Holiday 2018 Artistic ability outshines intellectual disability ew people could crochet their own wedding dress. But few sugar because it’s her people are as special as Betsy. The gown took her a whole favorite color. Betsy is year to complete. When is the big day? most valued, though, for “Whenever I can get a man to marry me!” explains Betsy. She her amazing patience said she’s waiting for a man who’s “not wanting to watch a football with co-workers— game all the time—and needs to love Animal Planet all the time.” especially those with While she waits, she has plenty of other artistic pursuits to more limited abilities. keep her occupied. Betsy is skilled at bead working, needlepoint, She’s even learning knitting, latch-hooking rugs and pillows, and jewelry making. American Sign She also spends a lot of time drawing—most recently a “cabana Language so she can treehouse” she envisioned. talk to two co-workers, Betsy came to Sugar Plum in one who is deaf and May 2014, after finding her job x one who is mute. filing papers at a law firm too dull. “I love how Betsy is so “I love how Betsy is As a previous Employee of the kind with everyone. so kind with everyone,” Month at Eggleston, Betsy clearly She is all about team- said Patricia Rakes had the makings of a great bakery work and getting the Clark, executive worker. She just needed to get job done. She is so director of the bakery. down the basics first. creative and a joy to be “She is all about teamwork and getting the job done. She is so “They had to help me stay away around. She’s always creative and a joy to be around. She’s always ready to help.” from chocolate, I said, or I would ready to help.” Betsy can read, write and recognize numbers, so she helps eat it all up,” she said. “Don’t eat other workers with jobs like marking expiration dates on baked while we work, we learned that. —Patricia Rakes Clark, goods. She is proud of her two-bedroom apartment, situated in Executive Director I do have a 10% discount if I want a typical complex with nondisabled neighbors, though supported- to buy something. I ordered my living staff visit her daily to help with tasks like cleaning and birthday cake and my brother’s.” grocery shopping. With her flexibility and skill, Betsy was soon given a variety When she’s not working, spending time with friends, or of tasks at Sugar Plum. Her favorite, though, is to make green hosting her father and brothers (who all live in Vermont), icing leaves with the piping bag. She also delights in applying the Betsy is busy with crafts, word puzzles and her cat, Dandelion. colored sugar to the “Cookie Monster” desserts … though she Her life might be even fuller than yours! But then, that’s warns that anytime she’s in charge of them, they will get purple the point. This holiday season, you can support Sugar Plum when you shop! Shop for everyone on your list at smile.amazon.com. You shop. Amazon donates. As 2018 draws to a close, please consider Sugar Plum Bakery for your year-end giving. Keeping up with the cupcakes t’s an exciting time around the bakery. As our “new” building ages I I a bit, we’ve had to make some replacements and updates— including new floors in our Cake Room and elevator, a replace- ment air conditioning unit, and new energy-efficient interior lighting that leaves the bakery glowing. The city’s decision to move Our Mission forward with widening Laskin Road will create some challenges, The mission of Sugar Plum Bakery is to serve the needs but we’re prepared. of persons with disabilities We enjoyed a beautiful day at Bayville Golf Club on June 26, through training, employment, for our Annual Sugar Plum Golf Classic. Special thanks to and education. Sugar Plum Bakery will promote the Rick Westbrook and the staff at Bayville, Sugar Plum Executive Director Trish Clark and integration of people with the bakery staff, Chairman Chuck Ferrer and the Golf Committee, and MOST OF ALL, developmental disabilities the many volunteers, players and sponsors of this very special event. The Golf Classic is into society by helping them our only annual fundraiser and critical to our mission. Thank you! become independent and working, contributing members As you consider the recipients of your 2018 year-end gifts, I kindly ask that you please of our communities. keep in mind people like Betsy, whose story is on the front page. Your gift to Sugar Plum will change lives in more ways than you can imagine. Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a wonderful new year. Officers Thad Nowak, President Ted Britt Automotive Group Tim Rivas, Vice President Future Energy, LLC Thad Nowak Thomas H. Gustafson, Secretary President, Sugar Plum Board of Directors Community Leader Doug Wilbourne, Treasurer Community Leader Charlie Malbon, Past President Tank Lines Inc. Directors Our festive treats are perfect for Ricky Anderson CBRE | Hampton Roads holiday parties! Michael Disharoon Palladium Investment Advisors Yule Log: Chuck Ferrer American Sugar Group A yuletide tradition with a twist. Yellow sponge Colleen Gard-Craig cake filled with chocolate butter cream and Community Leader decorated to resemble a log. Faux mushrooms Bettie Goodman, Emeritus and holly berries adorn the cake. Community Leader Godfrey Grier Holiday Rum Ball Cake: Global Climate Adaptation Partnership Joy Jacobson Baby, it’s cold outside! Two whole layers of rum-flavored yellow cake, Community Leader iced with vanilla butter cream and garnished with handmade Linda Laibstain toasted coconut rum balls. Each rum ball garnishment is Community Leader intricately iced with holiday-themed designs. Robert Maroon The Therapy Network Scott C. Miller Holiday Cookies: Partner, Williams Mullen Butter sugar cookies, a year-round Jeff Nowak favorite, take on holiday-themed Towne Benefits & Investment Group shapes and are decorated with George Stepanovich colorful sugars and icing. Our The Bagel Baker robust gingerbread cookies are Honorary Director made from scratch with molasses, (Hon.) G. William Whitehurst ginger and cinnamon. Former Congressman Patricia Rakes Clark Executive Director Call us at 757.422.3913 to place your order today. Our vital ingredient is you egular support from the community enables Sugar Plum Bakery to continue meeting its mission of serving individuals with RR disabilities. As always, we appreciate every gift that comes to us, and we offer sincere thanks to all of our donors. The following is a list of donors who made contributions between April 1 and September 30, 2018. Endowment Gerald Jaffee Keith Smedley Raymond and Susanne Michelini Charles Allred Mark and Christine Kelly Glenn and Cathryn Snyders In Honor of Cindy Romero Tremea Brothers Little Neck Circle of the King's In Memory of Mary Ann Nowak General Operating Daughters Charles and Gladys Allred Trust Mr. and Mrs. Brian Steadman George Coker Joanne and Jim McClellan Charles Barker Champions Martha Schefer Moore Sandy Monger Programs for Charity JoAnn Armistead Cape Henry Rotary Foundation Richard E. Olivieri Family Foundation Charity Gift Certificates Olivia J. O'Neal Faye Lynn Clayton In Memory of Benji Patrick O’Neal In Memory of Jesse and Bakery sales help offset our expenses, but Daniel and Celeste Romero Wilma Clayton B.H. Rouse the reality is, our organization relies on the George Coker Wanda M. Sannicandro generous financial support of donors like you. Susan Jack Your year-end support enables us to In Memoriam sustain our mission and make a positive difference We’re saddened by the passing of in the lives of individuals with disabilities. Bob Nusbaum and Ed Snyder, longtime supporters of Sugar Plum and its mission. x Board Member Spotlight: George Stepanovich How did you get involved with orchestra—there are all these different parts, from volunteers Sugar Plum? to the workers to management staff—and everyone is humming I own and operate The Bagel Baker, together perfectly. where a frequent customer is my What do you love about your business? friend Tim Rivas. He also comes I started my bagel shop and deli seven years ago, as the recession from the food industry and is a was winding down. I realized there was a niche in the market longtime board member at Sugar for a good bagel shop. Everyone can afford a bagel! I have Plum. Tim approached me about surgeons sitting next to road crews, eating breakfast and lunch. joining the board, as someone My family has always been in the restaurant business, but I who understands the business. didn’t want something on a large scale, with a bar that stayed I was familiar with Sugar Plum open late into the night. The Bagel Baker’s hours allow me to be and its noble cause. There’s home with my family for dinner, and to pick up my daughter something endearing about the from school. George and Kate Stepanovich workers’ outlook on life, their Where else are you involved in the community? with their daughter, Mary. positivity about doing the simplest Son John was born in October. I’m very active with my church, Annunciation Greek Orthodox tasks. We can learn a lot from Cathedral. I’m also a board member with AHEPA (American them. I was excited for the opportunity. Hellenic Educational Progressive Association), a brotherhood What do you bring to the board, professionally and personally? that fundraises for causes like medical research and promotes Working in the food business every day, I understand the Hellenic values including education and democracy.