Monday, December 19, 2011

Help us maintain a high quality of life - Donate Today

We often use the words “high quality of life” to describe the environment at Camphill Kimberton. 

But what does that mean?  How do we measure our success?
  

  • Last year, Regina moved to Serena House, our special care home for village elders.  She had continued to work part-time, but she recently became fully retired. While she still meaningfully contributes to life in Serena House (making the beds, ironing, washing the dishes), she is learning to spend her day differently, as often happens to people when they retire. She may enjoy a leisurely walk, an unhurried chat in the cafĂ© or reading with the children of the village.   “It has been a dream to be here,” says Regina. “I love having Herb next door to me. The coworkers are good to me and they help me.” 



  • On an outing to the store, Charlene encountered an old friend who lives in an “institution” where they aren’t allowed to dance.  This encounter inspired a poem that night while she was tending to the chickens:  The night of the earth, The stars to see, The moonlight glows over the chicken pen, You happen to be free.


  
  • Mary now can play a song by heart on the cello.  Our Music Director, Veronika, intended the exercise to help her become more connected to the music.  But it has actually given her an incredible sense of accomplishment – Veronika believes that success has led to a new drive in her and she is learning more and more.  “If you know a song “by heart” you really own the piece,” says Veronika.  “Mary can read music and that is good – but it is an intellectual thing, a mechanical thing.  It isn’t making music.  By learning the song by heart, you are becoming part of the song.  She now can make music rather than just repeat notes.  There has been a shift in who she is as a result of memorizing the song, actually playing it, and then performing it for the public.”



A recent outside evaluation by AmeriCorps, determined that Camphill communities provide a higher quality of life than four other types of residential options for people with disabilities. With your help we can continue to provide Regina, Charlene, Mary and all village residents with an opportunity to live a healthy, happy life, with a sense of purpose and pride.

Please consider making a gift to our Village Support Fund by clicking here.  Your gift in any amount will be deeply appreciated and carefully used to enrich the lives of the people with special needs who make Camphill Village Kimberton Hills their home.  Thank you!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Benefit for Chasin' for Chalfin - December 16

Join us on Friday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m. for a Benefit Concert for Chasin' for Chalfin.

Chasin’ for Chalfin was established to help Jake Chalfin, who was severely injured when he fell at the Blue Ridge Fall Races in Berryville, Va., on September 18, 2010. As a result of his extensive injuries, Jake is now paralyzed from the chest down and is facing significant long-term expenses associated with his special needs.


Chasin’ for Chalfin, a committe of his close friends and family, is committed to raising $1 million as soon as possible to help Jake with these extraordinary expenses as he tackles the biggest hurdle of his life.

Camphill Kimberton is pleased to host this benefit concert for our friends, the Chalfin family. Jake's sister, Julia Chalfin, will perform her American Diva show in Rose Hall. The show tells how a country bumpkin became a successful international Opera Diva. It is a humorous trip of musical self-discovery through Musicals, Pop, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Jazz and Classical music, in search of the appropriate genre and world fame. The program includes songs from these musical styles and finishes with a series of opera arias. The performance also features Tim Peck, master of the keys. Parallel to Julia´s story, Tim shares how he developed his skills as both a talented classical pianist and free swinging jazz musician.


A reception will immediately follow the concert at the adjacent Camphill Cafe.

Ticket prices are:
General Admission: $25
General Admission & Reception: $40
Reserved Seating: $45
Reserved Seating & Reception: $60
Patron includes 2 reserved tickets to the show and reception with business logo and /or name on website & program: $250
Contact Sue McElroy for questions about this event, tickets or information. Phone 610-827-1916 or Email:mac942@verizon.net

Please visit their website for more information and for ticket sales: http://www.chasinforchalfin.com/julia.html.