BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — Stand Among Friends (SAF), a Boca Raton-based charitable 501©3 nonprofit organization, will host the fourth annual “emb(race)®” at FAU’s Boca Raton campus. The walk/run event celebrates abilities, not disabilities, and will take place on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 a.m.
“I hope all of the FAU community will come out to support this great cause,” said FAU Interim President Dennis Crudele. “For the past four years, the University has truly embraced this event as it continues to grow each year.”
The event will feature a 5K, 10K and one-mile family walk and is open to people of all ages and abilities. Whether participants run, walk, stroll, roll, use a wheelchair or hand cycle, everyone is welcome to enter. There will be games for children, music, food, prizes, awards and many other fun activities.
SAF was founded in 1997 to enhance the lives of people with disabilities by promoting opportunities for them to live without limits and experience the highest degree of independence and success in their communities. SAF helps people realize and achieve their career aspirations and widen their social opportunities so they may experience a meaningful life, both personally and professionally. In 2006, SAF opened The Disability Center, a designated Center of Excellence within the State of Florida university system, on FAU’s Boca Raton campus in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing building.
Current SAF programs include Employment for People with Disabilities, Disability Sensitivity, Assistive Technology Center & Off-site Demonstrations, Vocational Evaluation and Social Security Benefits Planning Services. These programs help individuals transition to greater independence by teaching work, technology and social skills while emphasizing each person’s talents, interests and education.
Under a grant from the Able Trust, SAF works with FAU’s Office for Students with Disabilities to provide job placement services for graduating seniors who have disabilities by helping them prepare for, find and maintain employment. Through the CareerAbility program, SAF provides a full complement of employment and career services for students and adults with disabilities. The organization delivers direct services to more than 600 people annually, and in recent years has placed more than 700 people into productive employment commensurate with their education and experience.
For more information or to register for emb(race), call 561-297-4400, visit www.standamongfriends.org/embrace, or emailevents@standamongfriends.org.
