A car wash to benefit the Community Connectors program will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, May 7, at the Elkton Road Sunoco in Newark.

UD students connect

Community Connectors experience community integration on campus

TEXT SIZE

Editor's note: This article was updated at 6:30 p.m., May 2.

7:47 a.m., May 1, 2012--Whether it’s at a DJ bash, the annual car wash or the Soap for Hope project, members of Community Connectors and University of Delaware students can be found socializing and working together. 

Community Connectors is a program of the UD Center for Disabilities Studies designed for young adults with disabilities who want to build leadership skills, network and socialize with peers. 

People Stories

'Resilience Engineering'

The University of Delaware's Nii Attoh-Okine recently published a new book with Cambridge University Press, "Resilience Engineering: Models and Analysis."

Reviresco June run

UD ROTC cadets will run from New York City to Miami this month to raise awareness about veterans' affairs.

Members of Community Connectors learn skills to help them connect with peers and take responsibility for planning and organizing meetings and coordinating social, recreational, service and fundraising events. While meetings and projects are member-driven, coaches are present to facilitate discussion and provide guidance. 

Collaboration with campus Greek organizations began in 2010, after Community Connectors members learned they needed to raise funds to sustain the operation of the group. Parents and members made presentations to some of the Greeks, and soon after Sigma Pi Fraternity and Sigma Kappa Sorority members joined the connectors for a car wash that raised $725. 

The third annual car wash will reunite the three groups on Monday, May 7, at the Elkton Road Sunoco, Elkton Road at Murray Road in Newark. They will be washing cars from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The charge is $7 per car on the day of the car wash. Tickets may be purchased for $5 through May 4 at the Center for Disabilities Studies, 461 Wyoming Rd., Newark. The rain date is May 9.

According to Katie Kull, vice president of philanthropic services for Sigma Kappa (Theta Delta chapter), “Sigma Kappa's collaboration with Community Connectors has provided our sisters with an appreciation and understanding for the diversity in our community and increased our awareness to the importance of assisting such an amazing organization. Community Connectors enables young adults with disabilities to learn leadership skills and experience a full, integrated and fulfilling life while increasing their independence and social skills. It has been our pleasure to form bonds with the members of Community Connectors and we look forward to continuing a strong partnership and support for the group.”

Community Connector member Maura added, “Participating in the car wash with the UD students is not only fun, it helps our members to actually fulfill our mission, which is to connect with our peers so that we can experience community integration. The car wash is also a very successful fundraiser for us.”

Article by Michele Sands

News Media Contact

University of Delaware
Communications and Public Affairs
302-831-NEWS
publicaffairs@udel.edu

UDaily is produced by
Communications and Public Affairs

The Academy Building
105 East Main Street
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716 | USA
Phone: (302) 831-2792
email: publicaffairs@udel.edu
www.udel.edu/cpa