Friendship Home has been serving individuals with disabilities and their families since 1999, when founders Wilma Goodhue and Joan Mullare recognized the need for safe, educational and social opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. They began Friendship Club to assure that these special people had opportunities to not only learn new skills, but to build valuable and lasting Friendships that would carry over into many other areas of their lives. Friendship Club serves over 65 individuals across the South Shore in locations in Quincy, Norwell and Duxbury. Friendship Home is looking forward to breaking ground on "The Home with the Heart" this fall. This retreat and activity center will provide day, evening and overnight opportunities for individuals with a variety of developmental disabilities, providing educational, vocational, and social programs as well as overnight retreats that will serve a secondary purpose of providing their families with much needed respite from the demands of their care. It will be the only facility in the area providing short-term overnight retreats and it will be an opportunity for over 2,600 individuals living at home with their families across Southeastern Massachusetts. Friendship Home has raised close to $2 million toward construction of the "The Home with the Heart", enough to break ground and open its doors. Another $1 million is needed to complete the facility and assure the future of the programs within its walls. Your support of Team Friendship will contribute to that future.

Women Living Authentically is a not-for-profit conference for moms taking place in spring 2010. This conference will bring moms together in community to celebrate, inspire, and empower them to live authentically; grounded and connected to their true self and whole, as they seek their own harmonic balance. Moms can become consumed with caring for their kids. Time to invest in oneself may be hard to remember. Some may have lost touch with who they are and disappeared into their role as mother. Many are challenged to balance their own needs, with the needs of their kids and the needs of their families. With the help of Courage and Renewal NE at Wellesley College, and based on the work of Parker Palmer, this conference will inspire moms to celebrate their individual identity, and encourage them to weave it into their lives. Proceeds will go toward “Sisters of the Heart”, a group of women in Kapchorwa, Uganda working together to create quilting products to sell so they can make a life-changing impact on the lives of their families. Learn more at http://outwardprojects.com.

These two charities are built on the premise of strengthening the foundation of our communities – its people. With your help the Scituate Duathlon can help get closer to that goal.

If you have any fundraising questions or need help setting up an online donation page please email Stacey Zawel at stacey@staceyzawel.com. Thank you for your support!