Programs

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Our Programs and Activities

The Facebook feed to the right includes only several of our upcoming events. Please click the link below for a complete list.

NOTE: Volunteers and participants with special needs MUST register in advance before attending Friends Connect Foundation events. For a complete list of upcoming events and to register as a volunteer or participant, please click here to visit our registration database.

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Friends Connect Foundation

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Art Programs
Fitness Programs
Music Programs
Community Service
Social Programs
Program Partners and Sponsors

Art Programs

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SOUL PAINT

This activity, designed by Peter Nicolaou, utilizes the concept of “Soul Train”, where two lines of volunteers dance and clap while participants run through the line to do a Live Paint activity. “Live Paint” allows participants to express themselves creatively by throwing, finger-painting, or brushing paint onto a large canvas that is later transformed into an image or abstract work.

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CANDLE-MAKING

At this event, you'll learn about bees and beeswax, create hand-made candles, apply hand-made decorations, form sensory balls and color candleholders!

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ARCHITECT CHALLENGE

Engineering-based activities involving resourcefulness, creativity and teamwork! Participants and their volunteer buddies work together to create original cardboard artifacts, bridges, goldiblox creations and sand castles!

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CANVAS PAINTING

This activity takes participants and their volunteer buddies through each step needed to create a beautiful canvas painting!

FITNESS

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CARDIO

This program teaches cardiovascular and agility exercises that improve balance and coordination. All exercises are modified so that individuals of all athletic abilities can participate.

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KICKBALL

This program is made possible by our wonderful volunteer Adrianna Lisotto! The program features a free kickball lesson, kickball game, music, board games, socializing and more.

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DANCE CLASSES

Our community partner Not Your Ordinary Dancers teaches hip hop and jazz dance classes specifically designed for individuals with special needs! Participants engage in stretching, across the floor techniques and learn a dance. FCF also has a dance competition team that competes in a special needs division!

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MINI GOLFING

Our community partner TST BBQ & Mini Golf donates 2 hours of free mini golfing every week each summer! Volunteer buddies guide participants in learning how to mini golf, engaging in art activities, completing puzzles, dancing to music and more.

MUSIC

A Music Social Program – No Experience Necessary!
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SING-A-LONG

Miss Kat, a licensed ASHA Certified Speech Language Pathologist and musician from SLP Musically, helps participants pick a song via their communication method and instructs participants on what part to sing. Usually, this is a repetitive line in a song. When it is not your turn, you can sing, dance, or play your instrument all you want!

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DRUM CIRCLE

Our drum circle event is lead by our wonderful community partner Antinanco Earth Arts School. It provides participants and volunteers with opportunities to experiment with sound, play different instruments, explore their ``power animal``, and sing!

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Friends Connect Foundation believes that people of all abilities are able to give back the community. This program assists our fellow nonprofits and local businesses through different service projects. These service projects include:
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PIECE WORK

Participants go through a series of stations with visual prompts to fill containers such as goodie bags.

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EXPRESSION SERVICE PROJECTS

Volunteers and participants create artwork that are donated to local nonprofits and businesses. We may also plan excursions to facilities to create wall murals.

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FRIENDS CONNECT ON THE ROAD

This program allows for participants and volunteers to attend local nonprofit service-based events as the Friends Connect Foundation team. Although we do not host these events, our event coordinators, staff, and volunteers attend to support and organize our team. These projects include Beach Sweeps.

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SOCIAL EVENTS

These programs aim to assist participants with communicating and interacting with their neurotypical peers through various activities. These activities include:
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COOKING

Need Description

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ARCADE DAY

NEED DESCRIPTIONS

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GIRLS NIGHT OUT

NEED DESCRIPTION

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GUYS NIGHT OUT

NEED DESCRIPTION

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Thank You to all our Program Partners and Sponsors who Make These Events Possible!

Diskko

Diskko

Donates clothing design expertise, organizes apparel fundraisers, donates fundraiser materials and spreads awareness of FCF’s mission with industry professionals.

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The Organic Soul Yoga

The Organic Soul Yoga

Missy Ledwitz from The Organic Soul Yoga donates her time to teach our Yoga on The Beach fundraiser! Thank you for your generosity!

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Keyport-Matawan Elks Lodge No.2030

Keyport-Matawan Elks Lodge No.2030

Supports our outreach to the local community through media connections and supports our programs! Special thank you to Stephen Szczepaniak for his ongoing support.

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Cage Academy Legends

Cage Academy Legends

Thank you Cage Academy Legends, Aberdeen for volunteering at our events! We greatly appreciate your support!

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StoneFitt Performance

StoneFitt Performance

Kevin and the staff at StoneFitt Performance are fitness experts and performance coaches who donate 90 minute cardio and agility workouts designed for our participants with special needs!

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Middletown North Boys Soccer Teams

Middletown North Boys Soccer Teams

Thank you Coach Morley and the freshman, JV and Varsity teams for volunteering at our events! We greatly appreciate your support!

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Yolanda Howard Yoga

Yolanda Howard Yoga

Yolanda Howard donates her time as an instructor for yoga fundraisers and events! Yolanda and her family are founding donors of the Friends Connect Foundation!

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Knights Of Columbus Council #6552, District 23

Knights Of Columbus Council #6552, District 23

Supports our outreach to the local special needs community and supports our programs through donations! Thank you!

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David M. Muldowney, Jr., CPA

David M. Muldowney, Jr., CPA

David M. Muldowney, Jr., CPA donates his time to Friends Connect Foundation as our accountant. We are so grateful for your generosity and hard work!

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Knights of Columbus, Spring Lake Council #5611

Knights of Columbus, Spring Lake Council #5611

Thank you Knights of Columbus, Spring Lake Council #5611 for supporting our social programs! We are so grateful for your support!

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The Lorraine Greene Lee Memorial Foundation

The Lorraine Greene Lee Memorial Foundation

Thank you Ms. Barbara Wentworth and the Lorraine Greene Lee Memorial Foundation for providing grants to ensure that all of our social programs remain free for participants and their families!

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SCA Community Service Foundation

SCA Community Service Foundation

Mrs. Stagliano’s application for a need-based grant was accepted! The funds were used to purchase materials for our social programs!

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Merck Hero Award

Merck Hero Award

Ms. Gilette and Mrs. Turning nominated Friends Connect Foundation for the Merck Hero Award!

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SLP Musically, Miss Kat

SLP Musically, Miss Kat

Miss Kat is an ASHA Certified Speech Language Pathologist who donates free Sing-A-Long classes!

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Antinanco Earth Arts School

Antinanco Earth Arts School

Donates activity materials and program instructors to provide 4 free nature-oriented programs.

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Middletown Township Public Library

Middletown Township Public Library

Donates their venue for events! Donates program-related materials!

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Super Foodtown of Port Monmouth

Super Foodtown of Port Monmouth

Donates food for fundraisers!

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J&M Italian Bakery of Middletown

J&M Italian Bakery of Middletown

Donates food for fundraisers!

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Cold Stone & Blimpies of Holmdel

Cold Stone & Blimpies of Holmdel

Donates gift cards for fundraisers!

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Livoti's Old World Market

Livoti’s Old World Market

Donates food for fundraisers!

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Gem's House of Bagels

Gem’s House of Bagels

Donates food for fundraisers!

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Taliercio's

Taliercio’s

Donates food for fundraisers!

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Not Your Ordinary Dancers

Not Your Ordinary Dancers

Donates free 1-hour hip hop and jazz dance classes on a weekly and monthly basis!

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TST BBQ & Mini Golf

TST BBQ & Mini Golf

Donates free 2-hour sessions of mini golfing on a weekly basis!

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