Happenings Newsletter For friends of Ability Partners Foundation, CP Rochester, Happiness House, and Rochester Rehabilitation Fall 2019 Graham Rodwell has worked with an advisor and Graham support groups at Rochester Rehabilitation to help manage his anxiety and depression. With help from the Ventures PROS staff and his family, he has gained confidence, strengthened his social skills, and was a keynote speaker for the Employee Recognition event and the Evening of Stars Gala. Erin Hart started working with Happiness House staff when she Erin was one. She was diagnosed with developmental delays and didn’t walk until the age of three. Through Happiness House, Erin received physical, occupational, speech, and music therapies which helped her build her strength and skills to become the young lady she is today. Christopher Brookes began working with CP Rochester as a Chris young child, receiving euro-peds physical therapy. Having bilateral hearing loss and being diagnosed with cerebral palsy, he continues to come to the CP Rochester Clinic and is working hard to move around independently. He is most proud of mastering walking upstairs using a cane. A Message from Mary autism-based preschool classrooms AutismUp. CP Rochester, AutismUp, and developed enhanced services to and Al Sigl Community of Agencies address the unmet needs. We held are founders of the Golisano Autism autism summits; hired an autism Center, a nonprofit organization specialist responsible for coordinating incorporated in 2018. Seeing the autism services for both agencies urgent need for Rochester families to and; in 2017 I was appointed be connected to autism services before to the New York State Autism the Center opened, we hired an autism Spectrum Disorders Advisory Board family navigator and launched the providing increased opportunities autism helpline. to network statewide on addressing We’ve made tremendous progress autism programs and services. Mary Walsh Boatfield toward our working goal of $9M. Tom President / CEO Golisano and the Golisano Foundation provided the lead gifts of $3M toward Collaboration has been the Golisano Autism Center to launch he increased prevalence of key in putting the pieces the project and Finger Lakes Regional autism (1 in 59 children per Economic Development awarded $1M TCenters for Disease Control and together in developing the through the Consolidated Funding Prevention) has increased the demand Application. Many thanks to the more for comprehensive autism-specific Golisano Autism Center. than 200 donors who have helped us services. As president and CEO of raise $7.6M. Happiness House, simultaneously Focus groups were held with a The Center was designed to create serving as president and CEO of demographically diverse group of a sensory-friendly environment that CP Rochester for the past six years, individuals discussing the need for includes wayfinding, soft lighting, I knew more work was needed to integration and inclusivity for all noise reduction, observational seating, increase service accessibility to community members to be served. and sensory retreat (somewhere to go individuals and families. We conducted research and when stimulated). In April 2009, Happiness House held center-based visits with providers This has been a challenging and its first annual community Autism throughout the east coast to determine inspiring undertaking and I welcome Walk in celebration of National the most effective way to deliver the greater Rochester and Finger Lakes Autism Awareness month and in 2010 comprehensive autism services. communities to our Center! launched an Autism Diagnostic & Ann Costello, executive director Evaluation Clinic to better address of the Golisano Foundation, was autism-specific needs in the Finger instrumental in convening our partners Lakes region. — Tom O’Connor, president of Al In 2014, CP Rochester’s Augustin Sigl Community of Agencies and Children’s Center expanded its Sarah Milko, executive director of 2 − Page 2 − Melissa Parrish, the autism family navigator at AutismUp (above) shares her experience with the audience. Members of Ability Partners, Inc., Ability Partners Foundation, Golisano Foundation, AutismUp, Wegmans, and Ann Costello, executive Al Sigl Community of Agencies prepare for breaking down director of the Golisano barriers with their ceremonial groundbreaking (above). Foundation (above), addresses the audience. Tom Golisano (above) addresses the audience. Mary Walsh Boatfield, President/ CEO of CP Rochester, Happiness House and Rochester Rehabilitation (above) shares her ceremonial remarks. Members of Ability Partners, Inc., Ability Partners Foundation, Golisano Foundation, AutismUp, Wegmans, and Al Sigl Community of Agencies cut the ribbon at the opening of the Golisano Autism Center (above). 3 − Page 3 − Amazing Things 6 Donors have made possible Look how much good a gift to Ability Partners Foundation can do! 6,600 INDIVIDUALS SERVED We serve individuals and families in Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates Counties. 46TH LARGEST EMPLOYER Together the Ability Partners' agencies are the 46th largest employer in the Rochester area. GOLISANO AUTISM CENTER OPENS The Center is a one-stop autism hub where more than 10 autism service providers come together. OVER $357,000 RAISED In 2018-2019, APF's seven fundraisers exceeded their monetary goals. 3 ANNIVERSARY MILESTONES Rochester Rehabilitation celebrates 100 years, Happiness House celebrates 50 years, and Ability Partners Foundation celebrates 10 years. CP ROCHESTER TRANSITION HOME The Transition Home will be completed spring of 2020 with 20 individuals interested in seven available apartments. 4 WE CAN DO SO MUCH MORE BECAUSE OF YOU. Tommy Achilles graduated Thank you for your generous support of CP Rochester, Happiness House, from Happiness House and Rochester Rehabilitation! Your commitment to people of all abilities is 30 years ago. He started making a profound impact on a daily basis in the lives of so many. receiving services through Happiness House’s Early We've seen the impact of CP Rochester giving Christopher the support he Intervention Program and needs to walk independently; the impact of Happiness House helping Erin is a graduate of the New to build her strength and skills; and the impact of Rochester Rehabilitation Friends Preschool Program. giving Graham the confidence he needed. Tommy is a great supporter of Happiness House as it Last year, CP Rochester, Happiness House, and Rochester Rehabilitation helped not only him but his served 6,600 individuals like Christopher, Erin, and Graham from the Finger nephew too, "This was the Lakes and Greater Rochester areas. We are fortunate to have organizations place that we could come like ours in these communities. But despite the great strides we are and be ourselves!" making, we rely on your help! Changing and enriching lives is our daily mission. With your donation, you can truly make a difference. Your support allows us to fulfill the ongoing needs of the programs and services of our three great agencies. Thanks to your help, we provide an array of educational, therapeutic, recreational, employment, mental health, residential, and family support programs and services for children and adults with disabilities and disadvantages. We are very thankful to all the businesses, organizations, families, and individuals who support us. Please join with us — together, we can make a difference! Thank you! Richard Hawks Jr., Chairperson, Ability Partners Foundation Jacqueline Hawks Lyttle, Chairperson, CP Rochester, Happiness House, and Rochester Rehabilitation his side. by Parker, with his nephew, Happiness House's 50th Anniversary spoke at Picnic Tommy I/We would like to support Ability Partners Foundation! Enclosed is my gift of: $500 $100 Full Name: Please make checks payable to: $250 $50 Address Line 1: Ability Partners Foundation Address Line 2: (Memo: 2019 Annual Appeal) $150 Other $_______ City, State, ZIP/Postal Code: Please send this form with your gift to: Check here if you wish to remain anonymous. Ability Partners Foundation 10 East Main Street, Suite #304 My gift is in memory of: Victor, New York 14564 My gift is in honor of: Remember, all donations are tax deductible. Thank you in advance for your kind support! If you have any questions, please contact Brenda Burkett at (585) 412-9040 x1323 or [email protected]. www.CPRochester.org www.HappinessHouse.org www.RochesterRehab.org 5 A MESSAGE OF THANKS from the Hurley Family Erin is a beautiful, affectionate, typical teenager who loves to be active and social. Some of her accomplishments include: playing the trombone, piano, hip hop and jazz dance lessons, dance recitals, therapeutic horseback riding lessons, acting in productions with Bristol Valley Theater in Naples, and the Cobblestone Arts Center in Farmington. Erin has interviewed with Nickelodeon and Disney Channels. A snippet of a video Erin submitted to Disney was on a "Girl Meets World" episode. Photos of Erin were recently on the EWTN Global Catholic Network for World Down Syndrome Day. She was on PBS-Homework Hotline and was featured on the "Move to Include" segment. She's a lector at church and an Ambassador with Best Buddies in Rochester, NY. Erin was in the first integrated fashion show in the Rochester area held at Nazareth College. She also has her own golf cart that she can drive independently. Happiness House was a BIG influence from the start of Erin's success stories. She started attending Happiness House when she was two years old. The wonderful