Letters
from the Heart Names have been changed to protect
the privacy of families.
Parents Speak
Dear Friendship Circle,
Thank you so much for arranging such a lovely time for everyone! I brought another family and they were very impressed! I think this is the most wonderful program, and exactly what my son, so desperately needs.
Although my son goes to a school with a special autism program, and I am active in the "autism community," this provides something different. For one thing, it gives us parents a chance to relax and talk with one another, while watching our children have fun. Most of the time, we parents are only able to spend a minute or two together before we must rush off to the next training or therapy.
Also, it allows me to take my son to something new and fun, without having to burn with embarrassment when he responds by having a tantrum for the first 10 minutes! I know he will enjoy the experience (if he can just get past the initial panic) but I'm not sure my heart can handle the shocked looks or comments of the general public. The Friendship Circle gives us a haven where we are both spared that, and for this, I thank you!
Volunteers
Speak
Yes, I will be attending the Sunday Circle this coming Sunday and
we are very excited as usual...by the way you are doing a wonderful
job with this program...I know I can say for myself and I think
for many others that we are truly enjoying this experience in the
Friendship Circle...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK...I know we are making
a difference and that’s why I and many others continue to
participate...thanks!!!
Thanks for leading this awesome organization in our community!
Parents Speak
Thank you for inviting us to the Adventure Plex outing this past Sunday. Alex
had a blast! And it was nice for me to be able to leave for a little bit
knowing that he was in good hands.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who is part
of making this program possible.
You are a real blessing to the families of children
with special needs!
Volunteers
Speak
Hey, I’m lettin you know that I’ll be there this Sunday.
Also I’d like to let you know that I am very excited and
ready to step up in this program. Both my grandmother and mother
were Special Ed teachers. They made it their life for quite
a long time. I am hoping to major in psychology and this is helping
me understand so much about these kids and myself too.
The Friendship Circle has been the most
humbling experiences of my life and just being around these
children and seeing the smiles on their faces because they
have someone that wants to have fun with them like a typical
child or teenager. It really brightens my day. I talked
to my mom for a long time about what I have been doing.
She tells me that through her experience, all these kids
want to do is live a normal adolescent life.
If it is teenagers like us, that make their
life better, than I am truly honored. If you ever need
any organizing, sponsoring, or any other type of help,
just let me know. I am ready if you need my help, to become
one of the leaders in this program. And I know a lot of
the volunteers feel the same way I do.
Thanks bro,
Parents Speak
Sara had so much fun last night, she didn't stop talking about her new friends
all night. This is a wonderful program you are providing, and I am
most blessed to have found the Friendship Circle.
Parents Speak
You have a wonderful group of volunteers. I think it’s
wonderful that you are helping so much, in creating awareness in
today's youth.
KUDOS to you and your team!!!
Volunteers
Speak
As Friendship Circle continues to be a humbling and fun
experience, the club we formed at school has been just
as wonderful. In fact many of the teachers and assistants
in the special needs class have asked if their students
can participate in the Sunday Circles and Friends At Home.
They've explained to me that barely any of these children
do anything on the weekend except stay at home. This breaks
my heart.
I want to
change this, and I know the friendship can do it. I was
wondering if I could sometime pick up some information
and maybe some of those DVD's to give out to the class
and the parents. FC is too much fun!
Parents Speak
My son had such a wonderful time in such a supportive atmosphere.
We really appreciate all the work you put in to provide such
an array of fun activities and so many caring and encouraging
volunteers.
Parents Speak
Thank you for running such a wonderful program for our special
children, they need all the love and support they can get. It’s
nice to know that people like you and your volunteers care.
Parents Speak
Just a quick note, to tell you how much we enjoyed the Sunday Circle, once again
my son sat with the pretty teenaged girls and enjoyed himself. He was more
interested in talking to them than playing with the Play-Dough. One of them
asked what he liked, and my shy 9 year-old son replied, "I like sushi,
hot tubbing, pina coladas, and long walks on the beach at sunset." I
was flabbergasted!
I soon realized that he was quoting from "Shrek," but
somehow, he recognized that this was the time to trot that
out. So the socializing your group offers will allow my son
to become a lounge-lizard! Thanks! (I think...)
I was pleased to meet the mother of Dan, and we will get
our boys together in the future. So this was a very successful
event for us! I'll try to get more families to join, because
they'd be crazy not to!
Many thanks to you and the sponsors. I am so grateful to you!
Parents Speak
As a parent of a child with special needs I find it difficult
to put into words what the Friendship Circle has meant
to our family. Having lived with our special needs son
for 9 ½ years and working towards having him be
accepted in our community and at school is one thing. Enabling
him to have friends and have “playdates” and
have some sort of “typical” social interaction
with other children is an ongoing struggle. The Friendship
Circle not only gives parents a much needed respite, “safe
haven” for their special needs child, but it facilitates
friendships in a caring, nurturing, fun, safe setting that
all children so richly deserve. Children with special needs
don’t get these opportunities. They have to make
them happen. The Friendship Circle makes things happen!
When I attended a Friendship Circle volunteer workshop
with my daughter (who is a friendship circle teen volunteer)
I was amazed by the intuitiveness, maturity, foresight,
care and concern that the teen volunteers showed. They
showed compassion well beyond their years, as they do every
month at the Sunday Circles. The level of commitment these
teens have shown is truly inspirational. It warms my heart
and brings tears to my eyes just watching them interact
with our kids. Watching the smiles on the faces of our
special children and hearing the laughter is PRICELESS
to a parent.
We feel so lucky and so grateful to have the Friendship Circle
right in our “own backyard”. It is something
that every community needs, every child deserves and every
parent hopes for. Thank you to the Directors of the Friendship
Circle for working tirelessly and flawlessly to make this
happen. Thank you to the teen volunteers, without them and
their commitment there couldn’t be a Friendship Circle.
Thank you to the Beach Cities Community for supporting this
program and welcoming our kids. Thank you to Skechers and
New Age Electronics for believing in and backing the Friendship
Circle since its inception. And to the countless others behind
the scenes, it wouldn’t happen without you.
Parents Speak
I’d be very interested in learning more about the
summer camp for Sam. Camps are something I’ve not
been able to consider for him. The Friendship Circle is
amazing and such a positive opportunity for the kids. My
husband and I, and Sam too, thank you and everyone involved
very, very much!
Parents Speak
Thank you again for all you do for our children. This is a wonderful program
and the kids really look forward to the Friendship Circle. We are having
such a great time with all of you and it is great for me to interact with other
special needs parents.
Parents Speak
How thoughtful of you to remember the birthdays of the Friendship Circle
children, and then go to the trouble of sending such a lovely birthday card.
Andrew was delighted. Thanks so much.
