Center for Disability Rights & Resources Announced for Downtown Augusta

A new addition to the renovation and revitalization of the Downtown Augusta Area was announced today by Walton Options for Independent Living and Walton Foundation for Independence – the Center for Disability Rights and Resources.

Situated opposite the Augusta-Richmond County Judicial Center on Walton Way, the new Center will not only house both organizations but will also be an epicenter of inclusion, intersectionality and equity for the community.

The disability community comprises nearly one-third of the CSRA population and is a demographic that spans age, race, gender, and economic background. Persons with disabilities are active throughout the community and contribute individually to the heartbeat of the area as it continues to grow.

The Center for Disability Rights & Resources will house the resources, programs and services both Walton Options and Walton Foundation provide for persons with disabilities on a daily basis.

Utilizing the same location as the current Walton Options Augusta Office, the new 6500 square-foot building will offer accessible consumer meeting spaces & classrooms, expanded staff areas, a communications lab as well as a multi-purpose room designed for community use including round-table legislative discussions, community information fairs, and other engagement opportunities.

Check presentation at the Walton Options Augusta Office by GRI President, Dr. Dennis Skelley, and Board Chair, Brock Daniels, to Walton Options Executive Director, Tiffany Clifford, Board Chair, Rose Lawas-Smith, and Board Vice-Chair, James Heffner.

Support for the Center is starting with the Georgia Rehabilitation Institute (GRI) who today presented Walton Options and Walton Foundation with a check for $325,000 towards the launch of the Building Campaign.

“For quite a few years, our current building has exhausted its ability to provide a functional setting for our work,” explained Walton Options Executive Director Tiffany Clifford. “We are so grateful for the seed money from GRI to begin the construction of a new accessible and efficient facility that will not only house Walton Options and Walton Foundation for Independence, but be representative as a Disability Rights and Resources Center for the CSRA. “

“It is exciting to be part of the revitalization that is occurring all around us,” said Clifford. “It is apropos that our center will be across the street from the county justice center.”

Walton Foundation for Independence, has been working to broaden their capacity to support the disability community in the CSRA during recent years. “Our success has been with the support of likeminded community partners such as GRI and Walton Options,” stated Cara Knollenberg, Director of Walton Foundation. “We could not be more thankful or feel more blessed than we do right now as we begin this new journey of joining our resources together, jointly establishing a Disability Rights and Resources Center for the CSRA. What a wonderful day it will be when we have a centralized place to represent and serve this significant percentage of people in our community.”

Over the past 35 years, GRI has been a steadfast advocate for persons with disabilities. When asked about supporting this initiative, Dr. Dennis Skelley, President/CEO of GRI noted, “Providing funding assistance for a new building for Walton Options and creating Augusta’s own Disability Rights and Resource Center has been a goal for many years.

Having a Center that is easily identified, accessible, resourceful and attractive lets Augusta know all people are valued and provides a place where people with disabilities will be proud to call theirs.”

The announcement today marks the start of a Building Campaign which is being created by a local agency, Kruhu, with full campaign details and supporting materials expected when shovels are in the ground Spring of this year.

The new Center for Disability Rights and Resources, located at 948 Walton Way, is being built by Allen + Batchelor Construction and financed by First Citizen Bank.

Donations for the new Center are open to individuals as well as local businesses and organizations. To donate to the Center’s Building Campaign, please visit https://secure.givelively.org/donate/walton-options-for-independent-living-inc/center-for-disability-rights-resources-campaign or contact Ann Campbell-Kelly at 706-724-6262, ext 243 or acampbell@waltonoptions.org.

July 31, 2020

28th Annual Phil S. Harison Memorial Golf Classic Announced

Scenic landscape of a golf course next to a lake.

Walton Foundation for Independence and Walton Options today announce the 28^th Annual Phil S. Harison Memorial Golf Classic. Held on Monday, September 14^th, 2020, at West Lake Country Club, this annual event will be a friendly golf competition which benefits Independence Programs for the Disability Community. Teams representing businesses and individuals from around the area will make contributable changes for the disability community while partaking in this uniquely curated charity and networking event.

“Participants of the Phil S. Harison Memorial Golf Classic directly contribute to the financial support of our efforts to fund opportunities to individuals with disabilities, with the hope that they may have a more inclusive lifestyle in the way they live, work and play. We are so thankful for each sponsorship, player participant and volunteer that help us make these fundraising efforts a success,” says Cara Knollenberg, Director at Walton Foundation.

For $1300, registered teams of four can indulge in the following features:

18 Hole Shotgun Start
Golf Cart Use
Choice of Pro Package Gift Set for each Player
Lunch & Beverages on the Course
Hole-in One Prizes
Networking Opportunities
Awards Reception Dinner

Current Sponsors include:

Crawford Investments
South State Bank
Walton Rehabilitation Hospital
Stokes Hodges Auto Group
M. Austin Jackson, Attorney at Law
South Star EMS
Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate
Thomas Poteet & Son
Landrum Supply Company
EZGO
Daniel Landscape Design
Durty Gurl Mixers
MAU
Fireside Kitchen & Grills
Plantation Shutters & More

Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available for businesses and organizations including Hole Sponsors, Par, and Eagle Sponsors. For more information about the Phil S. Harison Memorial Golf Classic including teams and sponsorship opportunities, email Megan Jackson at mjackson@waltonoptions.org.

About Walton Foundation for Independence: Walton Foundation for Independence hopes to inspire philanthropy to support programs and services that create an inclusive lifestyle for people with disabilities in our community to live, work and play. Walton Foundation for Independence provides unique programs that support accessible housing and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities in the CSRA. Walton Foundation has made a commitment to bring those with physical disabilities opportunities to live life with purpose along with family, friends within their communities.

For more information about Walton Foundation, please visit www.waltonfoundation.net

About Walton Options for Independent Living: Walton Options believes all persons including those with disabilities, should be able to participate in their community. WOIL promotes equality, inclusion and independence through Personal Choice, Personal Responsibility, Community Access, Education and Employment. WOIL offers services throughout the CSRA including 16 counties in Georgia and 10 counties in South Carolina including the Low Country.

For more information about Walton Options and our services, please visit www.waltonoptions.org or call Walton Options for Independent Living, 706-724-6262.

July 28, 2020September 17, 2020

Camp TBI 2020: A New Virtual Camp Experience

Camp TBI 2020: A new Virtual Camp Experience
Feedback from Brittany Cannon, Sports, Health, Leisure Coordinator

Camp TBI goes Virtual image with a laptop screen of a online meeting next to the Camp logo with a tablet image of camp supplied in the top right.

Camp TBI 2020 is officially in the books. Who would ever have dreamed that we would be in the middle of a worldwide pandemic in the summer of 2020 that would keep us all from being together?

When Camp Twin Lakes (CTL) proposed to us in May that we do a virtual camp, we were not sure it would work for our campers. And for some it did not. But for those who did participate that week (even though at times it was challenging), I think it was worth it just to see each other and catch up.

Before we realized Camp was going to be virtual we had close to 45 campers register online. Once it was discovered, we had 23 register for the virtual camp. Nineteen (19) Campers logged on at least once during the week. Seventeen (17) campers were active daily. In my opinion, it was a great turn out. YES, it was very different and definitely not the same as what we are all used to. However, this made my heart a little less heavy just to see everyone and chat each day. I feel confident that they felt the same.

CTL put a lot of work into the format and activities and I think B Money (Brian Murkison) said it best “it gave him something to do this week”. I thank them so much for their time and effort on behalf of Camp TBI. But was it camp? “Yes and no”. Were we together, hugging, dancing, belly laughing, smiling from ear to ear and with our friends? NO. But when we were together for an hour of Snack Chat, at Spirit time in the morning or at Live nighttime activities, WE WERE FAMILY. Camp TBI Family. And as always, there was love (lots of love), respect for each other, laughing with each other and incredible memories that each of us shared. And in those moments, IT WAS CAMP TBI!

“There’s a quote that says – Absence makes the heart grow fonder. And I think that definitely will describe camp in 2021. We miss each other so much but it will only make the bond stronger when we all get to be together again” – Cassie J., one of our Virtual 2020 Campers

August 19, 2019December 9, 2019

27th Annual Phil S Harison Memorial Golf Classic // Sept 16th

27TH ANNUAL PHIL S. HARISON MEMORIAL GOLF CLASSIC
The annual Walton Foundation Golf Classic is an Augusta tradition in the fall of the year. Named after Phil S. Harison, Chairman of the Walton Foundation Board (1998-2007), the annual tournament pairs golfers from all over the community who come together to support the Walton Foundation’s mission. Up to 35 teams enjoy a day of unprecedented golf at beautiful West Lake Country Club, lunch, and an Awards Banquet at the end of the day. In addition to fun on the course and a goody bag filled with gifts, every golfer receives a choice of Footjoy products including top of the line golf shoes. Winners receive beautiful gifts of crystal etched with the name of the tournament, date, and location. Opportunities abound for sponsorships, in kind donations and ways to help underwrite the cost of the tournament. Hole sponsors are encouraged to set up on their holes for a day of fun, sharing business information and treats with the players.

This fundraiser benefits programs and services of the Walton Foundation for Independence.

August 19, 2019December 9, 2019

End of Summer Bash // Sept 7th

Walton Foundation for Independence End of Summer Bash

September 7, 2019 Time 10am-2pm

The Walton Foundation Invites your family to Our End of Summer Bash!

Join us for Live Music, a Cookout Style Lunch, Swimming, Boating, Tubing and FUN! There will be an event sign-up for boating and tubing (check back soon). Morning sessions will be from 10:00am to 11:30am; lunch from 11:30am to 12:30pm; and afternoon sessions from 12:30pm to 2:00pm.

Pointes West Army Recreation Center
6703 Washington Rd
Appling, GA 30802

Call for more information:
706-823-8584

Camp TBI 2020: A new Virtual Camp Experience Feedback from Brittany Cannon, Sports, Health, Leisure Coordinator

Camp TBI 2020: A new Virtual Camp Experience
Feedback from Brittany Cannon, Sports, Health, Leisure Coordinator