N EWSLETTER
W INTER 2017
SPREADING THE LOVE
There was plenty of love
spread at the Wabash
Center Sweet Heart
Dance. Everyone danced,
wore beads, shined glow
sticks, splurged on treats,
and enjoyed the company
of friends. It was a joy for
all in attendance to see
happy hearts, smiles, and
memories being made.
May those we serve always feel the LOVE!
HOLIDAY APPRECIATION
The Holiday Season
was a full of joy. Wabash Center made on
campus activities
available for employees and those we
serve. The month of
December was packed
with weekly fun and
made each member of
the WC family feel appreciated. It was great
to see grateful spirits
all around!
President’s
Corner
With winter coming to a
close and spring around
the bend, it is hard not
to reflect on the wonderful things those we
serve were able to participate in. From the
Christmas Dinner, holiday activities, to the
Henriott Group’s downtown art display, and the
Sweetheart Dance last
week. These small joys
are a reminder of why
we do what we do, on
behalf of those we
serve. As we go about
our service throughout
the month of March in
celebration of Disability
Awareness Month, you
should be proud that
you are part of an exceptional team providing
exceptional opportunities for those we serve.
- Jason McManus President
N EWSLETTER
P AGE 2
CHRISTMAS DINNER
There was much to be
appreciated this year at
the Wabash Center
Christmas Dinner! With
a visit from Santa
Clause, a home cooked
meal, and holiday jams,
many memories were
made! Immanuel United
Church of Christ hosted
the evening of fun which
allowed for use of their
full kitchen, elevators,
stage, and sound equip-
ment. With the help of
community volunteers
and dedicated Wabash
Center employees, the
night was a holiday treat
for all. Many volunteers
that lent their time and
helpful hands, felt
“grateful” for the opportunity to witness such a
joyful group of people.
Having the Christmas
dinner allowed for folks
to celebrate in fellow-
ship and have a special
occasion to look forward
to!
Y
O
J
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Wabash Center has the
pleasure of hosting an array
of groups, volunteers, and
active members of our community. This winter the Purdue University Volunteer
Club spent time in ADA
classrooms, created Valentines, and beaded for our
After School Program. The
Lafayette Civitan Club donated large Christmas gifts
for many individuals we
serve. Having our community experience the services
we provide, created inclusion and that is our ultimate
goal!
W ABASH C ENTER
P AGE 3
WINES ON THE WABASH
Our annual evening of
wine, appetizers, and
donor engagement is
coming up! Wabash
Center greatly benefitted from the 700 attendees at Wines on the
Wabash last year. In
2016, WC had a record
number of tickets sold, a
recognized quality of
silent auction items, and
the mission of GRANT’S
HOUSE as a platform.
This year, WC is reaching out to the Greater
Lafayette area to make
an even stronger con-
nection between the
public and our organization’s greater
purpose. Be sure to
purchase your ticket
at the WC website
and join us on May
19th for an evening
of memories in support of those we
serve.
ART ON DISPLAY
Wabash Center had the fantastic opportunity to participate in
Henriott Group’s downtown art
display. Gary Henriott and his
team of employees offered our
WC creatives the chance to
showoff their unique pieces of
individuality. Every individual
that we serve was able to contribute to the WC display. The
After School Kids beaded art
was a hit, as were Brad Shay
and Nellie Purk’s sketches and
paintings. With the help of all
staff, those we serve received
overwhelming recognition from
our city. Those that visited the
art display were “inspired and
grateful to see such a variety
of special artwork.”
Thank you
Henriott
Group!
N EWSLETTER T ITLE
P AGE 4
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
skills are blessings to her.
Jennifer makes it her priWabash Center’s Januority to show uncondiary Employee of the
tional love to her family
Month is Jennifer Corns!
and loves being loving
Jennifer has been with us
mother and grandmother
for many years and is
to her special ones. She is
always there to help out
known for her free advice
a coworker. In addition to
and common sense,
balancing her large case
which allows her to sucload, she still devotes
ceed in the workplace and
time to help a coworker
in her personal life. Wabrainstorm or job develbash Center is fortunate
opment a client. Watchto have her compassioning her clients blossom in
ate work ethic.
life and develop their
Jennifer Corns-
SHE HAS
THE
WILL
AND THE
SKILL!
MISSION MOMENT FOR KEITH
Wabash Center became involved with
Keith’s case in June of 2015. To turn
Keith’s life at home and work around, a
dedicated team of 6 entered the home,
and completed an 12 hour shift of dehoard and deep clean of home. Keith is
currently employed in work services. After a long and thorough process, Paula
Nicholson and her team have made tremendous leaps to see Keith succeed.
Nicholson states , “Today, Keith is a
smiling grateful, appreciative, beautiful
human being. He has allowed us to take
his Life and his needs into our hands,
and entrusted us every step along the
way.” Keith has a hobby of
assembling and collecting
model cars, tractors and
semis, and he proudly displays them around his home.
This is his light and joy. This
year he has continued to do
what he loves in a kept home
that has allowed his children
to spend time there with their
father. There is progress to
be made and Wabash Center
is here to support it. Thank
you to all volunteers for making a difference.
REACHING OUT
Gary Berry (left) with President Jason McManus (right).
Wabash Center was an
eye-opening tour experience for manager of Lafayette's State Road 26
Wal-Mart location, Gary
Berry. Regular tours and
community engagement
are large goals for Jason McManus. Berry
sees all aspects of local
employment, and was
grateful for the opportunity to see the internal
endeavors of our organization. Jason and Gary
made their rounds
around the Wabash
Center campus. They
interacted with employees and the individuals
we serve. It was a thrill
to have an engaged
community member visit
and visually see the impact that is made at Wabash Center on a daily
basis. It is Jason’s vision is to make visitations and tours a weekly
part of our campus
agenda. Outreach is an
opportunity for growth
and knowledge of the
services that WC offers,
and the importance of
engaging community
leaders in our success.
V OLUME 1, I SSUE 1
P AGE 5
DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH
March is Disability Awareness Month!
Often, people with disabilities who are successful,
athletic, employed or simply good neighbors are put
in the spotlight as an inspiration to others. Through
portrait-style photography
and attention-grabbing
copy, this year's Disability
Awareness Month theme
and poster artwork - "I'm
Not Your Inspiration" - emphasizes that people with
disabilities are people first.
They are co-workers,
classmates and neighbors
who want to be fully included in their communities - just like everyone
else.
With Wabash Center’s
mission to optimize the
quality of life for those we
serve, it is the duty of our
organization to spread
awareness. Dedicating a
month to disability awareness promotes opportunity
for community inclusion.
Wabash Center is always
looking for ways to posi-
tively reflect on the passionate work of our staff
and the compassion we
share for those we serve.
Not just this March, but
every month, find a way to
spread awareness for
equality and acceptance.
“DO UNTO
OTHERS AS
YOU WOULD
WANT OTHERS
TO DO UNTO
YOU.”
CONNECT WITH US NOW
LIKE
our WABASH CENTER
Facebook page.
@wabashcenter
USE
FOLLOW
@wabashcenter
@grantshouse54
our WABASH CENTER Website to
navigate events, activities, and
services!
www.wabashcenter.com
ACTIVITY CALENDER
M AGGIE J AE B UDREAU
ACTIVITY COORDINATOR
Send me photos, ideas, and
suggestions!
February 24, 2017
April 16, 2017


SWEET HEART DANCE
EASTER
(WC Cafeteria 6:00pm-8:00pm)
May 5, 2017
765-5531 ext. 342
March 10, 2017
[email protected]
WE OPTIMIZE THE QUALITY
OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL
NEEDS.


Lafayette Spinners Basketball Game (6:00pm-9:00pm)
GRANT’S HOUSE
“I’m Happy and I’m Alive.”
2017 Celebration
(Tipp. County Fairgrounds
6:00pm-10:30pm)
March 11, 2017

AUSTISM WALK
(Moose Lodge 10:00am2:00pm BRING KIDS)
May 14, 2017

MOTHER’S DAY
April 10, 2017
Find our newsletters at:
www.wabashcenter.com

Somewhere on the Spectrum Autism Support Group
(Building A 7:00pm– 9:00pm)
GRANT’S HOUSE
Wabash Center is currently serving over 20
youth in our After
School Program. With
the mission of a new
facility to expand the
amount of children we
serve with special
needs, we must continue building GRANT’S
HOUSE. Grant was a
beloved Wabash Center employee and capitalized on his gifts by
serving the community
and being a friendly
leader. Since May of
2016, funds have allowed for Grant to live
on through promoting
the GRANT’S HOUSE
project, wearing his
beads, and taking his
story around the world.
Wabash Center is having a GRANT’S
HOUSE “I’m Happy and
I’m Alive.” 2017 Celebration this May 5th at
the Tippecanoe County
Fairgrounds. We look
forward to your support!
May 19, 2017

WINES ON THE WABASH
(Purdue Memorial Union
6:00pm-9:00pm)