News & Updates | UCP+ of San Luis Obispo

UCP+ invites the community to its annual Celebration by the Sea, an afternoon of music, fine wine, delicious appetizers, and community spirit on Saturday, October 24, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the SeaCrest Resort in Pismo Beach.

Guests will enjoy a beautiful oceanfront setting while listening to the inspiring music of Grammy Award winner Louie Ortega. The event will also feature drinks, appetizers, and an outstanding selection of wines from local wineries, showcasing the best of California’s Central Coast.

Adding to the excitement, UCP+ will host a week-long online Silent Auction with unique items and experiences donated by generous community supporters. Bidding will conclude at 4:00 p.m. on October 24, giving participants the opportunity to make their final bids during the celebration.

Proceeds from Celebration by the Sea help UCP+ continue providing programs and services that empower children and adults with disabilities throughout San Luis Obispo County. Every ticket purchased and every auction bid helps create greater opportunities for independence, inclusion, and community participation.

For ticket information, please call (805) 543-2039 or visit ucp-slo.org. We hope you’ll join us for an unforgettable afternoon by the sea while making a meaningful difference in the lives of those served by UCP+.

UCP+ is excited to welcome 70 adults to Camp Kelley Creek, taking place August 23–28 at Camp Arroyo Grande. This year’s residential camp promises six unforgettable days of friendship, recreation, and personal growth, all centered around the exciting theme, ‘Celebrating the World Cup.’

Camp Kelley Creek provides adults with disabilities an opportunity to enjoy a traditional overnight camp experience in a safe, supportive, and fun-filled environment. Throughout the week, campers will participate in music and movement sessions, swimming, arts and crafts, games, and many opportunities to build lasting friendships.

One of the week’s highlights will be an excursion to the Pismo Beach Pier, where campers can enjoy the beautiful Central Coast, take in the ocean views, and create lasting memories together.  They will also go shopping at the WalMart in Arroyo Grande.

Camp Kelley Creek continues UCP+’s long tradition of creating meaningful recreational opportunities that promote independence, confidence, and community. With dedicated staff and volunteers, Camp Kelley Creek remains one of the highlights of the year for many participants and their families.

As the countdown to August begins, everyone at UCP+ looks forward to another incredible week of laughter, adventure, and celebration at Camp Arroyo Grande.

United Cerebral Palsy of San Luis Obispo County (UCP+) is thrilled to announce the launch of enhanced social recreation programs, made possible through funding from the Tri-Counties Regional Center (TCRC). This new funding initiative breaks down financial barriers, ensuring that local community members on a tight budget have the support and resources needed to get out, explore, and actively participate in their local community.

Social recreation is vital for building confidence, fostering long-term friendships, and enhancing overall quality of life. Through this partnership with TCRC, UCP+ is opening doors to meaningful experiences that empower individuals with disabilities to engage in enriching social environments.

Exciting Programs to Explore

The TCRC-funded funding supports a variety of tailored programs designed to match different interests and social goals:

• Leisure Club: Designed for adults who want to try new hobbies, attend local events, and participate in fun, group-oriented activities across the region.
• CIP Tours: Community Integration Program (CIP) tours offer structured, supported group outings to cultural landmarks, entertainment venues, and regional attractions, encouraging community exploration and independence.
• Dinner Club: A favorite for food lovers and socializers alike, the Dinner Club brings members together to enjoy delicious meals at local restaurants while practicing independent living and social skills.
• UCP Connections: A peer-focused social space that helps members build lasting relationships through shared activities, game nights, and casual gatherings.

Breaking Down Barriers to Community Access

For many individuals living on fixed or limited incomes, the cost of recreational activities and group outings can be a significant obstacle.

“Our goal has always been to create inclusive opportunities where everyone feels welcome and connected,” states Executive Director, Mark Shaffer. “Thanks to funding from the Tri-Counties Regional Center, our members can participate in community experiences without worrying about the financial strain. It’s about building community, independence, and lasting memories.”

To learn more about eligibility, upcoming schedules, or how to register for these TCRC-funded social recreation programs, please visit ucp-slo.org or contact the UCP+ office directly at (805) 543-2039.

 

UCP+ held a very successful Night Without Limits event at the Courtyard by Marriott on Saturday, October 18^th.  The theme for the evening was Wild, Wild West.  The event featured a sit down dinner, winetasting, and a silent auction.  Joe Hoeflich, the Program Manager of the SLO Tri-Counties Regional Center, received the UCP+ Citizen of the Year Award.  Makayla Rustigian received the Raymond Castro Self-Advocacy Award.  UCP+ would like to thank our sponsors: Nonprofits United, Thoma Electric, David Murray, Jeff Priolo, and Mark Shaffer for their support.  We also thank the wineries and businesses who made donations for the Silent Auction.

The UCP Board of Directors voted to approve to change the organization’s name from United Cerebral Palsy of San Luis Obispo County to UCP+ of San Luis Obispo County.  The organization has been concerned that the United Cerebral Palsy name leads to the assumption that UCP only serves members with cerebral palsy.  UCP+ serves members with any type of developmental disability.  “We do not want to confuse our members or donors about who we are providing services for in San Luis Obispo County”, said UCP+ Executive Director, Mark Shaffer.  Over the next six months, UCP+ will be placing their new logo on their website, stationary, and vehicles.

UCP will be moving their summer camp for adults with disabilities from Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria to Camp Arroyo Grande.  The move is an effort to reduce the cost of the camp that has been operating since the summer of 1989.  UCP has hired Jeff Evans to handle the preparation of all the meals for the camp from August 22-28^th.  70 campers have signed up for this year’s camp.  Camp Arroyo Grande has a swimming pool, so campers will enjoy afternoon pool sessions.  The camp also offers a daily excursion to the Pismo pier area and shopping at Walmart.  Most of the campers will be funded through Tri-Counties Regional Center.

The holidays are a time to reflect on the past year and get ready for a new year.  We are thankful here at UCP for the dramatic recovery from the COVID pandemic. 

In the past year our CIP Tours, Leisure Clubs, and Camp Kelley Creek have return to full capacity. Our new UCP Connections facilitates supported trips into the community for small groups of friends.  Our CIP Dinner Club provides a dining opportunity at local restaurants to meet new friends.  The Ambassador Leadership is starting their fifth year of classes teaching our members to give back to their communities.  Our newest Horizon Program will work with groups of members to learn how to plan and implement social outings. 

We are also thankful for our volunteers and supporters who make our services possible.  We look forward to promoting individual choices for our members to live a life without limits.  Have a very happy holiday and all the best in 2024.

United Cerebral Palsy has been working with Tri-Counties Regional Center to offer more exposure to services in the community.  We are also using a person centered approach to ask our members where they want to go in the evenings and weekends.  Our UCP Connections are small group outings planned with the member and their friends.  We include transportation and staff support if the member requests them for their trip into the community.

If you have any questions or are curious as to what this means for you or someone you may know, please don’t hesitate in contacting us at UCP. Call us at (805) 543-2039 or email us at contact@ucp-slo.org.

UCP of SLO had a launch day for members to sign-up for 2023 activities and had an outstanding response. We spent all day on the phone and emailing with members, support staff, and family members to assist our members in signing up for their favorite activities. Having a launch day for members to start signing up allows UCP Staff to see what activities are most popular and excites our members the most because those are the ones that fill up the fastest. With this information, we can add additional Leisure Clubs and CIP Tours onto our calendar to ensure every member gets the opportunity to participate in their favorite activity. Be sure to visit our calendar to see what exciting activities and trips we have planned for 2023!

UCP of SLO has so many exciting program expansions in 2023; UCP Connections will be available for members to create personalized activities with their friends with the help from Brooks in the UCP Office and Leisure Clubs will be happening up to two times a month for everyone to have an opportunity to participate in an activity that excites them. UCP of SLO will also host zoom events for members to virtually participate in activities like watch parties, music hour, friends hour, and more!