Connecticut Woman Commits to a Cause on her Wedding Day

On the day of their wedding, most brides are worried about seating arrangements, crying while walking down the aisle or getting their hair just right. This is not the case for Kate O'Keefe, a Connecticut resident and Legislative Aide to the Senate Republican Caucus in the Connecticut General Assembly. On the day of her wedding, February 12, 2011, O'Keefe will be running the Cupid's Chase 5K in Hartford.

Last week, O'Keefe received a notification via email for the Cupid's Chase 5K coming up in the Hartford area and knew that she needed to run. O'Keefe started running in high school to train for soccer. Her father ran marathons and she always trained with him but it wasn't until this past summer when she fell in love with running. O'Keefe describes that she wanted a new challenge for herself on a physical level so she signed up for the half marathon in New York and trained all summer and fall. O'Keefe received a lot of support from her family and her fiance, Kenny. Kenny is the first person O'Keefe looks for at the finish line and he is always cheering her on behind the camera lense.

"Kenny and I have been together over 4 years," says O'Keefe. "We got engaged on February 13, 2009, so this weekend has so much significance for us," she added. O'Keefe's father is a judge and he is marrying the couple at a small ceremony of family and friends later that night on February 12th after the race. O'Keefe's mother is her Matron of Honor and Kenny's son is his Best Man. "It's truly an intimate family affair with the people who are most important to us and our lives and we could not be more excited," said O'Keefe.

Running for a cause is highly important for O'Keefe, which is why she chose the Cupid's Chase 5K Run hosted by Community Options. Community Options is a national nonprofit organization that has been developing homes and employment for people with disabilities since 1989. The organization operates in 37 cities across 10 states supporting thousands of people.

"I like to run for a cause because I get so much out of just the act of running that if I can do that and even just touch one person or help them in some way just by my entry fee then that is important," said O'Keefe. "I'll run pretty much any race, but the one's that help those less fortunate are the ones that really have an impact," she added.

O'Keefe says that running has given her so much personally by building self-confidence and allowing her to become more physically fit and even says that running is like her free therapy. O'Keefe indicates that she has found a stronger, cooler version of herself that she didn't even know existed as a result of running.

O'Keefe plans to make the Cupid's Chase an annual event that she participates in, but next year she will come across the finish line as Kate McAvoy. McAvoy, O'Keefe's fiance, is the owner of a restaurant chain in Connecticut called the Wood N Tap.

To join O'Keefe at the Cupid's Chase 5K Run, please visit the Cupid's Chase website to register or learn how to become a volunteer.
 


 


 
 
 
 


 

Real Work for Real Pay in San Antonio

Jennifer and Ruben lived with their mother in San Antonio where they grew up. They are brother and sister and they are persons with developmental disabilities. When Ruben approached his mid twenties, as most men do, he decided that he wanted to move away from Mom and live a more independent life. As a person with significant disabilities, he had very little options. He wanted to be independent, he wanted to be his own person and he wanted a job to earn money as all good Texans do.

His mother was being compensated by the state of Texas to assist Ruben to adequately access the community. He wanted desperately to be on his own. About three years ago, Rubin contacted Community Options. Community Options is a non-profit organization that has been doing business in Texas for the last 15 years. The mission of Community Options is to develop housing and employment for persons with disabilities.

Community Options has offices in San Antonio, Amarillo, Dallas, Corpus Christie and El Paso. Ruben contacted the case manager to express his interest in living more independently.

Staff at Community Options worked diligently with Reuben to develop a paradigm in which he could both live independently as possible, but receive support to ensure health safety and well being.

After extensive work and due diligence, staff and Reuben were able to locate a home on the south side of San Antonio. He now resides there with three other men and they have a great life.

However, staff and Reuben were still not satisfied. They knew that there was more to life and that Reuben needed a job. About eight months ago Reuben worked with the Community Options Director of Employment, Wendy Mahan. Her job is to find jobs and develop supports to enable people with developmental disabilities to remain employed. Wendy used her business advisory network and was able to secure a meaningful job for Reuben at the Burger King. Here, Reuben is responsible for restocking supplies and making sure that the restraint is kept in great shape.

Reuben filled with great joy and success at his placement decided that he would talk to his sister, Jennifer about the possibility of her working in a similar industry. She contacted Community Options and was able to secure similar housing on the northern eastern side of San Antonio. Jennifer lives in a lovely home with three other women. She affectionately refers to them as “my sisters.” They do basically what any other family does together. They plan meals and outings. They go shopping for bargains on the weekends and enjoy the community. Jennifer can do this because she contacted the Director of Employment and Ms. Mahan landed a job for Jennifer at Wendy’s. Here Jennifer has similar job responsibly as her brother and she has aspirations to be more involved with kitchen activities.

All in all, both brother and sister are doing well because of the help of Community Options. A year ago they rarely spoke, now the two of them are very close and enjoy each other’s company.

Community Options is a great non-profit and is constantly doing good to help its consumers. On February 12 Community Options of San Antonio will have a 5k race at Brackenridge Park. The race starts at 10 and the registration is at 8. It is called Cupid’s Chase and it is really exciting. Community Options runs this race simultaneously in 24 cities in 10 states. Mary Pat Christie, First Lady of New Jersey (Governor Christie’s wife) is the national Chair and she is challenging Texans to run in this race.

Local Artist Supports National Cause

Wayne Lerman, a local Artist and Architect recently became involved with Community Options to support the Cupid's Chase 5K Run! Lerman will be donating a piece of his fabulous artwork for a silent auction and party taking place on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at the Gunlocke Showroom in Manhattan.

As an architect who designs buildings, Lerman has always considered himself an artist.

"The expression of the art form is the primary expressive form in my buildings utilizing geometry, shapes, color, texture, and contradiction. It is these elements which I believe make interesting structures which have expression and meaning," stated Lerman. "In my art, I try to express color, form, and textures."



Lerman's work does not grow from a visible form but develops in how he develops the relationship, color, and texture in a composition that creates visual excitement.

Since Lerman deals with realism every day, abstract expression for him is a way to get out of the box without limitations of budget, function, and rules which are elements in the creation of architecture.



Lerman is new to the world of a painter but believes there is a feeling he can create in how his clients view his art or his buildings. It is a stimulation which he hopes makes one energized and free to think of what they imagine.

Lerman is a graduate of Pratt Institute School of Architecture. He has had classes in art, jewelry, and sculpture at Summit Art Center. He is currently at the Guild of Creative Art under James Kent. Lerman's work was recently displayed at the Middletown Abstract Art Exhibition and Cask 591 located in West Long Branch.

If you are interested in bidding on Lerman's work at the silent auction or supporting Community Options, please click here!