Article Contributed on: 10/5/2006 10:59:28 AM
Quota International of Metro Denver was chartered in 1939 as part of Quota International, a worldwide organization that is dedicated to helping the deaf and hearing impaired community. "And disadvantage women and children" was added to the mission statement in 1998 at Quota's international convention held in Vail, Colorado.
Quota of Metro Denver works within the community to help the deaf and hearing impaired by providing closed-captioning devises for area preschools and their families, hosting both Christmas and Easter parties complete with signing Santas and Easter Bunnies for the children of Aurora Public Schools, hosting a skating party for the deaf and hearing-impaired children of Denver Public Schools, paying for an interpreter until a sign class for parents of preschools got up and running. Quota also has provided hearing aids and/or repairs for those in need. Christmas 2004 a single deaf mother of 6 year old twins was in desperate need of a Master Alert system. Can you imagine having two 6 year olds and you can't hear when they go out the door! This mother needed a way to know when her children left the house, when the phone or the doorbell rang or even when her alarm clockwent off. With the Master Alert system both of her children were safer and she has peace of mind.
Quota workson the Advisory Committee of the Young Parenting Program of Aurora Public Schools as well as providing the teen mothers with a Mother's Day party and graduates of the program with gifts for completing their education. Members hosted a quilt-a-thon to provide warm blankets for homeless mothersand collected toiletries and backpacks for distribution to the homeless. Quota of Metro Denver has sponsored a disabled child through Little Chidren of the World from elementary school through graduation and is now startingwith another child of need.
Quota provides two scholarships every year. One to a deaf/hearing impaired student or someone going into the deaf education and a second scholarship to a single mother wishing to continue her education. Both scholarships can be continued until the student receives his/her degree.
You may ask how many members does Quota have to do all this and how do they get all their money! Quota at present are twelve(12) hard working women who work tirelessly to fundraise. Each year they hand make 15-18 items to fill 80 Easter baskets that they assemble, sell and deliver. They also gift wrap at Borders during the holidays working only for tips! Quota members also ring bells for the Salvation Army as well as man Giving Trees in area malls.
In conclusion, I believe there are no more deserving women for your award than the hardworking members of Quota International of Metro Denver. I am proud to say I am a 14 year member of Quota and am proud to nominate my organization for this award. Sincerely, Debbie Verhoeff