children. The outcome, she said, is usually a supportive one.
"I try to show kids how they can achieve their goals and different ways to live," she said. "I see kids who say they can't and do something and I tell them they at least have to try to do it."
Peck is no stranger to trying. She has been living with cerebral palsy since her childhood and suffers from seizures. As she got older, she said, her dream of having a child of her own grew stronger.
"I thought I could never have kids," she said. "But here I am with a 3-year-old daughter. I call her the miracle baby. I do have a lot of support from everyone here at the office. I've been coming here since I was just a little girl."
Singer said that like Peck, there are many people in the community who have or could benefit from UCP's support. How much support they can offer is all a matter of funding.
"We know that there are people now who need support more than they ever had," she said. "For the past three years there have been cuts in family support. We always start out behind and fighting for more support. Ironically, family support programs are the most cost-effective programs in the state."
UCP president Brenda Curry hopes that money raised from the telethon will minimize the continual gaps in state funding.
"Our telethon goal is to raise $35,000 to support our under funded programs of individual and family support and children’s programming," she said in a press release. "Community support is needed to make a difference in the lives of children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities that are looking for the tools to increase their independence and to make their dreams possible."
The telethon will be televised simultaneously by Time Warner Cable on Pittsfield Community Television's Channel 16, on Northern Berkshire Community Television Corp.'s Channel 15 and Community Television of the Southern Berkshires' Channel 16 and Eric Greene of WUPE 1110-AM/100.1-FM will be conducting a radio-thon live at the plaza. In addition, there will be a silent auction and a raffle. In Pittsfield, Bernie Avalle’s staff and volunteers of PCTV will be producing the event. Pre-event support will be provided by Dave Fabiano of NBCTV and Leo Mahoney of the CTSB.
The event features children’s entertainment, educational clips about UCP services and special guests from the community.
The schedule of entertainment:
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.: Dave Winchester, CYC All-Star Cheerleaders, Berkshire Hills Music Academy
1:30 – 2 p.m.: UCP “Fun Club” Kids, Youth Alive Step, Dance & Drumline group
2 – 2:30 p.m.: UCP Dancers, Karen’s School of Dance, Berkshire Music School KinderChoir
2:30 – 3 p.m.: Kid Zone Kids
3:00 – 3:30 p.m.: Happy Hearted Voices, Troop 20 Scout Chorus, “Chin Bo Jok” Demonstration
3:30 – 4:00 p.m.: Billsville Boys
4 – 4:30 p.m.: UCP Dancers and Staff, UCP “Fun Club” Kids
4:30 – 5 p.m.: Richmond Consolidated School Jazz Band
This is a free, family event. The public is invited to all location sites and encouraged to support UCP by making a pledge. Photographers and reporters are encouraged to attend.
For further information, to sponsor the event or to make a pledge, contact Christine Singer at 413-822-1318.