October 2016
The Ripple Effect 
We are all connected! 

Two weeks ago, alongside CORA employees Ken Lindley and Christine Matulewicz, I traveled to the Good Shepherd gathering in Detroit, Michigan, to reconnect with the Sisters of Good Shepherd and partner organizations throughout the country. 

green_leaf_water_drop.jpg The theme of the Gathering was "A Single Pebble, Our Ripple Effect", presented to us by Sister Anne Josephine Carr. As she so eloquently communicated, "Thoughts and actions are like stones dropped in a pond and they create ripples that travel outward.... Each of us carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse."

When we throw a single pebble into calm water, it makes a ripple effect. One woman - Sister Charity Kohl - so willingly acted as a pebble and stepped into a community with unmet needs. She created a ripple effect now known as CORA Services. T he soothing and welcoming environment we create for our clients and co-workers in our building on Verree Road functions as the calm water, and CORA's ripple effect in the pond of Philadelphia, continues to flow outward 45 years later. 
     
We are fortunate to employ over 300 pebbles that create positive ripple effects in the lives of the more than 20,000 students, individuals and families we serve each year. Countless partners, referrals, contributors and other resources have increased the ripples and deepened CORA's reach of support. I remain eternally grateful to be in this leadership role to witness the effects of each pebble. 
 
Many of our lives were forever changed by our dear friend , Dianne Nagele. Dianne passed away on September 13th, and our staff has been deeply affected by her loss. A "pebble" in
Pat Roberts, Jan Durson, Dianne Nagele, Kathy Hartman, Kevin Sokolowski, Nancy Siebert,  Joe Durkin
her own right, Dianne began her career with CORA in 1976 with a background as a teaching assistant and cheerfully drove a van for the Alternative Learning Classrooms (ALC). She became a screening technician for education in the early 1980s before moving to CDRC (Career Development Resource Center) as an instructor in 1987. Dianne was most known for her extreme generosity and excellent communication skills, especially when working with the principals at our elementary schools. She and her family were dedicated volunteers at CORA's Family Festival and the Early Years program at Fox Chase. A woman of many talents, Dianne had a knack for crafts.  Her top notch gift wrapping and raffle basket making skills were greatly appreciated and her beautiful handwriting, often used for CORA Christmas cards, will be remembered fondly. We are forever changed by the contributions Dianne made to the CORA community and her memory will live on in our daily work. 

The ripples continue as we prepare to celebrate our annual Champions for Children Celebration on Tuesday, November 22nd. I hope you can attend. We are so thankful for the local and regional impact of our three honorees. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now - more information can be found below. 

On behalf of the entire CORA family, I remain grateful for your support! 
 
AnnMarie Schultz
President & Chief Executive Officer 
CORA's BACK TO SCHOOL
Our Early Years, Middle School and High School Students are falling into a routine.



Early Years Fox Chase students buddy up to read fall themed stories. October's lessons include apples, trees and the changing leaves. See
 more photos here.   
 St. Matt's eighth graders visited CORA's Career Development 2-day workshop
designed to help youth discover their unique skills and talents skills that will be useful when choosing career paths.
 George Washington High School teens volunteer their time offering homework help at Chick-Fli-A on Mondays as part of our Community Service After School Program.


Community Services Division Helps Youth in Need
CORA Listens to the Whole Child
 
Typically, a child who violates school safety policies faces serious consequences including arrest, hefty fines, and potential involvement with the juvenile justice system. However, with the adoption of a policy of police diversion and counseling through CORA's IPS (Intensive Prevention Services) program, youth are given a second chance to tell their stories and build new skills. Often youth will bring items, later perceived as weapons, to school because they report being endlessly bullied or have received threats of harm from peers. Many youth who find themselves in these situations are now able to escape the juvenile justice system through referral to CORA and working with our staff to help remedy the problem issues. Youth in CORA's IPS program learn how to communicate their needs, identify safe adults as allies, and build the emotional coping skills necessary to take care of themselves in the future. 
 
Past Deputy Police Commissioner, Kevin Bethel, founded the police diversion aspect of IPS after noticing that hundreds of youths in the Philadelphia schools were being arrested annually for minor, usually first time offenses. Therefore a unique alliance among The Philadelphia Police Department, Department of Human Services, The School District of Philadelphia, and six non-profit agencies throughout the city, including CORA was created. Bethel's idea for IPS was to channel youth, ages 10-17, out of the police and prison system and into counseling intervention services. Out of the eight hundred youths that have participated in IPS city wide, only 40 were rearrested. 95% of youths did not reoffend - that number speaks volumes to the success of this alliance. Read the entire article here.

Reserve your Tickets to Celebrate CORA! 

Tuesday, November 22, 2016 | 5:30-8:30 PM 

 
Please join us for an exceptional evening of cocktails, conversation, heavy hors d'oeurves and awards. We are delighted to announce that PA State Representative John Taylor and Univest Bank will be honored at this year's event for their extraordinary leadership in our local communities.

In addition to our Civic and Corporate Champions, we will be presenting a scholarship to a Classroom Champion to Christian Brown, a senior at Father Judge, for his achievement of overcoming significant obstacles with optimism and enthusiasm. 
 

LEARN MORE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS & TICKETS HERE

 

 2016 SPONSORS






State Senator Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) announced that her office will be hosting a Mobile District Office each Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CORA, 8540 Verree Road in Philadelphia.
 
"My staff will be available every Thursday at CORA to process PennDOT forms, distribute free senior SEPTA passes, Property Tax and Rent Rebate applications, and help resolve any issues pertaining to state government," Tartaglione said. The senator said that the staff can also address PECO and PGW questions, unemployment compensation problems and public assistance inquiries, among other concerns.
 
"Finding ways to bring the services of my office into various communities throughout the district improves an individual's access to important state and local programs and services," Tartaglione said. If local residents have questions about the Mobile District Office at CORA they can call Gizela Burnside at (215) 533-0400 or email at gburnside@pasenate.com .