— 2018 — Annual Results 603-889-0652 •
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Changing Lives Through Innovation — 2018 — Annual Results 603-889-0652 • www.pluscompany.org 19 Chestnut Street, 3 Ballard Way, Unit #302, 1053 East Street, Unit 1049 Nashua, NH 030603 Lawrence, MA 01840 Tewksbury, MA 01876 603-889-0652 978-689-8829 978-640-3936 A LETTER FROM THE CHAIR AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Innovation takes many forms. Sometimes it’s thinking outside of the box to develop a new employment training program. Sometimes it’s helping clients live healthier lives through fun and comradery, and sometimes it’s using the skills you already have to help turn someone’s life around. Those of us working and volunteering at The PLUS Company have always prided ourselves on our ability to use innovation and creative thinking to help our clients achieve their goals and live their best lives. Our clients are living longer, more productive lives. They are working and volunteering in the community. They are taking classes, learning new skills, and becoming as independent as possible. Lives have been changed. Over the past year, The PLUS Company has offered over 100 adult education and socialization programs to our clients, helping them find new ways to learn skills, get to work, and live empowered lives as independently as possible. We have worked with a strong network of community partners, businesses, families, staff, and volunteers to create these programs. At the same time, we are looking towards the future through a strategic planning process that will allow us to maximize our strengths and bolster our weaknesses. This has been a year-long initiative, involving all levels of staff and volunteers, and included a workgroup that has partnered with the NH Center for Nonprofits on mapping our future. The ideas generated from these sessions have been bold and innovative, and we are starting to pave a clear path to a sustainable future. The key really lies in the talent of our staff to think outside the box and find ways to both support and challenge our clients. It is the people, staff, volunteers, donors, and community supporters, that truly make the difference and change our clients’ lives for the better. Of course, we cannot discount the hard work, thought, and innovation each client brings to the table. Every individual works with their team to set goals and then commits to following a path towards successful completion of those goals. There are bumps and stumbles along the way, but that is when the creative thinking from all sides truly kicks in and we continue to move forward. Thank you all for your hard work. Here’s to another amazing year of innovation and working together! — Kim Shottes & Joe Marshall DONOR SPOTLIGHT Robin and Carl Heffelfinger have lived in the Nashua area for 33 years, and The PLUS Company has been part of their lives for over 20 of them. The couple first became acquainted with PLUS when they attended one of the very first Silent Auction and Dinner Dance fundraising events at the Alpine Grove in Hollis. “We were impressed with what PLUS was able to achieve with its clients. Going to the auction to show support became an annual goal of ours,” says Robin. With Carl’s job as a financial advisor and Robin volunteering as an advocate for children with disabilities on several committees. Robin also advised the governor and education commissioner as a member of the State Advisory Committee. Add three sons to the mix, one of whom has a developmental disability, and the amount of “extra” time they have becomes even less. Yet, Robin and Carl have been staunch supporters of PLUS in so many way, giving their time, talent, and even opening their home to PLUS Company supporters. Robin is a member of the Silent Auction and Dinner Dance Committee, while Carl has been a long time supporter of the Wild Irish Breakfast. They have even hosted several fundraising “Cocktails for A Cause” events at their home, inviting friends, neighbors, and acquaintances to learn more about PLUS. When asked about their favorite PLUS Company moment. Robin says “Our favorite and proudest moment was when our son graduated from Project SEARCH. It was a wonderful program that gave young adults the tools and experience to successfully participate in their employment and life.” She went on to say, “We give to PLUS because we strongly believe that EVERYONE has talents and skills to contribute to the world. PLUS helps to support, facilitate and enhance the goals of its clients. The sense of community is awesome. As an advocate, PLUS is a fabulous next step post high school. I encourage [potential clients] to research PLUS programs such as Project SEARCH and Special Olympics teams early on in high school. PLUS also can become a big part of one’s social group. My son met his best friends while enrolled in Project Search. Our friends can see how well our son has done.” Thank you to Robin, Carl, and your entire family for being a part of The PLUS Company family. We are honored to have your support and proud of all you have accomplished. EMPLOYER SPOTLIGHT Worthen Industries Worthen industries has gone above and beyond to create opportunities for people with disabilities to develop skills in a competitive work environment. Originally, The PLUS Company approached Worthen, a manufacturer of industrial adhesives & coatings, to pilot a new “On Demand” program. This program would allow PLUS clients to be hired on a short-term contract basis. This would allow the client to learn employability skills, while enabling Worthen to find employees that fit their needs on a long-term basis. This meant that PLUS and Worthen would need to work together to adapt the normal hiring practices that most businesses employ, especially those in the manufacturing sector. What is unique about this partnership is the level of integration, creativity, planning, generosity, and compassion shown by Worthen Industries, from the top down. Since April 2017, PLUS clients have been phasing into various departments. Worthen offered an exceptional learning environment for our individuals, from pairing each client up with a natural support at the company, to proactively offering to make universal design changes/reasonable accommodations if needed. This allows PLUS to manage performance and give as much time as needed to learn tasks, and the opportunity to work together to handle performance issues that may arise. Currently, 10 clients have done work for Worthen in some capacity and 4 have been hired to work for the company. Worthen Industries is a truly innovative, community leader and we are proud to partner with them. COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT Nashua Elks The Nashua Elks have a long history with The PLUS Company. In fact, the Elks have been partnering with The PLUS Company for over 20 years, hosting three dances each year for PLUS Company clients. The Spring, Halloween, and Holiday dances are major events for our clients, giving them the opportunity to socialize with their peers, in a relaxed, fun environment. Many of the Elks volunteers enjoy the events so much, that they return year after year to buy, cook, and serve food at the dances, as well as chat with staff and clients. Bert Faucher has been coordinating the dances for the past two decades, and believes the events benefit both the clients and the Elks. “It has been a privilege for me and my crew to donate our time, so clients of The PLUS Company have a simple meal and enjoy themselves with their peers. Our committee is always looking forward to serving them and watching them have a good time. It has been rewarding and a pleasure for me to have chaired these events for nearly 20 years.” Bert will be retiring from his post this year, but the dances will continue thanks to the dedication and hard work of the Nashua Elks. SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT JOB Cicely Mannino knew she wanted a job, but she needed training before she could make that dream a reality. Luckily, she was accepted to Project SEARCH, a 10-month employment training program delivered by The PLUS Company and hosted by St. Joseph Hospital. During her time in the program, she worked very hard to learn transferrable employment skills. Soon after graduating in 2016, Cicely’s dream of working came true, and with support from The PLUS Company’s Career & Business Services Department, she was hired by Homewood Suites. While Cicely did enjoy her position in the Laundry Department, she realized she had a strong desire to work with senior citizens. Cicely was placed by PLUS at the Pillsbury Home in Milford. In addition to general housekeeping duties, Cicely is an activities assistant, planning and implementing activities for the seniors. Her supervisors and coworkers always have positive things to say about Cicely. They are happy that she is a very dependable worker and has made connections with several of the residents. Cicely says none of this would have been possible without PLUS Company and the Project SEARCH program. “I am grateful to PLUS Company for helping me find a job that I love! They trained me well for what I do. I have made a lot of friends, and I talk a lot more and I am more out- going and confident.” Cicely is also active in The PLUS Company’s Adult Education and Socialization Program, and represented PLUS Pride Special Olympics at the USA Special Olympics National Games in Seattle. Cicely was proud to show her co-workers the bronze medal she was awarded at the games. “I enjoy the classes I take at PLUS, such as music, walk club, basketball and softball,” says Cicely.