AGENDA #4o

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:      Acceptance of a Therapeutic Recreation Grant from UNC’s Carolina Center for Public Service and the Student Philanthropy Project

DATE:            September 12, 2005

The attached resolution would accept a $1,250 grant to operate the Town’s Therapeutic Recreation Fun Days program for children with disabilities. The program would be provided by the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department. The donation would come from an anonymous donor through UNC’s Carolina Center for Public Service and the Student Philanthropy Project.

BACKGROUND

In 2004, the Council accepted $6,000 in grants for the Town’s Therapeutic Recreation program. Those grants are currently being used to operate Town camps for persons with disabilities.

DISCUSSION

Funds would be used to provide two weeks of day camps in late 2005 for youth with disabilities in Chapel Hill and Orange County. The Parks and Recreation Department would accept individuals with moderate to severe disabilities such as autism, Downs syndrome, cerebral palsy, or mental retardation. 

Activities provided through this day camp would focus on improving the overall health and well-being of program participants. Daily programs would focus on facilitating personal growth, social interactions between peers, and helping individuals further develop recreational skills. Camp activities would include arts and crafts, swimming, self-expression through dance, music, games, and daily living experiences such as cooking and community outings.

RECOMMENDATION

Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution that would accept a $1,250 grant from UNC’s Carolina Center for Public Service and the Student Philanthropy Project.

If the Council accepts the grant, we recommend enactment of the attached Budget Ordinance.

A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A $1,250 GRANT FROM UNC’S CAROLINA CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE STUDENT PHILANTHROPY PROJECT (2005-09-12/R-11)

WHEREAS, the Council has implemented a community-based Therapeutic Recreation program for people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, the community has expressed a desire for camps to serve youth with disabilities in Chapel Hill and Orange County; and

WHEREAS, an anonymous donor through UNC’s Carolina Center for Public Service and the Student Philanthropy Project has offered to provide $1,250 for the Parks and Recreation Department’s Therapeutic Recreation program;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council accepts a grant in the amount of $1,250 from UNC’s Carolina Center for Public Service for camps to serve youth with disabilities in Chapel Hill and Orange County.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council expresses its gratitude to the anonymous donor, UNC’s Carolina Center for Public Service, and the Student Philanthropy Project for their efforts to fund camps to serve youth with disabilities.

This the 12^th day of September, 2005.

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND “THE ORDINANCE CONCERNING APPROPRIATIONS AND THE RAISING OF REVENUE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2005” (05-09-12/O-6)

BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Budget Ordinance entitled “An Ordinance Concerning Appropriations and the Raising of Revenue for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2005” as duly adopted on June 27, 2005 and the same is hereby amended as follows:

This the 12^th day of September, 2005.