St. George - Special Ministries

Celebrating our 35th year providing quality programming in Livingston County

803 West Main St.
Brighton, MI 48116
Phone:
(810) 229-6661
Ext. 106
Fax:
(810) 229-0149

Special Ministries Staff

Executive Director
Diane Mosey
810-229-6661
ext.106
email

Assistant Director
Sarah Eck
810-229-6661
ext.107
email

Bookkeeper
Mary Stamm
email

Program Staff
Derek Alozi
Kristen Alonzi
Sr. Joanne Belloli, CPPS
Dean Bush
Andy Butler
Diane Comstock
Audrey Engerson
John Engerson, Sr.
Pat Krispin
Patti Larzelere
Rick Larzelere

Board of Directors
Executive Committee

President
April Wyncott
email

Vice President
Patti Mortenson
email

Treasurer
Rich Marth
email

Secretary
Patrick Grace
email

Board Members
Bill Bryan
Mary Church
Pastor Steve Higley
Lauraine Hoensheid
Pastor Karl Pung
Kevin Roach

Special Ministries of Livingston County is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a multifaceted range of quality programs designed to support people living with disABILITIES in the discovery of their full potential for physical, social/emotional, educational, and spiritual growth.

Ongoing Resources Clubs and Classes		Our History	Special Ministries Forms	Online Volunteer Application	Special Ministries T-shirt Fundraiser
Ongoing Resources Clubs and Classes

	FUNDRAISER					Click here for PDF of order form

Fall 2011 Program Registration Form (PDF)	Participant Registration & Release Form Fall 2011 (PDF)	Policies and Rules (PDF)
Transportation Policy and Information (PDF)	Special Ministries Pledge Form (PDF)	Livingston County United Way Donation Form (PDF)	Rewards Programs and Form (PDF)

Volunteer Application Form
The Special Ministries Program is always seeking volunteers.
If you are interested in sharing your time and talents
please fill out the Volunteer Application Form below.
Area church groups and/or youth groups as well as community
service organizations are especially encouraged to get involved.

First and Last Name:
Other names used:
Address:
City, State and ZIP:
Email Address:
Employer:
Profession:
Date Of Birth:
Driver's License#:
Emergency Contact Name and Phone#:
Relationship to Volunteer:
How did you hear about our organization and our volunteer opportunities?
Have you been convicted of a felony within the last five years?	Yes No
If yes, please explain:
What days and times are you able to volunteer?	Sun Morning Sun Afternoon Sun Evening Mon Morning Mon Afternoon Mon Evening Tues Morning Tues Afternoon Tues Evening Wed Morning Wed Afternoon Wed Evening Thurs Morning Thurs Afternoon Thurs Evening Fri Morning Fri Afternoon Fri Evening Sat Morning Sat Afternoon Sat Evening
What are you interested in volunteering for St. George Special Ministries?
List skills, trainings, resources, knowledge that you have and may utilize while volunteering for St. George Special Ministries:
Please provide two personal and/or professional references: (include Name and Phone Number)
Relationship to you:
Do you hav $100,000 - $300,000 for bodily injury and $100,00 for property damage insurance on your automobile? (You will be asked to provide St. George Special Ministries a copy of your automobile insurance and driver's license)	Yes No
By adding my name here, I hereby attest that the above information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, and give my permission to St. George Special Ministries to run a background check on me.

form mail

Ongoing Resources, Clubs and Classes

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Heather Oaks
6165 W. Grand River,
Brighton - (517) 546-0344
Providing services to mental health consumers in Livingston County since 1991. Heather Oaks is made up of individuals who are or have been in the public private mental health system. It is a mutual, self-help organization which provides a network of support to individuals.

VIABIL Inc - Visually Impaired & Blind in Livingston
465 W. Main
Brighton - (810) 231-1277
Meetings are usually held the 1st Saturday of the month at the Brighton Lions Den, 465 W. Main and free transportation to meetings is provided. The group is open to persons of all ages with any variety of vision disorders. VIABIL features dynamic guest speakers, free activities and events with programs specific to the visually impaired citizen.

AUTISM - For Information

Autism Society of Michigan - an advocacy group for autism.
517-882-2800 or visit www.autism-mi.org

The National Autism Society of America - based in Maryland.
800-328-8476 or 301-657-0881
www.autism-society.org Publications available in Spanish.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - information on autism online at www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/asd_common.htm

Families for Early Autism Treatment
P.O. Box 255722 Sacramento, CA 95865-5722
916-843-1536
Email: webmaster@feat.org
website: www.feat.org

Livingston County United Way
(517) 548-0211
United Way Regional
Call Center
24 hours a day / 7 days a week
Last year, nearly 90,000 Livingston County residents received assistance through Livingston County funded programs. That equates to nearly half the population of Livingston County. The Livingston County United Way funds nearly 60 programs and initiatives that address the most critical needs of our area, helping to improve the lives of our friends and families. St. George Special Ministries has been a proud member agency since 1980. 17% of the Livingston County United Way revenue is being used to assist citizens living with disAbilities. In 2005 - 2006, 1/4th of our revenue came from our Livingston County United Way allocation. Our allocation was increased for the 2006 - 2007 program year to help pay for bus transportation expenses for our participants. Our agency is in the process of completing a certified audit at their request, contributing to demonstrating integrity within both of our organizations. Their annual campaign kicked off with their Annual Day of Caring. For the last four years, our agency has sponsored a field day for people living with disAbilities. Approximately 70 community volunteers from various community businesses (i.e. Howell Wal-Mart, Asahi Kasei Plastics, TG Fluid Systems, Brighton Commerce Bank) and service organizations (i.e. Sunshine Rotary Club, Boy Scout Troop #350) joined in with 45 participants playing outdoor sports/games, assisting with craft projects, etc. at the Howell City Park. Please donate. For your convenience, their pledge form appears on the back page of this newsletter. Fill it out and send your payment either to St. George Special Ministries or directly to the Livingston County United Way. Special thanks also to Wal-Mart for donating snack bags and to Asahi Kasei Plastics for donating t-shirts to the deserving volunteers.

History of St. George Special Ministries

1972 - St. George Special Ministries was started at St. George Lutheran Church in Brighton, Michigan.
– Linda Anderson (Pastor Anderson’s wife) started religious education classes for a few high school age members of St. George Lutheran Church living with Down syndrome.

1974 - St. George Special Ministries offered a monthly social event for participants and family members.

1980 - St. George Special Ministries was incorporated as a 501C-3 non-profit agency under the auspices of St. George Lutheran and St. Patrick Catholic Churches and became a Livingston County United Way funded agency.

1985 - Support was being provided from a variety of community and service organizations - Knights of Columbus Councils of Livingston County, Brighton Lions Club, Livingston Civitans Club, Livingston Women’s Club, Brighton Community Education, and the Brighton Ministerial Association.

1989 - The State of Michigan Specialized Services Transportation Grant funding began, administered by the Arc of Livingston, to help offset expensive transportation costs for use of the necessary Livingston Essential Transportation Service (LETS) busses.

1994 - 50 people participated in St. George Special Ministries programs.

1995 - St. George Special Ministries participants began to steadily increase after the Brighton Community Education Therapeutic Recreation Program was discontinued.

1996-1997 – Camp Sequoia was held for two summers at Lindbom School in Brighton for elementary school aged children living with special needs.

1997 - The annual Bowling Tournament/Banquet sponsored by the Livingston Women’s Club expanded to an All Sports Banquet. Participants in any sports program/activity offered throughout the year are now eligible to attend.

1998 - Volunteers from local high schools and church youth groups began to increase.

2001 - Program participation increased to 153 people attending a wide variety of activities, more than triple the number that attended the program in 1994.

2002 - A fundraising campaign was launched to broaden the base of support and to increase community awareness, with 170 area churches added to the mailing list.

2003 - An increase in Livingston County United Way funding was allocated to help start a summer program, enabling activities and transportation to be available year round.

2004 - St. George Special Ministries held its 1st annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser, with matching funds provided by the Livingston County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Program participation reached 170 people, the oldest of whom was 86.

2005 – Matching funds were allocated by the Livingston County United Way to develop and provide three consecutive quarterly sessions of a Healthy Social Relationships Class.
– Knights of Columbus donations increased with support from several local K. of C. councils.
– a grant was awarded from the Sisters of the Precious Blood (Maria Anna Brunner Fund) to provide opportunities for participants to attend worship services/dinners, dinners/educational classes on healthy relationships, and dinners/classes on improving communication skills.
– summer drama class participants performed a play entitled “The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf”.
– 1st gingerbread house display/sale fundraiser was held in downtown Howell as part of the Howell Fantasy of Lights Celebration.

2005–09 – an annual grant was awarded from the Sisters of the Precious Blood (Maria Anna Brunner Fund).

2006 – Special Ministries added a venture crew Boy Scout troop and a new music therapy program.
– a financial audit was completed and Special Ministries passed it with no irregularities.

2007 – in December, the Brighton City Council recognized Special Ministries as a nonprofit organization operating in the community for the purpose of charitable gaming: ie raffles

2008 – the name St. George Special Ministries took on the assumed name change of: Special Ministries of Livingston County.