---SAN DIEGO NONPROFITS FOR OUR ARTISTS , STUDENTS AND ATHLETIC SUPERHERO'S

Dream it !

---SAN DIEGO NONPROFITS FOR OUR ARTISTS , STUDENTS AND ATHLETIC SUPERHERO'S ---SAN DIEGO NONPROFITS FOR OUR ARTISTS , STUDENTS AND ATHLETIC SUPERHERO'S Dream it !

Vincent was not only an athelete and participant in many nonprofits n San Diego , he also became an advocate and and assisted with fund raising efforts. Here is Vincent with Xzibit, from the TV show Pimp My Ride touring San Diego for a fund raising event for S4EA.

Sports 4 Exceptional Athletes is a program which encompasses 25 different sports, during each season , serving athletes with developmental disabilites ages 5 through adult. Vincent has gone to fall camps, and has been active for many years competing in Swimming, Tennis, Bocce Ball, and Golf. He has received many Gold , Silver and Bronze Awards . Vincents S4EA mentors have always been attentive to the needs of the athletes , while challenging each person to his and her abilities.

The Music Therapy Center Of California ( TMTCCA ) has gifted Vincent with an abundant variety of activities since the age of 12 yrs. old for which he and his family are very grateful for.

Vincent began Music Therapy while preparing for their yearly musical recital, where he played “ Yellow Submarine” the first year, and “ Love Me Do “ on the piano , two years in a row. He also performed as a participant of Banding Together, singing at functions through out San Diego County for fund raisers and many other events. Two events that are memorable is when he sang on stage at the Belly Up / behind the main stage, Due to his group being under age . The songs he sang with the Band and Micheal Franti was : “ Say Hey ( I Love You )“ and “ The Sound Of Sunshine”. The activities with monthly Jam sessions are exciting and rewarding . The opportunities for social and community involvement are ongoing .

Vincent also participated with Banding Together , with TMTCCA for The Special Olympics World Games held in Los Angeles , as an ambassador; as part of The California Welcome Commitee .

TMTCCA also has Jam Sessions thorugh out the year which Vincent has participated with for many years at their various locations. They also serve Miami Fl. and have On Line Jam sessions across the states. Vincent is one many Rock Stars that are featured on their website .

THE MUSIC THERAPY CENTER OF CALIFORNIA

AUTISM TREE PROJECT FOUNDATION [ ATPF ] Has been an amazing attribute to the Special Needs Community in San Diego and across the country as they provide various virtual Social Learning Programs for people across states to reach any one one the web. Vincent has participated with their summer program “ Bridge To The Beach Program, and a USD mentoring program with ATPF where he met with various football, baseball and basketball team members whom play for The Toreros - whom play for USD. TheToreros play in the NCAA Division /West Coast Conference.

Vincent has had many opportunities to volunteer as representing ATPF as a participant and advocate . Here in these pictures , Vincent met with representatives at San Diego City Hall , advocating with ATPF mentors to assist with the understanding of the need for furthering the Junior Life Guard Program with new facilities .

Bridge To The Beach program - ATPF

BRIDGE TO THE BEACH PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM ON THE BEACH WITH ONE ON ONE MENTORS AS BEACH BUDDIES .

MANY WATER SPORTS ARE SUCH AS SURFING, KAYAKING, SWIMMING , CANOEING AND OTHER WATER SPORTS ARE PRESENTED FOR A FULL WEEK , DAILY .

Vincent and his family highly refer families with members whom are on the spectrum , to contact ATPF Autism Tree Project Foundation for more information. They have events , seminars, studies , virtual classes , scholarships , parent to parent connections , and weekly classes for teens, adults and children and more . They serve the full family with many wonderful events through out the year.

Vincent had a wonderful time playing with hs Special Olympics team members and The Harlem Globe Trotters .

The Special Olympics is a global organzation, uniting players from countries around the world . They offer 32 sports to over 5 million athletes with intellectual disabilities. Vincent played floor Hockey , Basketball and early on he learned how the swim as he competed n many yearly competitions and earned many medals .

Gigi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center began in San Diego in 2017 as a non profit replicated as registered with the first TGigi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Acheivment Center in Illinois . They have over 600 locations nation wide and two locations in Mexico .

They provide free meaningful , therapeutic and educational services to individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Gigi’s has social groups for toddlers , teens and adults together and social groups with many activities according to age groups. Gigi’s of San Diego provides, always free of charge ,many classes and programs weekly through out the year for those whom have Down Syndrome. The goals of Gigi’s are to enhance the lives of people with Down syndrome by providing educational opportunities , classes and social experiences in many aspects of arts , music , dance , cooking, physical activities , and many other aspects of expression and arts with the care of empowering families with classes on advocacy and education and much more. They hope to someday provide college classes as a Down Syndrome University as they grow in time. Vincent highly recommends Gigi’s Playhouse to families with babies and toddlers with Down syndrome along with their siblings who are included in all aspects of the activities. He highly enjoys the adult social group during holiday events and many of the classes .

Challenged Sailors of San Diego is a wonderful non profit which teaches sailing skills on the bayfront in San Diego . Vincent loves learning to sail and learning to set up the sailboats , take sail, maneuver through rough waves from speedboats and stearing back to port , learning to tie down the boats and put down. the sails. Vincent wishes to participate in the future, with the Sailing Competition with Challenged Sailors. They teach new sailing mentors sailing skills also to continue working with the physically and challenged individuals through out Southern Ca. and with people in recovery with medical needs.

Vincent wants to give a Shout Out and a huge Thank You to Ryan Frisella, his last mentor and Program Manager at Access To Independence , whom worked with Vincent weekly teaching Vincent ASL and other Arts for over a year during the Quarantine when we all had to stay home during the COVID 19 Pandemic. He made ASL learning exciting by using many songs to learn ASL Hand signing. Both mentors had been excellent and empowering for Vincent .

ACCESS TO INDEPENDENCE Vincent had his first 3 photography and art shows , with one in an Art Gallery , and he enjoyed mentorship, many activities and participated as an advocate . This program in Mission Valley - San Diego - assists in guidance in many areas of need for the population of disabled people. In the far right two photo’s, Vincent is advocating at a conference in San Diego, for Access to Independence to the California State council for Disabled People.

Vincent and his family gives a SHOUT OUT to Many various churches and centers including Vision : A Center For Spritual Living , Clairemont Lutheran Church , San Diego Parks And Recreation , Non- profits that support Special needs families , and those giants in the community that offer scholarships , such as UCSD and Many Water Sports non profits and companies . These and many other giants in San Diego have been there for many people with global and developmental and educational challenges . San Diego families are blessed with your gifts of time and dedication. All of you have made a difference .

THANK YOU

This wonderful program along with the people who maintain and enrich these programs , all, have been a gift to Vincent’s heart mind and spirit through out the years . Thank you.

Friendship Circle of San Diego & DAN’S PLACE

DAN’S PLACE IS A KOSHER POP UP RESTAURANT IN POWAY < SAN DIEGO

This restaurant was created to give the adults and young adults community with Special Needs the chance to learn vocational skills in the hospitality industry . They learn to participate as a chef , server, host and food prep , for fine dining experiences fot the extended community . along with other skills of set up and clean up . ‘Vincent thrived in this program which is held monthly with a new menu theme. Pictures of Vincent experiencing working in hospitality at Dans Place -Poway , Ca.-Chabad of Poway .

To Note : About The Jewish Community in Poway whom extend their kindness to all of San Diego in many capacities and services - I was highly excited to learn about Friendship Circle - whom made up for the lack of inclusive activities while Vincent was in the public school system in many areas of San Diego and San Diego County.

Friendship Circle pairs local teenagers with children and teens with special needs for weekly “Friends At Home “ visits. They create an enviroment of friendship and love for the entire family. There are many programs also with speakers and Sensitivity Training Workshops at Jewish chools and clubs , as they also include any school or organization that wishes to participate .

Also , The Lawrence Family JCC has been awarded the Ruderman Family Foundation Inaugural Rudeman Prize in Disability , recognizing the best in inclusion opportunities for people with disabilities . Vincent has been a guest , particpating in celebrations , went to a few wonderful plays and went to picnics and walks with the friends and mentors of this community .