The mission of the St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, People First Chapter, is to “Do the Right Thing” by teaching People First, by teaching healthy choices, by respecting others, by telling the truth, by being role models, by asking questions, and by feeling good about ourselves.  It is also to teach responsibility in the work place and to reach out to the community to teach about people with disabilities.

PURPOSE

The St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center Self-Advocacy Board has been established to support the positive environment created by SMSC.  It is dedicated to increasing program participant awareness in areas of self-advocacy, consumer rights and responsibilities, self-determination and independence.

Since 2006, the SMSC People First has raised money through its quarterly dances and bakes sales to be able to give back to the community in ways never thought of before.  Just in the year 2010, funds raised were used to help the earthquake victims in Haiti, by over 80 pairs of shoes for children in an orphanage in Tijuana, provide Thanksgiving meals for 30 families in a local church, & purchase bicycles for kids through the Toys for Tots program in El Cajon as well as to collect donations of goods for the Rachel House in San Diego, a home for abuse women. We were also able to provide additional funding to sponsor individuals who wished to attend the People First Conference which we intend to do again this year.

For the year 2011 our People First group is already raring to go as they intend to raise funds through its events to help the Magic Horse Therapeutic Ranch in Lakeside, to identify a way to once again support the orphanage in Tijuana, identify a group of people who would appreciate a Thanksgiving meal and to work with the Toys for Tots program again.