One Step Beyond Launches 2024 Help Us Grow Fundraising Campaign

Phoenix nonprofit is requesting the Valley’s help to secure its campaign goal of $50,000 by December 31, 2024.

(PHOENIX– Nov. 22, 2024) – One Step Beyond (OSBI)—a leading provider of comprehensive programs and services for adults who have intellectual disabilities—launched its 2024 Help Us Grow (HUG) Campaign today. With the goal to raise $50,000 by Dec. 31, 2024, the organization hopes the HUG Campaign¾with help from the community¾will bridge the 25 percent shortfall left after government assistance. These funds directly support One Step Beyond’s life-changing programs and ensure that more individuals in the community have access to vital support services.

Since community support and ongoing financial donations are key to One Step Beyond’s success, the annual appeal provides a vehicle for businesses and individuals to easily donate funds to support the organization’s efforts.

“Our annual appeal helps us provide much-needed resources so that we can continue to offer consistent, high-quality programming that our participants and their families expect,” said Executive Director of Administration Jeff Swanson. “With the community’s help, we can meet the growing demand and ensure every individual we support has the opportunity to live their best life.”

The annual campaign will raise funds for several strategic areas spanning the One Step Beyond organization including:

• Culinary training programs held in a commercial kitchen with an emphasis on customer service, healthy dietary planning, food preparation, and proper sanitation skills that equip participants with the necessary skills to seek employment in the food industry.
• Life skills programs help members strengthen independent living skills, with an emphasis on money management, functional literacy, social skills, and safe community access.
• Employment programs provide training and volunteer opportunities for self-reliance that lead to competitive or supported employment. OSBI covers the cost of roundtrip transportation for the member and their job coach to ensure success and a positive experience for the individual and the employer.
• Recreation and fine arts programs provide music, art, dance and fitness with an emphasis on personal wellness. OSBI also has a formal partnership with Special Olympics with more than 300 OSBI athletes participating in year-round sports training and tournaments. The organization is the first and only campus-based day training program that has a special needs hockey team, The One Step Coyotes.

Added Swanson, “With the Valley community’s support, One Step Beyond will be one step closer to paying our Direct Support Professionals a livable wage and continuing to make OSBI program participants’ journey our mission.”

Individuals interested in supporting the One Step Beyond mission can make a monetary donation by visiting the One Step Beyond website at https://osbi.org/ and clicking on the donate button.

OSBI is also a qualifying agency for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit where a gift of up to $470 (single filers) or up to $938 (filing jointly) can reduce state tax liability by the same amount. 

One Step Beyond’s one-of-a-kind educational, recreational, employment, and life skills programming enables participants to achieve independence, self-sufficiency and employment that enables participants to contribute to and achieve greater social participation in their communities.

About One Step Beyond, Inc.

Phoenix-based One Step Beyond, Inc. (OSBI) is a private, non-profit organization that provides comprehensive programming and services for adults who have intellectual disabilities. One Step Beyond empowers its members to achieve independence, self-sufficiency and employment through innovative culinary, education, fitness and arts programs as well as strategic partnerships with local businesses that enable participants to contribute to and achieve greater social participation in their communities. One Step Beyond has five locations in the Phoenix Metro area, including Glendale, Peoria, Scottsdale, Southwest Phoenix and Surprise as well as a location in San Carlos, California. For more information about One Step Beyond programs and services visit https://osbi.org/

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