Meeting with United Way

A lunch meeting was held today with Wes Hayes, Campaign Manager for the United Way.


We discussed our missions to strive in helping those in our community and efforts to collaborate with each other. The next step will be for him to meet with the board of directors to address specifically what we can do to assist each other toward our missions to the community. http://maps.google.com/places/us/sc/columbia/main-st/1800/-united-way-of-the-midlands?gl=us





Lunch went very well. Wes got a chance to meet Trey. We enjoyed good food at the Fuji Cafe' on Broad River Road in Irmo. I spoke with their manager about Trey's Transition to see if they would become a sponsor. They share plans to contact us later about their efforts to support the program as their business grows.



Wes plans to set up an opportunity for me to meet with Karen Oliver who also works with the United Way in efforts to coordinate services within the community.



I will keep you posted on this effort.



I've learned that one of my friends, Doug Kratz is president of a local golf association. We've talked about maybe getting together a golf torunament in effort to raise funds and "fun" for Trey's Transition. We will take this up at our next board meeting.



The next meeting is planned for the second Thursday in December, 9, 2010.
Charley hopes to have SKYPE back online. The location has not been confirmed yet.
Discussion has come up for us to have a working, eating board meeting. We can't bring food into the library.

Let me know your thoughts before the third week in November.

Thanks and keep us in your prayers.

board meeting and open house success

Here is an updated on the previous activities for Trey's Transition.

There was a board meeting at the Richland County Public Library, September 23, 2010.
The Following board members were present: Milton Kipmson, James Irby, Trey Irby, John Hancock, and Charley Spencer. Absent: Lyn Whitehead, Beverly Clyburn, Jerret Slacumm and Tyree Smith.

Discussed old business-updated fundraising opportunities,having the Business Account set up at Bank of America,the Pay Pal, Network for good and FaceBook accounts set up for Trey's Transition "Cause" being a good idea and demonstration on how the accounts were set up; the need for the donation button to be included on the website instead of just having the link. We talked about the excitement being created by these efforts. This effort will allow donors the ability to send $ to the account for the funds we need to get the building and start up cost to meet state regulations. We talked about this effort will continue to let others know about the need for young adult programs. I shared the need for at least $600,000 as start up cost for one year of the program for up to 20 individuals.

We discussed other ways to raise funds including contacting those from the community with large amounts of funds to commit to the cause i.e. Oprah Winfrey, Robert Mickle, and Steve Mungo to name a few of possible donors. We talked about getting Wofford alumni assistance as well. Plans are being made for board members to contact those mentioned to assist our efforts monetarily or as volunteers.

Trey's cousin, Alston Branndon Major, Jr., and family gave aluminum cans, his grandmother, Henrietta Irby and co-wrokers gave pennies "from heaven".
We welcome any and all donations and volunteer time for our efforts.

We talked about whether to own the property or leasing options and the most appropriate location should be based on the property at this time and not just to be in the Irmo area.
We agreed to look at all possible options to obtain the property that will meet our collective needs for the program.

I shared about the open house @ Dutchfork High School next week and plans for me to update them about the progress of Trey's Transition and to ask for volunteers and funds to help develop this opportunity.

Trey and I attended the Open House at Dutchfork high school. There were several parents, volunteers,teachers, school adminstrators, assistants, therapist and interns at the function. Rhonda, case manager for Helping Hands, presented information about their two day programs in Columbia as opportunities for adults with disabilities.

I shared about the issues and activities about Trey's Transition. The audiance received the information very well about the programs identified. Some parents shared ideas and advise on how to increase opportunties for funding for Trey's Transition and to keep them updated on the programs progress. I gave each of them a brochure about Trey's Transition.

I spoke with a family member (Cory Jackson) and Brantley Barfield about adding the donation link/button to the website. We're still working on completing that project so visitors to this site can click on the donation button straight to the Network for Good location.

Thanks to the Face Book supporters, Cory, Ms. Essie Ford, board members and others for keeping Trey's Transition apart of your lives.

Our next board meeting is scheduled for October 28, 2010 Noon to 1:30 pm at the Richland County Public Library. We hope to see you there or to hear from you about your interest and ideas for this program to prosper.

Donation Link to be added to Blog and on Facebook

I'm excited to report that we are now linked with Network For Good for non-profits to assist with the opportunity for Treys Transition to receive donations for the start up costs for the program. Go to https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=26-0143149

The donations will go toward the purchase of the building and expenses to get the building up to code to meet the state regulations/compliance as well as our board expectations for safety. The building will have around 2000 square feet of space to accomodate the number of young adults we plan to serve at this time. The cost for the buildings in the Columbia area average around $600, 000 or $2500 per month to lease. This figure does not include the cost associated to meet the state standards. An additional $20,000 maybe needed if the building does not have an approved sprinkler system no more than one year old. Our research for grants has not produced any funds for renovation costs to new or existing projects. We beleive this is one reason why there are not many adult programs available. We also believe that having support from the community shows grantors there is an interest for this effort. This is why it's important for you to show your support by donation or volunteer your time in our effort.

Here's the link for donation.

https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=26-0143149


The FaceBook is set up in my account in the "Causes" section in my name, James Irby.
Thanks to everyone that has already made commitments to support this endeavor to those in this community and the state.

Plans are being made for our next board meeting in September, a few fundraisers i.e. cake drawing and another fish fry in Beaufort , SC as well as in Columbia.

We are making application for a grant with the Developmental Disability Council of South Carolina. We need to show a collaboration effort with other organizations in the community as well as match 50% of the amount they maybe willing to fund our program. We are asking for $30, 000 to assist our program efforts. We are already in collaboration with Goodwill Baptist Church in Beaufort SC. Discussions are being coordinated for us to work with several other organizations in the community i.e Sharing God's Love, The Boys and Girl Scouts of America, The America Red Cross to name a few as well as around the state. These efforts will hopefully promote a greater awareness about the transition service needs for young adults with special needs.

If you are reading this blog and would like to collaborate with us, please contact me by email @ james_irby2000@yahoo.com. I will forward your interest to our board of directors for consideration and we thank you for your interest.

James Irby
Executive Director

P.S. Thanks to Eleanor, Ken, Kahlul, and other staff members of Guest Services @ the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort for extending themselves to Trey during his stay.

Summer Fish Fry and Board Meetings

It's been a few months since our last update to the BLOG about Trey's Transition. Much has happended to several board members since the event in February. Some board members have had shifts in their employment, a few others have received promotions and others are still maintaining their status. I'm pleased to hear that during our national and state's economic struggles, we're hanging in there. To those out there that are struggling to find employment or that job that will produce an increase in your bank or sanity, continued success.







Thanks to Robert Crossiant for taking outstanding pictures from the Fish Fry and posting them on the blog. Special thanks to all those who participated ( including the Cadets for the Youth Challenge Program) and donated their time, money and effort to make our first event a success. Thanks to the board members for completing the evaluations about the planning for the event. This will give us an opprotunity to build on future events.

Trey's Transition fan base is beginning to grow. More people are becoming interested in the effort to see the program to become a success for Trey and other young adults with special needs.

Congratulations to all the graduates from Kidergarten all up to those that now have their degrees from Colleges and Universities around the country. Good luck on your journeys and with the plans that have been laid out for each of you.




Our board meetings have recently been held by phone or email transactions instead of at the Richland County Public Library or other familiar locations. During those meetings, decisions were made for us to continue efforts to promote fundraising toward the building and operating costs. A decision was made for us to continue plans for a fish fry in the Spartanburg Area.



The event was to be held June 19, 2010. However everything didn't come together like we thought it would. Therefore the event will have to be postponed for another time this year.



There was a plan for a fish fry in the Beaufort area. Those plans are being coordinated for just before the K-12 students go back to school in August.







Our next board meeting is scheduled for June 24 @ the Richland County Library.
We have establised a business account now @ Bank of America on St. Andrews road, Columbia, SC. Thanks to the fine folk over there (Margie Mitchell, and Gayle Rabon). This effort will give us opportunities to make and receive transactions for fundraising.






Please let me know if you or anyone you know that would like to donate a building or funds to purchase a building in the Irmo area. We need a building with 2500 to 3000 square ft, plus enough space for parking at least 10 vehilces.







We are still pursuing grants to help fund our efforts. The main issues being accepted for grants right now fall on the grantors giving their funds to existing organizations instead of start up programs like ours.







Looking forward to seeing you on the 25th @ RCPL, or to contact me by email @ james_irby2000@yahoo.com to discuss issues before the meeting or to learn how to be involved as a board member or to make a donation to our efforts.







Enjoy the warmth of the Summer sun, because winter is just around the corner- February :)!!!

Please remember the sick, those who care for them, and those traveling the highways both day and night.


James, executive director

2010 Spring Fish Fry

Fish Fry photos

Fish Fry update

The fish fry effort is growing. Several board members and other interested in teh success of the progam are pitching in. Here's what going on at this time.

We're finalizing the details on the inventory for the event.
Great work John, on exploring the fish sales. Sharon, Robert, Leroy, Beverly, Lyn and George for making plans to help out! Thanks to Inez and her sisters for loaning us their recipes for cakes, and time in prep work for the event.

I've submitted a grant application to Sam's and hope to hear from them on what they can do to help out with the cost of some items for the event. So you may not have to come out of pocket. They gave us a $25 donation to help pay for some items already. I'm excited to learn how they may continue to help us to help our community. I've learned they have a program where their employees can volunteer to help us out! WOW! I'll let you know more later.

Inez has campaigned for cake donations and hopes to get PEPSI to donate some drinks.
Our family is responding well to the event also. They are excited about plans for us to put on a fish fry in their area i.e Inman and Beaufort!

Mean time, I've printed up tickets for us to sell before the event to purchase what we'll need.
Sharon and Robert Croissant gracioulsy agreed to print them for us. I had some card stock and ink left over from a project that Trey did last year. thank God for Spring cleaning!

Thanks Sharon and Robert offering to print the tickets. don't worry, we'll need more print work done I'm sure.
WE still need your help with the other items.

The ticket sales will generate the funds and the public exposure for the program.

Charley and I discussed at the last board meeting if each board member sold 20 tickets. We'd have enought $ to pay for everything we will before the event.

Call me when you get time. I will have some tickets with me and the others will be at the house with Trey and his assistant.
Let me know if you'd like to meet to get them or pick them up from the house.

I've sold a few of them already to my neighbor and co-workers!!! Lyn and George Whitehead got there tickets today.

Looking forward to hear from you and hope that all is well.

Please call me on my cell phone , 318-2210 so that we can continue to coordinate for the event on the February 27th at Seven Oaks Park. It's coming together very well.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope everyone is doing well into the new year.
It's been a few months since the last update, because I was not able to get on the blog to make updates. Thanks to Robert Croissant- board member, I am able to be get back in to share the latest going on's with Trey's Transition.

With that being said.

Please continue to pray for health, wisdom, and courage to make this life special for us all.
Congrats to Milton Kimpson and Family on the birth of their baby boy!

We're now officially a Non-profit organization!! With the help of board members and Mr. Mink- agent from the IRS to update information to the application. We became a 501 C 3 organization in December '09. We've only had a few board meetings during the end of the year to begin the next building block of making the Young Adult program a reality. We talked about fundraising opportunities to raise the funds. A report from the grant writers indicate that grantors are stretched to give funds because of the slow economic conditions. Some grantors are only giving to existing programs. So our efforts to earn funds will truly be a grassroots effort. Our grant writers are eager to engage. There is hope as long as you believe that hope exists.
There are a few local business' that are able to help out and I've made application to Sam's Wholesale and Wal-Mart to assist with funding our efforts for they Fish Fry we're planning for next month.
We hope as a board to firm up the plans for the event his week during our board meeting on January 28, at the Richland County Public Library- Bank of America conference room.

Several members have submitted ideas for the fundraising campaign. The ideas include the following:

Creating a campaign summary that promotes the fundraising effort, gives an example of what the effort is for and how the donor can make their contribution to us. I've spoken with the Bank Manager, Marggie Mitchell and Gale Rabon at the St. Andrews Road location in Columbia SC how donors can make their contributions to any Bank of America location. The donor will need to indicate making the donation to the "James D. Irby III, Contribution Account". It's that simple.

A suggestion was made to have contribution jars placed at stores in the community, flyers, and business cards to generate funds and get the word out about our efforts for the young adult program. We plan to firm up that effort at the board meeting.

We're still on the timetable for Trey's Transition to open sometime this summer.
There are several persons that I've met over the last few months that are interested in the development of our program. One young lady , Beth was a student Dutchfork High School, worked as a volunteer in Ms. Essie Ford's class. She lost her job recently from the Babcock Center- (downsizing).

Changes in medicaid funding to caregivers have also affected how services are delivered.
Therapy, and Personal Care Aide services have been cut or reduced. Which has effected the quality of care and performance to our population.

She, like so many others in our community are eager to work and don't have a place to help others. I hope that our efforts will soon help to employ those from the community interested in helping others with special needs. I also hope this effort will stimulate the economy in many ways. We will be providing a number of services e.g transportation, catering, thearpy to assist the young adults to get to and from the program.

PLEASE encourage others to support our efforts. If you or anyone has questions about our efforts, call me at 803-732-5734 or email me @ james_irby2000@yahoo.com


Thank you for your help.


James Irby