United Cerebral Palsy

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is an international nonprofit charitable organization consisting of a network of affiliates. UCP is a leading service provider and advocate for adults and children with disabilities. As one of the largest health nonprofits in the United States, the UCP mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities through an affiliate network.[1]

United Cerebral Palsy
TypeNon-Profit
Founded1949
FounderLeonard and Isabel Goldenson, Jack and Ethel Hausman
Headquarters1825 K Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006
Key people
  • Armando A. Contreras (President and CEO)
  • Diane Wilush (Chair of the Board of Trustees)
Websiteucp.org
Disability
Theory and models
Education
Therapy
Societal implications
Personal assistance
Socioeconomic assistance
  • Groups
  • Organizations
Parasports
Culture
    •  Disability
    • Lists

History

UCP was founded in 1949 by Leonard Goldenson (who later became Chairman of the broadcast network ABC) and his wife Isabel, and Jack and Ethel Hausman. United Cerebral Palsy pioneered the use of fundraising telethons.[1]

Service provider

UCP, through its more than 66 local affiliates across the United States,[2] as well as in Canada and Australia,[3] provide a broad array of services and resources to children and adults with a broad range of disabilities. Each affiliate provides a different menu of services tailored to their local needs and capabilities, but often include education, employment, health & wellness, housing, parenting & family training and support, sports & leisure, transportation, and travel assistance.[1] UCP has a combined budget of more than $750 million for research, public policy advocacy and direct services. System-wide, an average of 85 percent of all revenue is dedicated to programs.[4]

UCP of New York City

Advocacy

In addition to raising money for services and research, UCP also engages in public policy advocacy, including promoting access and opportunity for people with disabilities, and the provision of services. In the United States, UCP was one of the catalyst organizations advocating for the adoption of the Americans With Disabilities Act in 1990. More recently, UCP has been on the cutting edge of disabilities rights with programs such as Life Labs, a national initiative to foster innovation and technology.

Calls for name change

In April 2013, United Cerebral Palsy of Central Maryland announced that it would change its name from UCP to Unified Community Connections to make it clearer which clientele is served by the organization.[5] Other affiliates have chosen not to include the phrase "United Cerebral Palsy," as part of their doing business as names or logos even if it might remain part of their legal names, in an effort to be more encompassing of their programs and services.[6]

In 2013, the United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago merged with Seguin Services and are now known as UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago.[7][8]

Leadership

UCP is led by a 16-person Board of Trustees and President/CEO Armando A. Contreras. The headquarters is in Washington, D.C.[9]

Accreditation

UCP meets the standards of the National Health Council and the Better Business Bureau/Wise Giving Alliance.

References
  1. "Mission and History". United Cerebral Palsy. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  2. "UCP Affiliates". United Cerebral Palsy. Archived from the original on August 2, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  3. "ucp.org international resources". United Cerebral Palsy. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.]
  4. "Press room". United Cerebral Palsy. Archived from the original on December 26, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  5. "Letter from Diane Coughlin: From United Cerebral Palsy of Central Maryland to Unified Community Connections". Unified Community Connections. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  6. "UCP of Sacramento and Northern California". UCP of Sacramento and Northern California. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  7. Suriano, Dawneen (August 14, 2013). "Newly Merged, UCP of Greater Chicago & Seguin Services Unite Their Boards, Two Nonprofits formed UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago to better serve people with disabilities". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  8. Bader, Lawson (28 October 2019). "It's Time More Nonprofits Consider M&A". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  9. "Biography of Armando A. Contreras, President and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy" (PDF). United Cerebral Palsy. Retrieved March 23, 2023. Armando A. Contreras is the President and CEO of the Washington D.C.[–]based United Cerebral Palsy Inc.
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