• Participate only in those activities you really enjoy;
• S-L-O-W down.  The thing most people want for the holidays is relaxed time with family and/or friends.  Hectic is a choice - if you don't want a hectic holiday, make changes;
   
• Accept your own limitations and don't be afraid to let others know what they are.  If you can't be three places at once, say so!
• Relax your holiday standards.  Leave the perfect holiday homes, tables, parties, clothes, and families to the magazines and television;
• Remember, healthy living is important to both good mental and physical well being.  Balance good nutrition with the pies, cakes, and candies of the holidays.  Limit or eliminate alcohol intake;
• Exercise can help relieve stress and depression.  Whenever possible, WALK!
• Smile!  Laugh!  Relish the fun things in life.  If you hear a good joke, share it.  If you see a feel-good movie, let others know about it;
• Don't correct or criticize.  The holidays are about kindness and love, not perfection, advice, or achievements;
• Roll with the punches.  Be flexible and don't let the unexpected throw you; and
• Take some time alone.  Use it to read a good book, take a nap, or just watch a sunset.

The Helen M. McLoraine Opportunity Scholarship Program provides scholarships of varying amounts once a year through a competitive process for clients and former clients of WINGS Foundation.  Applicants must be individuals who have faced extraordinary or challenging circumstances, have taken steps to improve through their lives, and are committed to advancing their education.

Scholarship awards are for full-time or part-time students taking undergraduate or graduate classes at a vocational school, technical school, community college, or four-year college or university. Students of all ages are encouraged to apply.

To be eligible to apply for the scholarship you must have attended a WINGS support group for 6 months or at least 25 meetings and obtain a letter certifying this attendance from WINGS.

The application for scholarships for the 2011-2012 academic year will be available on Tuesday, February 1, 2011.

The application deadline is Friday, April 15, 2011.

To learn more about the Helen M. McLoraine Opportunity Scholarship please visit the scholarship section of The Denver Foundation's website. 

• Completely redesigned our website to be a culturally friendly, informative site where survivors and their loved ones can obtain information and assistance;
• Offered 17 different support groups around Denver and Colorado Springs for survivors and their loved ones, including a group in Spanish.  Your donations help those who cannot afford our nominal fees attend a support group for as long as they want;
• Provided an opportunity for survivors and their loved ones to see former Miss America and survivor Marilyn Van Derbur speak at a motivational event held in October and;
• Provided over 65 speaking and educational presentations to date on the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse.