In the Spring 2016 issue of Lake & Country, we shared with you how the Keefe Real Estate team and the Keefe Foundation are making an impact on local charities through its newly-focused Keefe Kares program. This time, and in each subsequent issue, we will be shining a spotlight on one of the 20+ organizations to which Keefe Kares has contributed.
VIP Services in Elkhorn, WI has been empowering people with disabilities to explore and experience endless possibilities for more than 45 years. And while this singular focus has never wavered over the years, VIP’s role in both its clients’ lives and in the community has undergone an overhaul, especially in the last few years. Much of this change has been mandated by recent government legislation, but it has also been impacted by VIP’s forward thinking and desire to make a greater connection between its clients and the community at large.
One of the major programs VIP has been able to expand, due to increased private funding, is its transportation services for veterans, the elderly, and people with disabilities. “Previously, there was a huge gap in services for these folks. With funding from organizations like Keefe Kares and others, we have been able to provide nearly 2,500 trips a month to meet basic needs like getting to doctors’ appointments, the grocery store or even restaurants,” explained Julie Cotter, Director of Development for VIP.
Another major impact VIP has been able to make in both its clients’ lives and in the community has been through its new Community Connections program, which provides an alternative to traditional facility based prevocational services, such as those offered in their sheltered workshop. VIP’s goal is for people to engage in integrated employment or meaningful volunteer experiences and to be productive citizens of their communities. Additionally, the program provides a way for people with special needs to foster new meaningful relationships which help reduce isolation. “Our clients have established such a great rapport with the people they serve…and they’re so proud of their volunteer service,” continued Cotter.
Core to the Keefe Kares mission is to play a leading role in improving the communities they serve. “We viewed what VIP Services is doing through its new transportation and Community Connections programs as also making a huge impact on the community, so we knew VIP had to be one of the organizations we supported in 2015,” said Dennis Carnes, Honorary Chairman of the Keefe Kares board of directors.
Keefe Kares supported approximately twenty 501c3 organizations in 2015, with grants ranging from $250 – $5,000. Nearly 70 percent of the donations came from individual agents and staff with further contributions matched by Keefe Real Estate.
Keefe Kares is looking forward to getting involved with more programs and volunteer opportunities over the summer. VIP Services shares the same heart as many organizations in Walworth County as they try to make our community a better place one person at a time.
