News & Events

Join Sunshine Village for a Chili Challenge
to benefit our innovative programs and services.

Tuesday, November 12th
5-7pm
The Blue Room Cafe
139 Broadway Street, Chicopee

For just $10, you will judge the entrants’ recipes
with unlimited chili tastings and cornbread!
Chili challenge entrants are free.

You will also enjoy complimentary
beer tastings from Quality Beverage
(formerly Williams Distributing)

Please email: visitus@sunshine.us to enter.
All tickets sold at the door. Raffles will be available.

We had a blast at our First Annual Sunshine Village Everyone Shines Dance Showcase!

All the dancers worked so hard to learn their routines over the the past year and it was a great celebration of their determination, talent and efforts.

Thank you to Ashley and Danielle from Ohana School of Performing Arts for your vision and creativity in making it all come together.

Thank you also to Health New England, especially Kim, for your grant to support our dance program and make dreams come true.

Thank you to the families, friends, MA Department Of Developmental Services, Mayor Richard Kos, The Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee, and other community members for cheering us on! We hope everyone enjoyed the performances, finale and impromptu dance party by DJ Anomaly of Vision Entertainment.

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We let our creativity SHINE at 
Collections: An Art Reception for Sunshine Village
held at Chicopee Public Library on October 17th!

To celebrate National Disabilities Awareness Month we held this art show to celebrate the unique abilities of artists from our programs.
During the reception, artists were available to discuss their artistic inspirations and techniques with members of the community, including Mayor Richard Kos from City of Chicopee – Mayor’s Office!

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Celebrating disability awareness month with Sunshine Village

Thank you to WWLP 22 News MassAppeal for helping us spread the word about our events celebrating ABILITIES for October as National Disabilities Awareness Month!

Come see us shine at Collections: An Art Reception on October 17th or our Sunshine Village Showcase Dance Performance with Ohana School of Performing Arts on October 22nd!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Sunshine Village Celebrates National Disability Awareness Month –Creative Events Bring Community Together

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Chicopee, MA — October 1, 2019 —In honor of October as National Disability Awareness Month, Gina Kos, Sunshine Village Executive Director, invites the community to attend several events in partnership with local organizations throughout the month.  In the spirit of inclusivity and acceptance of differences, these events will bring awareness and celebrate the unique abilities and creativity of the people served by Sunshine Village.

To kick off the month, Sunshine Village will host “Collections: An Art Reception Featuring Artists With Distinct Abilities” on Thursday, October 17, 2019 from 10:00am-11:30am at the Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front Street in Chicopee. Artists will be available to discuss their artwork and light refreshments will be available. In addition, art will be on display in the community room of the library throughout the month of October.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2019 from 10:30am-12:00pm Sunshine Village will team up with Ohana School of Performing Arts for a showcase dance performance at The Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee at 580 Meadow Street, Chicopee.  Through a partial grant from Health New England, Sunshine Village brings Ohana School of Performing Arts instructors into its programs to offer the joy and wellness benefits of dance. Light refreshments will be available.

Sunshine Village provides innovative day services for people with developmental disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum. As a non-profit industry leader for over 50 years, the organization serves nearly 600 individuals with 280 employees at sites in Agawam, Chicopee, Springfield, and Three Rivers.

Thank you to Marcotte Ford for being a wonderful partner!

James Filomeno and Jeannie Filomeno presented our Executive Director, Gina Kos, and Director of Community Relations, Amie Miarecki,
with a donation of $750 from the proceeds of the celebrity
chef lunch held at Marcotte Ford’s LugNutz Cafe.

To honor the partnership, our Community Engagement Program
created a beautiful handmade bottle with lights to decorate their cafe.

Sunshine Village displaying art gallery at Chicopee Public Library

Collections: An Art Reception
Featuring Artists with Distinct Abilities

Join Us!
Thursday, October 17th
10:00-11:00am
Chicopee Public Library

Art will also be on display throughout the month of
October to celebrate National Disability Awareness Month

With a generous grant from Health New England,
our life engagement programs enjoyed dance lessons
this year with Ohana School of Performing Arts.

Join us in celebrating their hard work
with a showcase dance performance!

Tuesday, October 22nd
10:30am-12pm
Chicopee Boys & Girls Club

Each of our life engagement program sites will perform a routine.
Light refreshments will be available.
DJ ANOMALY from Vision Entertainment
will be keeping the party going that day!

Congratulations to Ben Brodecki of our Community Engagement Program! He really shines!

Look Memorial Park dedicated a cherry tree to recognize Ben’s years of dedicated volunteer service to the beautification of the park grounds and care of the animals at the Christenson Zoo.

His family, friends, and fellow volunteers attended the ceremony and enjoyed his speech and their many shared memories of working in the park together.

Enjoy a video of the ceremony here.

Ben's Tree Dedication

Today's Tree Dedication for our wonderful Volunteer, Ben. Thank you for all that you do for the park and the animals at the zoo!

Posted by Look Memorial Park on Thursday, September 19, 2019

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