|
|
|
|
|
In the News....
|
January 2018
|
RINGING IN 2018
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Vanderheyden's individuals enjoyed a great night of food, fun and games as they counted down the clock to 2018!
|
CHARLIE, WHO BRIGHTENS OUR DAY
The cheeriest of smiles, a great sense of humor, and always one for a good conversation.
That's our Charles H., a resident at Vanderheyden's Van Hoesen Group Home in Schodack.
Charlie, who is our senior resident at the young age of 70, grew up on a farm in Catskill. He's the youngest of thirteen brothers and sisters, and is proud of the fact that his grandmother lived until she was 99.
At the age of six, Charlie was sent to the New York-run Rome State School in Oneida County, and lived there until 1975, when he was in his 20s. That facility, along with Willowbrook on Long Island, were eventually shuttered.
Charlie's next step was moving closer to his hometown. The Capital Region became his new home.
Vanderheyden became his sanctuary place when Charlie lived in an apartment in Cohoes, and took part in our CS-IRA program. For almost the last four years, he's been at Van Hoesen.
"I like Vanderheyden. The staff is good," Charlie said. "They gave me my own TV, my own coffee maker, and put the shelves up for my stuffed animals."
Charlie has a massive stuffed animal collection, that numbers around 200.
"I like them all," he said. "Bears, dogs, rabbits, and I built my own Chewbacca bear at Build-A-Bear for my birthday last year."
When Charlie lived in his own apartment, a mystery person left him a surprise at his door.
"I opened the door, and someone left me a bag filled with stuffed animals," he said.
His stuffed animal collection began when the staff at NYS's DDRO gave him a gray bear for a Christmas present. To this day, Charlie remembers who gave him every one.
"They kept giving presents, and adding on for every holiday," he said.
Evelyn Leonhardt, House Manager at Van Hoesen said Charlie has a great sense of humor, and often tells jokes to the Team Members.
"He is very well-liked here by his Team Members and his peers, and has a great rapport with everyone he works with," Leonhardt said.
She said Charlie can usually be found in the living room listening to music, and singing along. He also loves to keep everyone informed about the weather, and will give updates on a daily basis.
"Charlie loves to go to Denny's," Leonhardt said. "It's one of his favorite places to eat."
Charlie sure does love to travel. He's been to Disney World and Sea World in Orlando, Florida, the Aquarium in Boston, and, to Cape Cod with Vanderheyden's DCW-V Lawrence Mazal.
"We went all the way to the end. All the way to Provincetown," Charlie said.
"Charlie is one of my favorites. He's up in the Top 10," Mazal said. "He's a good guy."
Since Charlie loves Godzilla, Mazal took him to a comic book show, where he added the famous monster to his collection.
Some of his other activities include going on the internet "to see what's new in the world," and watching classic movies on his computer. Charlie has a DVD collection, that includes horrors and thrillers, and his favorite - Godzilla!
In the future, Charlie would love to visit his hometown of Catskill again to see if anything has changed. Vanderheyden Team Members have taken him there in the past.
"So far, the last 20 years, it's all the same," he said.
Charlie would also like to reconnect with his nieces and nephews who are scattered in different areas, and started searching for them on the internet.
Thank you, Charlie, for brightening up our days!
|
VANDERHEYDEN'S 185TH ANNIVERSARY!
Stay tuned to our social media sites to find out about upcoming celebrations for our 185th year!
This year, Vanderheyden
will commemorate 185 years of providing services to thousands of youth, individuals and families.
Vanderheyden is searching for Alumni and descendants with ties to the agency's long history, to relate their memories and inspirational stories of healing and growth. We are also looking for pictures, or any related items from Vanderheyden, the Troy Orphan Asylum or the Fairview Home for Friendless Children. Please reach out and leave a message at (518) 874-4964 or email us at: [email protected]
We are also inviting 185 individuals
to kick-off our celebration by becoming a member of the "1833 Society" with a donation of $1,833, to honor
the year our organization was formed.
Our hope is that you
will join in as someone that makes a
future impact
in the Vanderheyden legacy to change lives to save lives.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller
.
For more information contact Cathy Yudzevich at
[email protected]
, or call (518) 874-4901.
|
ELLIOT, TRULY INSPIRING LIVES
Taking on challenges and giving back is what our new Rubin House Manager Elliot Arroyo is all about.
The Manhattan native said he's been a jack of all trades, and has done a little bit of everything from delivery work to managing a grocery store.
"I moved out of my Grandmother's house when I was 16, and had to fend for myself," Arroyo said. "I wasn't able to finish high school (at the time) and had to support myself."
Arroyo said he wanted a better upbringing for his first child, so he moved his family Upstate in 2001, and settled in Troy.
For over three years, Vanderheyden has been his career choice, after hearing about a Direct Care Worker (DCW) opening from a close friend of his.
"It just grabbed my attention, because I always felt I had a lot to give back. I had a lot of knowledge. I've been through a little bit of everything throughout my years," Arroyo said. "I just felt like I can change or help someone in their lives, and give them guidance."
When an individual is doing fantastic out on their own, he said, that is fulfilling.
"I have one individual who aged out (of the program) two years ago, and is doing absolutely fantastic," Arroyo said. "He has a great paying job, a car, looks to the future, plans on going back to school."
Arroyo said the individual contacts him at least once a week to let him know how everything's going.
"So, that's the joy," he said. "I always say if I come into this field. If I can change one person's life. I've done my job."
He also had praise for his fellow Vanderheyden Team Members, who he said are very professional in everything they do.
"Just the fact that they all come together and put forth a great effort, to put forth a lot of their own personal time to help out in certain aspects, and that everyone works as a unit," Arroyo said.
Since taking over as House Manager in early December, Arroyo said it's been a learning experience.
"Every day I'm learning a little bit more," he said. "So far, I'm definitely enjoying it."
Deb Demers, Director of Community Services, said Arroyo moving up to a managerial position is a perfect move.
"When I think of Elliot, I think of a good, solid person, and anyone who is in his care will be taken care of," she said. "He reminds me of what a good dad would be."
Demers said her heart was full, when she and Arroyo heard about the promotion.
"He said, 'Now I can be a role model for my children, to show them that no matter what one's circumstances are, one can make it if they work hard, and do a good job," she said, quoting Arroyo.
He said helping the individuals out at Vanderheyden, reflects on how he raises his eight children.
"Everything I learn here I implement in raising my own children, because a lot of the policies and a lot of the teaching you learn here at Vanderheyden, can be used in your everyday life," Arroyo said.
Spending time with his three boys and five girls is a priority in his life. Arroyo also likes basketball and football. The San Antonio Spurs and the New York Giants top the list.
"I'm a Giants fan, through and through," he said.
Elliot, thank you for making a huge impact, and being an inspiration to our individuals!
|
Thank you to our individuals and Team Members who helped make our historical display at the Atrium at Troy's Victorian Stroll a memorable one!
Team work at its finest! Thank you!
|
Nine of our individuals and Team Members headed to MetLife Stadium to see the New York Giants defeat the Washington Redskins. Our individuals even had a taste of the Club Section, where it was nice and warm!
After the game, it was off to Rockland Bakery!
Thank you to our Holiday Program donor for supplying the tickets!!
|
***
HERE ARE SOME OF THE SPECIAL TIMES
FROM THE
H
O
L
I
D
A
Y
S
E
A
S
O
N
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
***
|
HOLIDAY PROGRAM 2017
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN!
|
|
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
THANK YOU INDIVIDUALS AND TEAM MEMBERS!
The Vanderheyden community gathered for our 1st Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in the circle outside our Administration building on a frigid December night.
Each cottage, group home, and department decorated the tree with their own special ornament, before enjoying a cup of hot chocolate.
|
|
PHILO HOUSE IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
Many smiling faces were found at Vanderheyden's Philo Group Home in Glens Falls!
Thank you Finch Paper, LLC in Glens Falls for sponsoring our individuals, and showering them with amazing gifts! We appreciate all your help and your wonderful giving spirit!
|
|
FILLING THE SHELVES AT HOPE 7
Our Vanderheyden community helped stock the shelves at our neighbor, Hope 7 on Pawling Avenue in Troy, by donating over 600 pounds of food for the holiday season!
Thank you to our Day Hab Without Walls program for making the delivery!
|
|
THANKS FOR FILLING OUR WISH ROOM!
The Capital Region community answered our call to fill our Wish Room for our individuals and their families! What a wonderful effort!
Thank you to all our donors for making wishes happen!
|
|
THANK YOU HOLIDAY PROGRAM DONORS!
Thank you to the many, wonderful donors who made the holidays extra special for our individuals! We are so appreciative of all who helped us make it a little bit brighter for Vanderheyden's individuals and the families we serve.
Thank you to Mohawk Honda and the Office of Court Administration - New York State Unified Court System in Albany for stopping by!
|
HOLIDAY CARDS BY VANDERHEYDEN
Thank you to our individuals, who made spectacular cards to spread holiday cheer!
Beautiful cards by our individuals!
|
SAVE THE DATES!
YOU ARE INVITED TO BE OUR GUEST AT OUR 2018 UPCOMING EVENTS:
2018 - Vanderheyden's 185th Anniversary! Celebrations throughout the year!
Spring 2018 - Vanderheyden's 2nd Annual Wine and Dine Event!
More details to come.... Keep following us on Facebook!
As always, thank you for your support!
|
BLUE BOX DONATIONS ALWAYS WELCOME!
Time to clean out your closets for the season! We will accept any unwanted clothing item! Bring them to our campus at 614 Cooper Hill Road in Wynantskill, and look for the "Blue Box" at the entrance to our parking lot. Thank you so much for your help!
|
To make a donation on our website,
click on the "Donate Now" button.
|
  
Non-Violence * Emotional Intelligence * Social Learning * Open Communication * Social Responsibility * Shared Governance * Growth & Change
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
