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THE JUNE SUN-RAISER | 2025
DEVELOPING PLACES
& HOLDING SPACES
A decisive fundraising campaign supporting the mission of Opportunity Knocks
The June Sun-Raiser is a new fundraising campaign for Opportunity Knocks, installed at a critical time, supporting important needs in this moment of our mission. As we look forward to challenging transitions and important projects, we recognize this opportunity to engage our community. We invite you to explore the stories and hope you can support the continuing development of the Warrior Mission.
Campaign Goals
- Individual Donation Total | $50,000 56%
- Match Total | $15,000 95%
- Outreach Champions | 0%
- Total # of Donations | 0%
Spread the Word
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!
You can support our effort by spreading the word to your network. Click the button below to take a look at our Sun-Raiser Outreach kit. This toolkit features instructions for social media engagement, a customizable email/letter template, and downloadable campaign photos to enhance those posts and emails.
THE MARKETING GUIDE
CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW
THE JUNE SUN-RAISER
On June 16th, we kick off the 2025 June Sun-Raiser. This is a new fundraising campaign for OK, but like other campaigns will focus on Warriors, programs and partnerships that live in the mission. We’ll articulate how we are holding our spaces and developing the places where we hold programs and build community. We’re sharing stories from the mission to help you visualize our moment and the challenges we face in major organizational transitions.
Increase Your Impact
Did you know that many employers match their employees’ donations? A matching contribution could double or even triple the impact of your gift. Past donations made during the year may also still be eligible. Don’t wait-use the search box NOW to see if your employer has a matching program.
Questions?
Contact OK’s Development Director
Susan Mika
susan.mika@opportunityknocksnow.org
NEEDS INVENTORY
PROJECTS & INVESTMENTS
This year’s Sun-Raiser campaign theme shines a light on active and ongoing endeavors in many areas of the organization. Key elements include holding spaces and developing places. We are revisiting well-established partnerships to develop new space-sharing agreements, we are developing new partnerships to relocate spaces where we have been operating. We are also planting new seeds by investing resources in initiatives. Scroll around below to learn more about work done and work in progress.
THE FARM BUILD
The farm buildout begins in June! We are engaged in the process of developing a long-term lease agreement for land use at The Grove in Forest Park. While we build the agreement, we have use permissions to activate our operations this summer! First on the list is Zone 1 – the Grow Area, which includes a substantial landscaping project that will establish 2400 sq ft of farming space that is fully accessible, fortified and full of 40 raised beds!
FINANCIAL ACCESSIBILITY
As we push through the last phases of becoming a licensed provider of community day services (day programs), we stay vigilant in our effort to remain accessible to Warriors and Families. Our accessibility approach stretches beyond the typical measures, as we do our best to work with families that experience financial hardship. These agreements create a need for support from the community through fundraising, grants and donations.
PROGRAM SPACE
This Summer we will say goodbye to our longtime friends and space-sharing partners at the RFCC when the OPRFHS CITE program leaves the building for their new digs at Grant White School in Forest Park. We will shed a tear when they go. With our sadness also comes opportunity. As we renegotiate our lease agreement in the building, we are recognizing significant opportunities to broaden our program space and inventory our needs. From technology to furniture, we have a long wishlist of needs that will help us make the space work better for our mission.
ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT
We focus on abilities, not disabilities and we welcome every body to join us in the OK Mission where we form a collaboration, built with, not for the Warriors, families and communities. To achieve success in our mission, we must be adaptive. Adapting requires creative and innovative equipment. We have a wishlist of needs that include culinary implements, adaptive writing tools, sensory devices and more. Your dollars support our adaptability and innovative engagement strategies.
THE JUNE SUN-RAISER
A WARRIOR’S STORYBRANDON S
A WARRIOR STORY
A BRIGHT LIGHT AT OK
When Brandon walks into a program at OK, you can’t help but smile. His contagious grin and playful, down-to-earth personality light up the room, and his sense of humor keeps his peers and staff laughing right along with him..
Brandon loves connecting with his friends by sharing about himself, learning about others, and building genuine friendships where everyone feels seen and included. Brandon is a true participant in every sense of the word. He’s done it all at OK. From arts and crafts to job training, music therapy, yoga, and fitness, he approaches every opportunity with enthusiasm and joy. Through the use of adaptive tools, like special cuffs that help him hold art supplies, Brandon has gained more independence in activities he loves, which brings him pride and allows him to fully engage alongside his peers. His independence makes a huge difference in his day and his mood: when he’s empowered to participate freely, his confidence shines even brighter.
As Brandon continues to grow in our programs, his friendships deepen. His peers have learned to better understand his unique ways of communicating, like Senai, who offers him choices with hand signals, making sure his voice is heard. His friends advocate for him, making sure he is always included and part of the group. Everyone loves when Brandon is part of the action. His presence makes the experience better for all.
While Brandon continues to thrive, physical challenges still exist. Transferring in and out of his chair for toileting requires multiple staff members, pulling them away from programs and posing risks for both staff and participant safety. Our current bathrooms are small and not easily accessible for large chairs, and even simple things like doors that stay open automatically would make a huge difference.
WHY YOUR DONATION MATTERS
SEWING SEEDS OF GROWTH
We understand that this mission is powered by the funds that support it. We appreciate your support. We appreciate the trust and responsibility that come with your support. The value of your donation is tremendous. Here are some important details to express the importance of our work and your support.
01. FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
We have committed ourselves to the endeavor of overcoming any barrier that keeps Warriors from coming to our program. As an organization, we work together with families to create agreements that overcome financial constraints in order to get Warriors to programs.
%
of families with a child having I/DD scale back work hours & lose earnings on avg of $18K/yr
02. PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT
Our approach to programming centers on engagement. Every participant is supported and engaged. This approach requires us to invest in planning and personnel. On average, we have 20 Warriors in a program block. Of those 20, at least 4 require a 1:1 staffing designation to reach the level of engagement we aim to deliver.
%
of our budget is dedicated to direct support staff
03. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT
Our approach to vocational initiatives centers on engagement. Every Warrior at Work is supported and engaged in a productive, growth-oriented workplace. That support varies based on the preparation, but always requires significant staffing investments to maximize the mission.
%
Individuals w/ I/DD in supported employment successfully advance into competitive employment opps
Data Sources
Relias, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Center for Disease Control and Prevention & National Institute of Health, Disability Scoop
04. ADAPTIVE COOKING
A typical day in OK Programs includes a communal meal. Warriors will plan, prepare, serve and eat together. The meal prep is immersive and intent on inclusive involvement. This requires adaptive equipment and attentive staff.
Warriors Cook & Eat in Programs Each Day
05. WELLNESS COMMITTED
We keep it moving. Programs are embedded with wellness activities in the community and hosted at the HQ in the fitness room at the community center. We have rich partnerships with local fitness providers and a staff that is dedicated to the wellness commitment.
Obesity rate for adults with disabilities (compared to 30% for those w/o)
06. WARRIORS AT WORK
Pickling, Catering and farming are in full swing! We aim to employ and support Warriors at Work in all areas of the business with a growth-oriented approach focused on abilities, building skills and growing the business together. We are currently employing 16 Warriors at Work.
%
People with I/DD who are employed (compared to 62% for those w/o)
07. Community
We believe that communities are stronger with the presence and contribution of Warriors. Rich partnerships in the community allow us to venture out and connect programs to new spaces and places. This approach promotes our commitment to interdependence.
%
of program activities are outside of the RFCC, in the community with partners
IMPACT IN ACTION
DONATION DOLLARS AT WORK
We understand that this mission is powered by the funds that support it. We appreciate your support. We appreciate the trust and responsibility that come with your support. The value of your donation is tremendous. Here’s a quick glimpse into the impact your dollars create in the mission.
$5,000
Heavy Lifter Donor
A donation at this level can provide the program team with a much-needed lift device that can safely transfer Warriors who need mobility assist from wheelchair to toilet, bench, table, etc.
$2,500
Put ’em On Ice Donor
Our pickle production is ramping up! We make a cold batch variety of pickles, so refrigeration is imperative to that Knockout crunch. We need a new commercial refrigerator and the cost is $2,500. Help us deliver on that cold pickle snap!
$1,000
1 on 1 Champion Donor
A special sauce ingredient of OK Programs is engagement. Many Warriors need 1:1 support from staff. A donation of $500 provides 1 Warrior with 1:1 support for a full session of programming.
$500
THE MEAT MARKET Donor
The Knockout Kitchen is turning out sandwich orders! We need a higher-quality slicer to make our kitchen operations run smooth and create another adaptive tool for Warriors at Work.
$250
All Hands in the Dirt Donor
A donation of $250 can provide a 26-inch tall jumbo modular metal raised garden bed for the new Knockout Farm Site. This spec of garden bed is unique and necessary for our farm model, as the height creates an accessibility that is necessary for Warriors in wheelchairs.
$100
Lunch is on You
Warriors are at work in the Knockout Kitchen. Warriors are also hungry in programs. Our day program includes the activity of lunch, which includes eating and socializing. This donation can support lunch for 10 Warriors in OK Programs.
GET INVOLVED
Other Ways to Support
RECURRING DONATIONS
Monthly or recurring gifts let you spread your giving throughout the year, easily budget for charitable contributions and make an ongoing commitment to Opportunity Knocks. To set up a recurring donation, click on the Recurring Donation link below. Then select your donation amount, check the box ‘Create Recurring Donation’ and set your donation frequency (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc). It’s that easy!
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!
You can support our effort by spreading the word to your network. Click the button below to take a look at our Sun-Raiser Outreach Toolkit. This toolkit features instructions for social media fundraisers, a customizable email/letter template, and downloadable campaign photos to enhance those posts and emails.
DONATE STOCK, BONDS, MUTUAL FUNDS
Donation of appreciated shares of marketable securities like stocks, bonds and mutual funds is an attractive, tax-wise alternative to a cash contribution.
Donate through Donor-Advised Fund
A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a centralized charitable account. It allows charitably-inclined individuals, families and businesses to make tax-deductible charitable donations of cash, publicly-traded stock and in some case, certain illiquid assets, to a public charity that sponsors a DAF program.
Donate Tax-Free from Your IRA
You can donate some or all of the amount of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from an IRA directly to a charity, tax-free. If you’re eligible to do so, you can use a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).
Host a Fundraiser or Celebration
Hosting a celebration or memorial is a great way to bring together family and friends or honor a loved one, and can also be an opportunity to increase awareness and support of organizations such as Opportunity Knocks. If you are interested in Opportunity Knocks as an “In lieu of gifts” or “in lieu of flowers” option, please contact Kelsey Hayes at Kelsey.Hayes@opportunityknocksnow.org to set up your campaign.