champions place news
April 2024
Engage virtually with old and new friends 6 days a week!
We’re creating a community without boundaries reducing barriers to isolation and loneliness!
We love our 100+ Titans and Champions Place residents. Our 30+ in-person social events each year are always a ton of fun and fellowship. But what about the physically challenged young adults who, due to distance, disability or logistics, are not able to participate in these events in person? We want to love and support them too!
We can now reach each and every Titan almost EVERY day through our new virtual community – Champions Community Connect!
Will Hillis on Champions Connect
Our 3-year strategic plan includes the expansion of our mission to provide community and friendship to the physically challenged young adults we serve through virtual engagement. Due to distance, logistics and disability, it can be difficult for some of our Titans to attend all of our 30 in-person events each year. Champions Community Connect (C3) eliminates those barriers and allows those in our community to engage virtually with old and new friends 6 days a week!
One of our very own Titans, James Seidl, leads this new initiative as our C3 Project Coordinator. James has helped us create a robust nightly schedule of virtual events that allow Titans from all over to gather, interact and engage in meaningful conversation and community. Champions Community Connect has become a regular part of many Titans’ lives and is addressing isolation and loneliness by providing new social outlets for all of our current Titans, as well as drawing new members to our Titan family.
Will Hillis, one of our Titans, has become one of our regular C3 participants. His dad, Wayne shared the following:
“Will is absolutely loving Champions Community Connect and rarely misses it. It has given him the opportunity to get to know the community better and to spend time with his friends. It is also helping him be more independent as he frequently tells me to go to the other room and he will call me if he needs me! I also want to commend James who does an incredible job every night leading the virtual get-togethers. He is so kind and patient, and he makes sure to get everyone involved. This new initiative has been a real blessing. Thank you.”
“Will is absolutely loving Champions Community Connect and rarely misses it. It has given him the opportunity to get to know the community better and to spend time with his friends. ”
Sophia Smith, who lives with her family about 90 minutes outside Atlanta, has joined our Titan family by way of C3 and is loving everything about her newfound community of friends: “I'm from Athens Georgia and have lived here my entire life, I have participated in several social outlets, but never felt like I was forming any friendships - and then I joined C3. I was so excited when you guys began the virtual events! My favorite activities are Talktive Tuesday and Fun Friday because I like socializing with people and playing games. My life is fuller since joining Connect because I am connecting with people and feel less alone.”
Sophia’s mom Megan has seen a great change in her as well.
Sophia Smith on Champions Connect
“My life is fuller since joining Connect because I am connecting with people and feel less alone.”
“Sophia now has a CONSISTENT social event to look forward to with her friends! Even Sophia's siblings have noticed and are so happy to see her engage with peers and have meaningful conversations as well as laughing and having a great time. She does not have to have help from anyone to participate and being able to do things independently is a big deal when you're 21 and desire your own life. She does not need to be driven to an event or help with any of the activities, and she loves it! She is always uplifted after these meetings and feels so good about herself. She has never been able to acquire friends and with this program she is developing some friendships.” When she goes into her room for a C3 event, she leaves the house!
“ Sophia now has a CONSISTENT social event to look forward to with her friends!...meaningful conversations as well as laughing and having a great time...being able to do things independently...and she loves it!”
Typical weekly C3 event schedule.
Movie Monday - Watch a movie with your friends
Bible Study Monday – Explore the bible with friends
Talkative Tuesday - Fun, casual hang out with your friends
Wednesday: Reading, Writing & Wellness
Trivia Thursday - Play trivia with your friends
Friday Funday - Play Uno and other fun games with your friends
Chaturday - Fun, casual hang out with your friends
Special C3 Quarterly Events:
February - Name that Tune! March
April - Meet Scot Hollonbeck, Para Olympic Champion (2 gold and 3 silver medals)!
Thank you for making Champions Community Connect possible. With your love and support, more Titans are able to grow and engage in independence and meaningful community.