MEDIA RELEASE
January 16, 2008

Contact: Carol Costakis, Development/Marketing Director
(219) 464-9621, ext. 264

For Immediate Release:
Opportunity Enterprises hosts new series - Family and Friends Together

VALPARAISO - Opportunity Enterprises is hosting a series of programs open to the public and family members of persons with special needs as part of a new initiative. The first OE Family and Friends Together meeting will be held 6:30 p.m., Monday, January 21, at Opportunity Enterprises, 2801 Evans Avenue, Valparaiso.

Opportunity Enterprises President/CEO Gary Mitchell will present a look at current and new OE programs and new facilities such as the 158-acre property that was recently acquired on Lake Eliza. He will share current state issues that are important to families who have individuals with special needs. Mitchell and staff will also discuss how these issues will affect social service providers such as Opportunity Enterprises.

The Family and Friends Together meetings are an outreach of a new Opportunity Enterprises initiative, Family and Consumer Supports. The program was created as the organization prepares for the increasing number of challenged individuals seeking services as they transition into new programs, the community or workforce. The objective of this program is to better serve current and potential OE consumer families by sharing resources, information and volunteer opportunities. Family and Consumer Supports will provide support and an outlet to be actively engaged with loved ones for parents, siblings, guardians and friends of consumers.

Meeting guests are asked to enter Opportunity Enterprises at the Training Room’s north door entrance. For more information, contact John Seibert, Opportunity Enterprises VP, at 219-464-9621.