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Newtown, CT

Life Skills Center Dream Becomes Reality for Newtown Youth & Family Services

The Union Savings Bank (USB) Foundation awarded NYFS $12,000, for Autism Programming, as part of the bank’s ongoing effort to give back to those it serves. The USB Foundation awarded a total of $260,000 to 22 CT organizations.

“The USB Foundation was established to help make a positive, life-changing impact on our community,” said USB President & CEO Cynthia C. Merkle, who also serves as President of the Foundation. “We’ve worked very hard to provide financial assistance to organizations that provide programs focused on enriching the education of our neighbors in need. We feel that there would be a huge void in our community without the assistance of our 2021 exemplary recipients and we are fortunate to be in a position to support them.”
 
NYFS' Autism Program, REC Club - Reaching Everyone's Capabilities, is a social and recreational club for children, teens and young adults with social difficulties or Autism Spectrum Disorders. REC members engage in activities and outings with guidance from trained NYFS staff. They make friends and have fun while developing individual growth, confidence, independence, flexibility and patience.
 
For years NYFS' Executive Director Candice Bohr has had the dream of developing a Life Skills Center for REC Club members and other members of the community who will benefit from it. Recently conversations and planning have ramped up and receiving the grant money from the USB Foundation is helping make the dream of a Life Skills Center a reality.
 
The Life Skills Center will be designed to increase knowledge and the skills necessary for everyday living; goal-setting, decision making and problem solving, communication, healthy lifestyles and relationships, nutrition, personal safety, etc. The Center will be a valuable tool and help facilitate the goals set for NYFS' current REC Club program.
 
Bohr, along with Children & Teens REC Club Coordinator Adam Horvath and Young Adult REC Club Coordinator Daryl Might, are partnering with Newtown High School to give the Life Skills Center a home.
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Submitted by Newtown, CT

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