40 Years of Service 1970 - 2010 - Rappahannock Area Community ...

Community Impact Award Presented to RAAI
On May 15, 2010, at the Fifth Anniversary Celebration of All Saints Parish Hall, Christ Episcopal Church presented
their Community Impact Award to the Rappahannock Adult Activities (RAAI). RAAI was selected to receive
the recognition for outstanding programs and services to the community. Senator Edd Houck, a member
of the church, presented the award to RAAI. He reminded attendees of the importance of being kind to your
neighbors, no matter who they are and no matter their abilities.
RAAI first began partnering with Christ Church in 1999. Participants assist in light cleaning as well as occasionally
setting up the church for events. Participants access the library, shops, parks, and post office located
nearby. RAAI is onsite nearly five days a week. Most recently, participants have begun arriving directly at the
Church and using that facility as their daily base. The church, located in the area of Spotsylvania Courthouse, is
in close proximity to the Edith O. Fleming Building, RACSBs Spotsylvania County Clinic and future day support
site.
Members of the RAAI Board of Directors, staff, and residents of Piedmont Drive Group Home and Stonewall Estates
Group Home participated in the celebration.
RAAI has been providing community-based developmental day services since 1976. A non-profit organization,
RAAI is dedicated to providing valuable opportunities for adults
with intellectual disability to participate successfully in the
community. Participants enjoy valuable social, vocational, and
recreational activities that build upon their relationships with
their families, friends, and communities.
Pictured from left: Jim Gillespie, Community Support Services
Director; Senator Edd Houck; Kathy Valentine, past RAAI
Board President; Susan Hartsook, RAAI Board President;
Martha Weston, RAAI Board Member; Bill Doumas, RAAI
Board Member; RAAI participant Joseph Parker; and Day
Support Specialist Angela Brown.
Planting a Pinwheels for Prevention Garden
On April 11, 2010, the community
came together in front of the Rappahannock
United Way Building in
Fredericksburg, VA to plant a “Pinwheels
for Prevention Garden” in
honor of the children of the Greater
Fredericksburg Area. The event was
held in conjuction with Child Abuse
Prevention Month.
Senator Edd Houck attended the
dedication ceremony and challenged
the youth and representatives
of the local social service
agencies who were present to continue
to work together to be the
safety net that our community needs
during these difficult times when
economic stressors make the job of
parenting
event
more challenging.
The garden
is
sponsored
by the
Rappahannock
Area April
Blue Ribbon
Coalition. The pinwheel is the
symbol of child abuse prevention
recognizing that it takes an outside
force to make a pinwheel move. Together,
the people of our community
can be that outside force that positively
impacts us to act collectively
to promote alternatives to child
abuse and neglect.
To learn more, visit www.preventchildabuseva.org.
Summer 2010
www.racsb.state.va.us
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