This final newsletter of 2021 is dedicated to our community and all who have ensured that the 59-year history of this mission continues to support those individuals and families entrusted to its care. Sending you all the blessings of a new year as you have shared with others, throughout 2021. |
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Holiday Helping Hand Makes Thanksgiving & Christmas Extra Special
Central Hudson Offers Assistance Programs To Help Qualified Customers
What’s Happening At Abilities First?
Shout-Outs & Thank You's
Save the Date: Golf & Tennis Classic 2022
Follow Us On Social Media
We’re Hiring
Survey
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Holiday Helping Hand Makes Thanksgiving & Christmas Extra Special |
One example of how the Holiday Helping Hand campaign really, truly makes an impact on the community can be found in one of Abilities First’s families. Abilities First supports a young child through its Community Habilitation program whose family is experiencing a difficult personal situation in addition to the child’s needs of support for their Cerebral Palsy and Autism Spectrum Disorder. The mother is also a stay-at-home mom who provides the significant care her child requires. The Holiday Helping Hand funds lessened the burden of their expenses and provided an opportunity for something special during the holidays, which made it all the more bright.
We thank those who have initiated and supported fundraising campaigns like Holiday Helping Hand! It truly helps make a difference in the community, and it helps make the holidays a little happier for all.
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OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION TO CENTRAL HUDSON FOR POWERING ABILITIES FIRST & OUR COMMUNITIES IN MANY WAYS! |
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Central Hudson Offers Assistance Programs to Help Qualified Customers |
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Central Hudson understands the economic challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and remains committed to helping customers in need by offering a full suite of assistance programs. These programs can reduce monthly bills or provide much-needed assistance in paying down arrears balances to help customers get back on track.
Payment assistance options are available for qualifying customers like the federally-funded Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) grants. The new Regular Arrears Supplement program—which provides up to $10,000 in utility arrears assistance to eligible households who are unable to pay their unpaid electric and/or gas utility arrears—is also available for qualifying customers.
Customers receiving HEAP also qualify for the Bill Discount program, which provides a monthly credit of up to $30 per month for gas-heating customers and up to $40 per month for electric-heating customers. Central Hudson also offers no-cost payment plans for customers looking to pay down their existing balances.
In addition to these programs, Central Hudson offers utility assistance grants through the Good Neighbor Fund, funded by customer contributions and matched by Central Hudson, which helps customers experiencing financial hardship who have exhausted all other forms of payment assistance. Special grants for veterans and military families are also available.
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What's Happening
at Abilities First?
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HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES
There were smiles, treats, and so much spirit throughout our programs and schools this holiday season. Thank you to all who participated in and supported the festivities, and those who made the holiday season warm and bright for all.
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CELEBRATIONS
Since summertime, friends and staff have celebrated Buddy’s birthday and his 50 years as part of Abilities First. Buddy was presented with a special certificate from CEO Jeffery Fox. We’d like to wish Buddy a Very Happy Birthday, and congratulations on 50 years with AF!
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STAFF APPRECIATION
In November, on an unusually mild day, we held an Employee Recognition Event to show our thanks for the exceptional commitment and hard work from all of the Abilities First team over the past year. All sites were invited to the Myers Corners headquarters to enjoy a tented event, complete with a multitude of food trucks, a DJ, branded mittens, and a day full of fellowship.
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M&T employees took time to judge the holiday decorating for Door Wars at the New Windsor, Firemens Way, Myers Corners, and Executive Drive schools. Students and staff decorated the doors, which were then judged in the Door Wars contest. Ribbons were awarded to first, second, and third place winners. Door Wars is both a student and staff favorite, and it never fails to boost the holiday spirit and makes for much fun with the students. Thank you, M&T, for your sponsorship and your support this holiday!
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Our sincere appreciation to Feldman, Kleidman, Coffey & Sappe, LLP for sharing the mission of Abilities First with the community. FKC&S has been a good friend to AF and our neighbors with disabilities. You can see their message on their website, as well as on the firm’s Facebook and LinkedIn. We thank them for helping us move this mission forward!
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THANK YOU for a wonderful year! Our community has shown so much support for our organization, and Abilities First is grateful to everyone who has helped further our mission. 2021 may be ending, but there is still time to make a difference!
With a new year around the corner, we are realizing new needs, new obstacles, and new possibilities. We are asking for your continued support as we head into 2022. YOU can make an impact with a year-end contribution to Abilities First's annual fund. Every gift will help us Empower Lives & Shape Futures!
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Support the Foundation for Abilities First NY |
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