Author:  Jim Hanophy, Ability Connection President & CEO

Ability Connection, a nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, is pleased to be taking part in the 11th annual North Texas Giving Day on Thursday, September 19, 2019. The 18-hour giving day extravaganza runs from 6:00 a.m. through midnight on NorthTexasGivingDay.org.

Celebrating 66 years in the community, Ability Connection originally started as United Cerebral Palsy. We provide comprehensive life-changing care, training and support services to more than 700 individuals within Texas. Headquartered in Dallas, we also have offices in Austin, Fort Worth, Waco and Wichita Falls, as well as a new training facility in Southlake and group homes in Dallas, Garland, Richardson and throughout the rest of the state.

At Ability Connection, our core values are compassion, respect and results. We focus on those by offering a variety of services, allowing those with disabilities to live their very best life. Since our members are diverse, we offer flexible programs that are designed to meet the needs of each member individually. Our training centers focus on life skills, personal growth, recreation, and employment preparation and support. Our residential program offers community living in a place people can call ‘home’, complete with 24-hour assistance and care. We even offer services that allow members to receive assistance while staying with family in the comfort of their own home.

While Ability Connection does receive government support, the need for support from private individuals, private foundations and corporations is paramount. That’s why North Texas Giving Day is very important to us. More than 156,000 Texans with disabilities are on a waiting list for services like the ones offered by Ability Connection. We need the support from the North Texas community to continue to serve our members and those waiting for service.

Whether it’s $10 or $1,000, every dollar helps. Not available on September 19? You can schedule your gift to Ability Connection between September 9 and September 18. Your gift will then be processed on North Texas Giving Day when it will be matched and multiplied with bonus funds. There's also a new way for you to raise money this North Texas Giving Day by creating a personalized FUNdraising page on the North Texas Giving Day website.

To donate to Ability Connection on North Texas Giving Day, visit NorthTexasGivingDay.org/Ability-Connection. With your help, we can continue to provide world class services to those in need.