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Allegheny Valley School PERSPECTIVES Vol. 24 No. 2 Providing community residential environments and therapeutic programs throughout Fall/Winter 2010 Pennsylvania for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. ALLEGHENY VALLEY SCHOOL NEWS Black & Golden Anniversary Celebration a Shining Success On Wednesday, October 6, 450 new 50th anniversary video provided an people gathered to help Allegheny overview of AVS, its clients and staff, and Valley School (AVS) celebrate its 50 the services provided to the community. Years of Caring for children and The Premium Raffle winning ticket was adults with intellectual and drawn and announced by Greta and Art developmental disabilities. Greta Rooney—Tom Michael was the lucky and Art Rooney, II were the honorary winner of two tickets to Super Bowl XLV chairpersons of the Black & Golden and $1,000 cash (courtesy of the Pittsburgh Anniversary Celebration. Steelers and Allegheny Valley Held at the Carnegie School). Museums of Pittsburgh in All the guests received a Oakland, the evening limited edition Terrible Towel® featured an outstanding (donated by the Pittsburgh performance by Mandy Steelers) and black and gold Patinkin in his critically Smiley Cookies (donated by acclaimed show Mandy Eat’n Park Hospitality Group). Patinkin DRESS CASUAL, “Greta and I are delighted that with Paul Ford on Piano. we were able to serve as the During his engaging Honorary Chairpersons for the performance in the Music Black & Golden event,” states Hall, Mandy Patinkin Art Rooney, II. ”The Pittsburgh amazed the audience with Steelers are proud to have been his talent as he sang show a part of Allegheny Valley tunes, told stories and Mandy Patinkin greets John, Parie and JD Duggan. School’s past, and we look performed some new pieces. forward to continuing our partnership through The Terrible Towel® The evening began with a cocktail reception in the grand Music long into the future.” Hall Foyer. Catering was provided by Parkhurst, flowers by The Black & Golden Anniversary Celebration grossed more than Hepatica, music by studio-e entertainment company, and linens by $315,000 for the Capital Development Fund; net proceeds will be Table Talk. used to support costs that are not reimbursable by Medicaid The evening’s events continued in the Music Hall with Allegheny including equipment, program expansion, renovations and Valley School’s President and CEO Regis G. Champ welcoming the property. crowd and paying tribute to the AVS employees who have all been critical to the success of the organization over the past 50 years. A See pages 6 and 7 for more about the Celebration. AVS Celebrates 50 Years On September 16, AVS locations state-wide celebrated 50 Years of Caring. Each resident and staff member received a celebratory t-shirt to wear on this special day. Celebrations throughout the state inclued: Champ “Visits” All AVS Locations President and CEO Regis Champ was not able to be at all 125+ AVS locations on September 16, but was able to be with residents and employees state-wide through a video presentation. Our golden anniversary celebration day fell within Pennsylvania’s Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week. So not only were we able to celebrate our anniversary, but also we formally honored our direct support professionals throughout the week. Filming for the video took place at the Patricia Hillman Miller Campus (PHMC), Pittsburgh Campus, Oakhaven and the Edward J. Zapp Program Center. Photos of residents and employees from locations around the AVS network were interspersed throughout. Residents and staff members who have been with AVS the longest were highlighted. See “Celebrations” continued on page 10. 1 www.avs.netwwww.w.avvss.nen t Allegheny Valley School • Decades of Growth 1960 - 1969 Allegheny Valley School was founded, organized and incorporated by Patricia Hillman Miller with help from Bob Prince and Doug Hannah. The original facility, located in a turn-of-the-century mansion on West Prospect Avenue in the Crafton/Ingram area of Pittsburgh, opened to provide care for ten clients. Throughout the 1960s, the building was expanded to accommodate the increased need for services. Patricia Hillman AVS’ original facility Miller 1970 - 1979 In 1973, AVS opened a 55-acre campus in Robinson Township. During the mid-1970s, as the national trend shifted the care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) from institutions to community living, AVS was among the first agencies in Pennsylvania to establish group homes. The first on-campus group home was opened in 1977. In 1978, the original campus on West Prospect Avenue was temporarily closed while plans were made and funds were raised for renovations. 1980 - 1989 The 1980s were a decade of tremendous growth for AVS. To accommodate individuals moving into the community from larger facilities, AVS opened three on-campus homes and 28 community group homes in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Mercer counties. The homes were opened to accommodate people from the Pennhurst State Center dispersal in 1984, and the closing of the Highland Park Center in 1985. In 1983, the original facility on West Prospect Avenue was reopened and named the Patricia Hillman Miller Campus. That same year, AVS participated with Myron Cope in founding the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, an event that continues to benefit Allegheny Valley School and the Autism Society of Pittsburgh. As the decade neared its end, AVS opened two day program facilities in western PA. AVS also began its state-wide expansion in 1989, taking over the operation of a facility in Philadelphia, establishing its Philadelphia Campus. 1990 - 1999 Expansion continued as AVS not only was asked to take over additional programs but also moved more individuals into community living arrangements. In 1994, AVS took over the operation of a residential facility in Butler County and another facility in Hummelstown, Dauphin County, the latter which extended services into central Pennsylvania. AVS expanded its program options to include supported living and family living/life sharing in 1997. Throughout the decade, AVS opened 44 community group homes across PA including 10 in Philadelphia County, 10 in Lebanon and Dauphin Counties, Hummelstown Campus and 24 in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Mercer Counties. 2000 – 2009 During the most recent decade, AVS continued moving individuals into the community. Thirty-nine (39) group homes were opened throughout the state to accommodate individuals impacted by facility closings including Western Center, Aspin Center and Greenwich Services. To better accommodate the increased number of clients, new program centers were opened in 2001 and 2005. Family living/life sharing programs also grew. To ensure that our services and quality would continue for decades to come, in 2008, the AVS Board of Directors announced that Allegheny Valley School would be acquired by NHS Human Services (www.nhsonline.org). The future of AVS and its longstanding commitment to the community was secured through its acquisition by NHS, the largest non-profit provider of services to individuals with I/DD in the country. By combining resources and talent, NHS and AVS can assure the highest quality of care as well as a stronger voice on behalf of the many individuals we serve. Allegheny Valley School in 2010 From one location in 1960 to 128 programs and facilities in 9 counties today, AVS has come a long way since 1960. We could not have done this without our dedicated staff members who provide exceptional services to the individuals in our care. We also are grateful to the communities that welcome us and are our neighbors. And there are countless contributors who have generously supported us as we strive to live our mission and provide a place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, learn, work and play. Thank you! www.avs.net 2 Commemorative Bricks Celebrate 50 Years of Caring with a commemorative brick at AVS Commemorative Bricks PHMC. Bricks will display your special message or name(s)/ Help AVS celebrate 50 Years of Caring with an honorary brick business. Please complete the order form and return it to AVS’ that will be placed at our original location, the Patricia Hillman Corporate Center by March 31, 2011. Bricks will be placed at Miller Campus (PHMC). Choose your size, and create a message PHMC in spring/summer 2011. or list your name(s)/business. Thank you to the following commemorative brick donors. Name: _______________________________________________ Joan and Robert Andersen Diana and Bob Angelo & Family Phone: _______________________________________________ Angela and Thomas Bishop Roland Champ Family Address: ______________________________________________ Leslie Clifford Mary DeMarco ______________________________________________________ Flora and John Dihtzeruk Deborah Douglass City: _________________________ State: ____ Zip: __________ Linda Fabian & Family Clyde E. Flickinger Email: ________________________________________________ Norine Fusca Kelly and Justin Gremba & Family Message requirements: The maximum number of characters per Ruth Hammond line is 21 (18 characters is recommended). Please note that a Jan and Dennis Harvilla space is considered a character. MaryAnn Harvilla HMAs and DCS of PHMC and Program Staff ____ 4” x 8” ($50.00) 4 lines maximum (3 lines recommended) Karen B. and William Hunter Cara C. King ______________________________________________________ Evy and Robert Klingenberg, Sr. Martha L. Long ______________________________________________________