Educational. Cultural. Humanitarian. Three words that sum up PTPI activities. At PTPI’s 2009 Americas Regional Meeting in Las Vegas, delegates showed their dedication to humanitarian projects by spending a morning volunteering at Opportunity Village. They also presented the organization with a monetary contribution. Special thanks to longtime PTPI family member (and Board member) Anita Manuel for her especially generous donation.
Global volunteers at Opportunity Village
Opportunity Village was founded in 1954 by a small group of families who wanted to improve the lives of their children with intellectual disibilities. Did you know that people with intellectual disabilities are the largest disability group in the world and 33% of people with intellectual disibilities become disabled after birth due to accident or illness?
Over the years, Opportunity Village has become Nevada’s largest not-for-profit community rehabilitation program. They serve more than 3,000 people each year. Opportunity Village helps those with disabilites develop job skills that allow them to live a more normal life, help cover expenses and expand their life experiences. Thanks to Opportunity Village, hundreds of people with disabilities are learning vocational skills and being placed in jobs throughout the community.
PTPI members split into groups and were assigned to various tasks. Some were outside, cleaning and repairing lights on the carousel that is part of the Magical Forest. During the holiday season, people come from all over to see the lights and displays inside the Magical Forest, Opportunity Village's largest fundraiser. Other members spent time assisting Opportunity Village clients at their jobs, and another group simply sat and held the hands of clients whose disabilites require a great deal of care.
