Agency Board of Directors www.achieveny.org Fall 2014 Ellen Feldman, President Gary Shay, 1st Vice President Dave Sebastianelli, 2nd Vice President Nicki French, Secretary Daniel Ballard, Treasurer Robert Salankiewicz, Assistant Treasurer A Message from the CEO of ACHIEVE David Alamo Alson McKenna, Esq. Lisa Dolphin Dorollo Nixon, Jr., Esq. Hello Everyone, Julie Erb Carolyn Nytch Kelly Eurillo Rev. Diane Prentice I hope that you are enjoying the last days of summer as it slowly fades into Colleen Friends James Savage James Hayes, Esq. Kathy Sheehan autumn, my favorite time of the year. Dr. Camelia Lawrence John Stevens Lisa Lee To welcome the fall season, we will be holding our signature event – Savor the Foundation Board of Directors Summer – during the final week of summer on Thursday, September 18 from John Stevens, Chairperson Denis Wickham, Vice Chairperson 6 - 9pm at our Cutler Pond Road facility where we will be showcasing local wine, Carole Hillis, Secretary craft beer, and gourmet fare in a beautiful setting overlooking Cutler Pond. This Douglas Johnson, Treasurer will also give us the opportunity to provide tours for those who have not had the James Hayes, Esq. Lisa Lee opportunity to see the results of our Growing Spaces, Improving Lives Building Dr. Sandra Michael Delphine O’Rourke Jeffrey Lake Bob Pass Rehabilitation Project, which afforded us the opportunity to renovate our Cutler Pond Day Habilitation Program space. We have been enjoying the new space Executive Management Team since the completion of our project in late spring, and extend our thanks and Mary Jo Thorn, Chief Executive Officer Sandra Haruk, VP Operations appreciation to all who supported it along the way! Amy Howard, VP Program Planning and Development David Markie, VP CVI and Facility Operations So many changes are occurring in our world these days, as the Office for People Anthony Marzolino, Chief Financial Officer with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) continues to work its transformation agenda with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Washington. Table of Contents Presently, we are working with individuals we support in our employment centers to take advantage of a new program offered by OPWDD – Pathway to Employment. This service will help prepare individuals to move into supported or 2 “Jon’s Story” competitive employment, and for those who choose to have their career come to 2 60th Annual Dinner Dance an end – possible volunteer activities. ACHIEVE and Country Valley Industries staff will work with folks to assist in helping those transitioning. 3 Dinner Dance Sponsors 3 Talking Hands This year marks the 65th Anniversary of NYSARC, Inc., ACHIEVE’s parent organization. In July, 25 individuals from ACHIEVE joined nearly 1,200 individuals 4 Special Olympics with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, their families, staff 4 Wendy’s Walk for Kids members, and volunteers representing agencies statewide on the steps of the 5 Pin Crushing Bowling Tournament Capitol in Albany to celebrate, advocate and have our voices heard. If you are not already a member of ACHIEVE, please consider becoming one – it is not too late. 6-7 Growing Spaces, Improving Lives If you attend our Savor the Summer event, we will happily register you! Together 8 Grand Prize Barbecue we can make a difference! 8 NYSARC 65th Anniversary As always, thanks to all of you for your support of ACHIEVE. 8 “NYSARC Gives Back” Campaign Sincerely, 9 NYSARC Grants Mary Jo Thorn 9 Country Valley Industries Chief Executive Officer 10 In Memory of Joan Henderson, Jane Glazier, and John DeGaramo 11 In Memory of Peter Ullrich 11 Special Needs Planning Seminar 11 Savor the Summer 12 Corporate Sponsors “Jon’s Story” Gets Nationally 60th Annual Dinner Dance Published ACHIEVE would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who attended the 60th Annual Dinner Dance featuring the 2014 Membership Meeting and Awards Banquet on Friday, June 6, 2014 at The McKinley In 2012 we published “Jon’s Story” – a short at Huron Campus! More than 350 individuals came out in celebration for this wonderful event and it autobiography written was truly a magical evening! by ACHIEVE program participant, Jon Blair, in ACHIEVE would like to congratulate this year’s award winners: our Beacon newsletter. 2014 Program Participants of the Year We were recently made aware that his story has been nationally published in the newest Chicken Soup for the Soul: Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries: 101 Stories of Hope, Healing, and Hard Work that came out in June of Dustin Merwin Charles Rolison Bryon Huber Cynthia Dillemuth Carol Rosenbaum Crystal Warwick this year! We are beyond excited for Jon! Read his 2014 Employee Team of the Year: story on our website at www.achieveny.org, or 2014 ACHIEVE Star Performers: Country Valley Industries Rehabilitation Team better yet – purchase the book and ask him for his autograph – he’d be more than happy to sign a copy for you! Stephanie Kelli Quick Jeffrey Wooden Eatton-Johnson 2014 Supported Work Catherine Entwisle Tara Edmunds Anne Marie Employer of the Year: Vivienne Ciotoli Janis Evangelisti Sanford Lynne Majewski Margaret French Catina Sutton Teresa Rider Samantha Griffiths Bernard Yerabek Stephanie Eatton- Kristina Irons Lu Ives Johnson Terri Riley 2014 Company of the Year: 2014 Community Service Award: ACHIEVE Day Habilitation Program staff members pose for a photo following dinner. Top row (from left to right): Scott Nagle, Felicia Roberts, Eric Yetter, Sandy Haruk; Bottom row: Kelli Quick, Kristina Doi, Lannette Pancoast. John Stevens Program Participant of the Year Award Winner, Charles Rolison, poses for a photo with Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and Mr. Emmanuel Priest, Director of Public Affairs for Senator Thomas W. Libous during the Awards Ceremony. Jessica Morlando, Michelle Wilson, and Michael Friends pose for a photo prior to dinner. 2 Presenting Sponsor Ticket Sponsors Table Sponsors Thank you to our Dinner Entertainment Sponsor Dance Sponsors: Venue Sponsor John Paulin ACHIEVE would also like to President: Ellen Feldman Directors: David Alamo, Lisa Dolphin, recognize and congratulate the 1st Vice President: Gary Shay Julie Erb, Kelly Eurillo, Colleen new slate of officers who were 2nd Vice President: Dave Sebastianelli Friends, James Hayes, Esq., Dr. voted in prior to dinner during Secretary: Nicki French Camelia Lawrence, Lisa Lee, Alson the 2014 Annual Membership Treasurer: Daniel Ballard McKenna, Esq., Carolyn Nytch, Rev. Meeting: Assistant Treasurer: Robert Diane Prentice, James Savage, Kathy Salankiewicz Sheehan, John Stevens Talking Hands Presents Cast members perform during the Circle of Life sign language portion of the performance. Talking Hands presented their 10th Annual Talent Show and Sign Language Concert, Circle of Life, on Saturday, April 26 at Johnson City High School to an audience of over 500. Cast members perform during the ACHIEVE would like to congratulate all of talent show portion of the the cast and crew on a job well done! performance. Performers get ready for the 10th Annual Performance. 3 ACHIEVE Program Participants Compete in The ACHIEVE Children’s Summer Program has been Special Olympics USA Games ACHIEVE selected as a recipient agency in the 2014 Wendy’s Walk for Kids! ACHIEVE supported this great cause ACHIEVE program participants, Supports by entering eight teams into the walk this year, which Chris Beylo and Dana Hamm, was held on Sunday, August 17 at the Dick’s Sporting were two of seven Special Goods Open. ACHIEVE had more than 130 walkers Olympics athletes from participate and raised over $6,700 to support the Broome and Tioga counties 2014 charities! to represent New York State in the 2014 Special Olympics The Wendy’s Walk for Kids mission is to support USA Games in Princeton, New programs whose purpose is to help children in our Jersey, in June. community realize their full potential regardless of their life experiences and current circumstances. For Coaches and 182 athletes more information on this wonderful organization, representing New York, assembled in Newburg, please visit www.wendyswalkforkids.com. New York, prior to busing to Princeton to join teams from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. During the Games, 3,500 Special Olympians ACHIEVE Board Member, Julie Erb, and her participated in sixteen different sports. daughter, Makayla, at the Wendy’s Walk for Kids. The theme for the 2014 USA Games was “Revealing Champions.” Sunday night, a spectacular Opening Ceremonies program was held in the Prudential Center, home to the New Jersey Devils hockey team. On Monday, competition began and continued through Friday. Chris represented New York in the sport of Golf. Dana represented New York in the sport of Bocce, competing in Singles, Doubles, and the Team event. Dana was very happy to bring home one Bronze medal, two Silver medals, and a lifetime of memories. ACHIEVE Program Participant, Shalease, enjoys ice cream after the walk. Dana and his Bocce doubles partner, Adeline Guzzy, accept their Silver Medals. ACHIEVE teams gather for a photo prior to the walk. ACHIEVE staff members, Nicole Leonard and Joy Moore, volunteer in the Family Tent prior to the walk. ACHIEVE Chapin Street residents and Chris waiting in the wings for the staff relax New York Parade of Delegates to be called and enjoy ice out during the Opening Ceremonies. cream after the walk. 4 19th Annual Pin Crushing Bowling Tournament ACHIEVE hosted the 19th Annual Pin Crushing Bowling Tournament on Saturday, ACHIEVE March 22 at Midway Lanes in Vestal. More than 300 bowlers and spectators came out program to support the event which raised over $11,500 for ACHIEVE programs and services! participants take a We would like to congratulate Robyn Callaway, Sales and Marketing Manager for break from ACHIEVE’s subsidiary, Country Valley Industries, who won the Grand Prize of having bowling to say hi to Assemblyman Clifford Crouch and Assemblyman Chris Friend barbecue for her and Max, the 30 of her friends on her new gas grill generously donated by Warner’s Gas Service! Binghamton Senators We would like to say THANK YOU to Assemblyman Clifford Crouch and Assemblyman mascot.