Welcome Summer!
What a winter! With the warm sun on our face and the longer days ahead you just can't help but feel like taking a moment to pause and appreciate all that life has to offer. Appreciation -- that is the focus of our summer newsletter. This edition, is dedicated to the many wonderful volunteers and supporters who have taken our cause under their wing. Please take a moment to read about some of the remarkable people, companies and organization's that makes us smile each day that we come to work.
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Pictured is Enable Advocacy Award recipient Sherise Ritter (center) with Lisa Coscia, CEO, Enable (left) and Domenic Sanginiti, Jr.,Esq., Board Chair, Enable.
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The Bee's Knees!
Enable's Roaring Funnies Gala was a big hit!
On April 27th, Enable held its annual benefit gala at Mercer Oaks. This year's theme the "Roaring Funnies" had its guests in stitches as they took part in an interactive Dinner & Murder Mystery live show, presented by the Riddlesbrood Touring Theatre Company. In addition, guests had the opportunity to bid on an array of prizes including wine baskets, sports packages, spa days and more.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of
several special awards including the Enable Advocacy Award which was presented to Sherise Ritter, Managing Director, The Mercadien Group. Sherise was recognized for her ongoing advocacy efforts for organizations serving individuals with disabilities.
A heartfelt thanks to the many individuals and businesses who contributed to our silent auction, advertised in our program book and attended our event. We are especially grateful to our many sponsors which included Arthur J. Gallagher & Co, Berkshire Bank, Cardinale Enterprises, Sharon Copeland and David Hoffman, CORT, Customers Bank, Credit Union of New Jersey Foundation, Dennis C. Miller Associates, Eckert Seamans Attorneys at Law, Richard and Lisa Freeman, Investors bank, McGowan Family, Mrs. G's, Inc., NJ Business and Industry Association, NJ Dental Association, Pepper Hamilton LLP, PSE&G, Rapps Pharmacy, RWJ Barnabas Health, RWK Consulting LLC, Santander, Sharbell Development Corporation, Stark & Stark, Wawa Foundation.
The support of the community means the world to us. Your generosity allows Enable to continue to provide the best quality services to the hundreds of men, women, children and seniors with disabilities whom we serve.
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Volunteers ... A gift to the Community
How fortunate are we at Enable? The answer, very! At Enable, we are so thankful to have some of the most dedicated, committed and caring volunteers from our local community. In this newsletter, we would like to take a moment to highlight two special supporters.
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Pictured L to R (back row) Divina Tucci,
Bloomberg, Jason, Enable Consumer, Kathleen Nester, NJSO (front row)
Denise, Enable Consumer, Mark Timmerman, NJSO.
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Bloomberg Brings Summer to the Center
Each month, volunteers from Bloomberg spend a few hours with the men and women in our Roszel Road Day program working with them on various projects. In April, they worked together to beautify the outside of the center by planting flowers, and in May they created Summer Catcher Kits. Bloomberg brought all the supplies and materials to work with our consumers to make wind catchers, pinwheels, and window decals. In June, Bloomberg has connected Enable with the NJ Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) who came to our Princeton and Somerville day programs to perform for our consumers. Kathleen Nester on the flute and Mark Timmerman on the bassoon, played several beautiful tunes and even took requests from our consumes including Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. "It was a real pleasure playing here today," said Timmerman. Bloomberg volunteers were on hand to assist in making the experience enjoyable to all in attendance. Click Here to watch a video of their performance.
Around the World in Three Hours!
On Saturday, April 14th, Enable consumers boarded a first class flight to fun when the students at the Hun school in Princeton held its annual gala. This year's theme was The Enable Global Gala. The invitation was designed like a Passport and attendees "boarded a plane" as they walked through the school's entrance. Inside, the party took you to various cities around the world. This year marks the 8th gala event that Hun students have organized for Enable consumers. From theme to décor to food, the students do it all. We just have to show up! The origin on how this wonderful event came to be is really touching. Here is the story as told by Lynn McNulty, Director of Service Learning at Hun,
"During various holidays, Hun students would visit Enable group homes. One of our students, Juliana Bello, Class of 2012, was chatting with Patty (an Enable Consumer). They were making ornaments for their house Christmas Tree. Patty had some seriously snazzy nails, sparkles with a snowman on her ring finger, and Juliana commented on how pretty they were. Patty said to her, 'I wish I had a place I could get dressed up and go out dancing.' So in the car ride back to Hun, Juliana mentioned Patty's comment to the group and we all said why don't we throw a formal dance and the Enable Annual Dance was born. We love the special relationship that Hun has with Enable and realize how lucky we are to have it."
The feeling is mutual. Our consumers and staff can't thank Hun and their very special students enough for all that they do to create this magical evening. This is an event that our men and women really look forward to each year.
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This past May, Enable's very own Mark Heller received the
Community STARS Award at The New Jersey Association of Community Providers' (NJACP's) Awards Dinner
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The award honors people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who overcome obstacles to live an active engaged life in the community. Mark resides in an Enable group home and attends our day program. He is very sociable and funny. Mark easily makes friends with people he never met before. Mark loves going out to eat in restaurants. He looks forward to his weekly lunch plans with his father and uncle. We are so proud of Mark on his award. He is most definitely a STAR!
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Direct Support Professional of the Year
Judy Collins, who works in our West Park Group Home, was named Enable's Direct Service Professional of the Year for her outstanding service to the people we serve. Celebrating 7 years with Enable, Judy comes to work every day promoting our consumers safety, facilitating their happiness, and creating connections with others. She received her award at this year's "Roaring Funnies"benefit Gala.
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From Cake Walk to Cat Walk
Students raise $1,000 for Enable
Maya Boateng, President of the West Windsor Plainsboro High School South (WWPHSS) National Honor Society, presented Enable with a check for $1,000 at their May 17 induction ceremony. Students raised the funds through events such as a "Cake Walk." During their lunch periods, students bought tickets to play a musical chairs type game, and the winner of each game won a cake that was made or donated by an NHS member. The students also hosted a fashion show called "South's Next Top Model" and held a bake sale. This is the 5th year that WWPHSS NHS students have raised money for Enable. Amy Toma from Enable accepted the check."
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There are many ways that you can get involved with Enable from volunteering, making a monetary gift or working for us. Visit
www.enablenj.org for additional information.
We currently have several openings for qualified, compassionate people for various positions. Visit the
About Us section of our website to learn more or email
[email protected].
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A Big Hello
Aileen Kornblatt is named Director of Marketing
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am very excited to have joined Enable and am looking forward to furthering the agencies mission and take part in its development and growth. I come to Enable with nearly 20 years marketing and PR experience in the field of non-profits, with a focus on special needs. I really enjoy what I do and am fulfilled each and every day knowing that I am making a difference. As the contact person for this newsletter, I welcome your suggestions. I look forward to meeting Enable's friends, supporters and families. Please feel free to drop me a note to say "hello." I can be reached at
[email protected].
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Check out our NEW Facebook Page
We've recently created a
NEW Facebook Business Page. We are no longer using our old page. Please be sure to Like our new page. Tell your friends, families, colleagues, etc. We would like to get our number up to 500 likes/followers by end of summer! Just click on the image below.
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