What is Friends of CLS?
For over 20 years, Community Living Services, Inc. has helped people with developmental disabilities move into homes, acquire skills, find jobs, make community connections and live meaningful lives.

The Friends of CLS, another non-profit dedicated to people with disabilities, allows people to pay for opportunities that might otherwise not be available through traditional funding methods.  YOUR contribution to Friends of CLS helps people start their own businesses, attend college courses, take driver’s education classes, invited to be guest speakers at advocacy conferences, just to name a few.

Friends of CLS
-Board of Directors-
click to view page

Our annual fundraiser, Evening with Friends is a big gala celebration where hundreds of people enjoy a beautiful evening and celebrate victories for all people with disabilities.  The highlight of the night is an awards ceremony honoring people for living their lives to the fullest and making their own choices about their lives.

Generally, approved Friends requests are for opportunities such as:

• Community involvement
• Producing personal income
• Seeding independent businesses
• Securing a fuller life
• Facilitating specific goals
• Circle development
• Enhancing relationships

 

Here are just a few of the opportunities paid for by Friends of CLS:  

• Hockey League fees              
• Trip to self-advocacy conferences             
• Funding a micro-enterprise
• College classes
• YMCA Summer Camp

In addition to:

"I nominated one of the most important women  in my life for the Evening with Friends award and she won! It was a wonderful experience to have my staff person honored at such a beautiful celebration!"	Several years ago, Jennifer’s grandmother entered her name in a contest and she won this beautiful red Corvette! Jennifer is hoping to drive it as soon as her driver’s education classes are finished. "Friends of CLS has helped me with some driver's education training and college courses. I want to use the skills I have learned to get a good job."
"I am writing a book about my life and needed a laptop computer. Friends of CLS helped pay for it and now I am putting the final touches on my book. I could not have gotten this far without the help of Friends."	"Friends of CLS has helped many people attend various state and national conferences. These gatherings give people a chance to meet new people and advocate for themselves and their friends. Some folks are also asked to give presentations at the conferences as well."

How Can YOU Help?
Just a small amount of money can make a very big difference. You can become a Friend of CLS with a gift of any amount whether it’s in your own name, a memorial or from an organization. Your gift can take many forms: cash, check, real estate, stock, insurance policies, bequests, wills and trusts. You can even designate the fund in which your contribution can be used. For more information contact the CLS Public Relations Department at 734-722-7185 or e-mail tdevon@comlivserv.com.

You may also click here to make secure online donations form our website.

You can also donate your time,services, or items through our Community Connections program. Check it out and get connected with the people CLS supports!