CIL : Center for Independent Living in Central Florida, Inc.

Fun 'N Games for Independence

On July 10th at Friday's Front Row on International Drive, CIL, along with the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) will be hosting our first annual Fun 'N Games Poker Tournament for Independence! The event will begin at 4:00PM with networking for CVB members followed by a trivia contest to begin at 5:00PM.

Registration begins at 6:00PM and the cards will be dealt at 7:00PM. The winner of the tournament will receive 2 round-trip air tickets to anywhere in the continental U.S. that AirTran flies!

The suggested donation for the event is only $50. Other prizes will also be raffled off. Donate with your credit card (secure PayPal).

To learn more about the Fun 'N Games Poker Tournament click here for a downloadable PDF.

For more details call Doug Davis at 407-623-1070 or email Doug at ddavis@cilorlando.org.


Blind Puzzle Poker Run/Orlando's Got Talent Event Planned for September

Come on out and support the first annual "Orlando's Got Talent" BLIND PUZZLE POKER RUN on Sunday, September 13th. Register between 8:30 and 10:00 AM at SEMINOLE HARLEY-DAVIDSON, 620 Hickman Circle, Sanford, FL 32771.

First bike out at 9:00 AM, last bike out at 10:00 AM. Coffee, Donuts and bottled water will be available. Last bike in at 2:00 PM at COWBOY'S ORLANDO, 1108 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32805.

There will be both a CHAPTER CHALLENGE and a group challenge, 52 card draw, door prizes, Raffle, 50/50, live auction and prizes at each stop.

Rider with Passengers pay $20, riders only pay $15.00, and passengers $5.00. All persons who pre-register will receive a FREE Tee Shirt and FREE admission to the Orlando's Got Talent show. Pre-register with your credit card (secure PayPal web site).

Registration

All registration fees and other proceeds go to The Center for Independent Living (CIL). The BLIND PUZZLE POKER RUN will benefit CIL's annual "Rampage" wheelchair ramp building event. During Rampage volunteer crews build ramps for veterans with disabilities, returning wounded soldiers, and other people with disabilites all over Central Florida to help them live better, more independent lives.

When you arrive at Cowboy's, stroll through the parking lot to visit vendor tents, enjoy Bar-B-Q, Rum Cake, motorcycle accessories, and more. Then, sit back in the famous Cowboy's Saloon, cool down with an ice cold beer.

After the run stick around. At 2:00 PM, the fabulous talent competition "Orlando's Got Talent" begins.

Registration for the Poker Run includes free admission to Orlando's Got Talent. Dave Collins from Magic 107.7 is the MC. Colgate Country Showdown $100,000 winner, Johnny Bulford will be performing.

For more information on Orlando's Got Talent CLICK HERE

If you would like even more information please contact Doug Davis at 407-623-1070.


Central Florida Disability Chamber Kickoff

Helping make the dream of starting a business a reality for people with disabilities, the Central Florida Disability Chamber (CFDC) made its debut during the June meeting of the Business Advisory Council at the Disney Entrepreneur Center in downtown Orlando. CIL's Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Rogue Gallart was recently appointed to lead the CFDC as president. He will be helping people with disabilities with a variety of small business startup services.

Approximately 150 people from a variety of public, private and governmental organizations attended the debut and enjoyed breakfast, networking and information in the large, state-of-the-art conference room.

To read the rest of the story please CLICK HERE


Gleaning Project Helps Fight Hunger

The economic recession has brought the fight against hunger to the top of the agenda for many communities in Central Florida. That's why on February 28 volunteers from CIL, the United Way, La Amistad, Quest and others participated in a gleaning project to recover citrus fruit from a local grove.

Gleaning is gathering or picking grain or fruit that is normally left behind after the reaping process. Gleaning serves two purposes - One, it helps clear the grove of excess fruit and more importantly, it is a source of fresh, nutritious food for hungry people in our area.

This project was organized by Becky Brown of the Society of St. Andrew. Ms. Brown said, "We had 26 people who gleaned 3,755 pounds of fruit. All of the fruit will go to feed hungry citizens in our own community."

The Society of St. Andrew is a grassroots Christian hunger relief ministry that relies on volunteers to glean nutritious produce (which would otherwise go to waste) from backyards, farmer's fields, groves, and orchards after harvest and deliver it to people in need across the United States.

For more information on hunger issues visit www.endhunger.com