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Greetings Supporter,
While warmer days are still popping up, the beautiful colors of November in Upstate New York are all around us, reminding us that fall is still here!
Halloween is always one of our favorite holidays at ACHIEVE, and everyone spent the month of October getting in the spooky spirit. Plenty of examples of Halloween celebration across the agency can be found in this month’s newsletter.
I want to start this newsletter off by thanking everyone who joined us for our 5th annual Half-K Classic – Walk & Roll on October 8th, generously presented by NBT Bank again this year. We managed to dodge the rain and spent a beautiful morning in downtown Norwich walking, running and riding in style in a classic car the 0.6-mile race route to the Northeast Classic Car Museum, where everyone was treated to a delicious lunch reception. I’m happy to report that through the support of our attendees, corporate sponsors and volunteers, the event was a success! Thank you again to our sponsors, attendees, classic car enthusiasts and volunteers who contributed to this event’s success, and everyone who made our 2023 fundraising season a year to remember!
Each October, we join provider organizations across the country for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, celebrating the employment successes of people of all abilities, and highlighting their contributions diversifying workforces. Several of ACHIEVE’s employment success stories are included in this month’s newsletter, and as we think about Thanksgiving, I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to all the local business partners in our community who’ve committed to providing meaningful employment opportunities to individuals of varying abilities, helping us drive toward our “employment first” mindset that ensures employment success for all.
As we near the final weeks of construction of our New Beginnings in Norwich renovation project, excitement is certainly building across the agency and in the community for its completion. This state-of-the-art facility is on track to open in early 2024, and there’s still plenty of time for you to contribute to this project’s legacy with a meaningful donation to our $250,000 public fundraising campaign. Donation information can be found here.
Thanksgiving and the holiday season are always a time of reflection, and I’d like to take a moment to express my appreciation for everything and everyone who made the last year at ACHIEVE special. We were finally able to get back into a growth mindset and realize all the opportunities around us that enhance the lives of those we support in meaningful ways. I want to again thank everyone who has shown their support for ACHIEVE in their own way this past year, from our community supporters, donors, Board Members, corporate sponsors, legislators, and our incredibly talented staff. On behalf of all of us across ACHIEVE, we cannot thank you enough.
From our ACHIEVE family to yours, I wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Best regards,
Amy
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Amy Howard
Chief Executive Officer
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Half-K Classic - Walk & Roll | |
Our 5th annual Half-K Classic - Walk & Roll, presented by NBT Bank was held on Sunday, October 8th in downtown Norwich. Thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, participants, the Northeast Classic Car Museum and all the classic car drivers who helped to make the day so successful and who continue to make us #ACHIEVEProud! | |
National Disability Employment Awareness Month | |
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National Disability Employment Awareness Month [NDEAM] is held each October to commemorate the many and varied contributions that people of different abilities bring to America's workplaces and economy. To honor NDEAM we're highlighting our Employment Services Program and the great work they are doing in our community.
To learn more about how ACHIEVE can help you find your next best employee visit our website or contact Debra Carson, Director of Employment & Vocational Services, at (607) 723-8361.
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In October, we were proud to join other disability advocacy organizations including Southern Tier Association for Human Resources, NYS ACCES-VR, NYS Department of Labor and Community Options, Inc. to recognize Tioga Downs Casino Resort and Bates Troy, Inc. for their commitment to diversifying their workforce by employing people of varying abilities at a special breakfast celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)!
Each October, NDEAM reminds us of the valuable contributions people of all abilities make in our nation's workplace, with this year serving as the 50th anniversary and an important milestone in our nation's ongoing quest to advance access and equity for all.
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Last month, we were thrilled to return as a Platinum Sponsor for this year's Mentor Day Breakfast at Broome-Tioga BOCES as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and serve as one of this year's host sites to teach students about employment opportunities that exist all across ACHIEVE!
We're also extremely proud of self-advocate and ACHIEVE Board Member, Carol, who was this year's keynote speaker, sharing her 13-year employment success story at Binghamton University with the assistance of her ACHIEVE Job Coach!
Thank you again to Broome-Tioga BOCES and all of this year's participating host sites for offering students insights into the meaningful employment that exists in our community!
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Jenny's Employment Story! | |
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As we wrap up celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we wanted to share one of our success stories, Jenny, and her employment journey at ACHIEVE!
Jenny has consistently proven that she can do anything that she sets her mind to, beginning her employment journey at Country Valley Industries Tioga and Walmart in Ithaca. Jenny worked at Walmart for close to a decade, but changed jobs to Joann Fabrics in Ithaca, where she's been since September 2022 and absolutely loves her work! She also loves getting ideas for crafts she wants to do while at work!
Jenny spends her shifts assisting her co-workers with unloading trucks, stocking shelves and assisting customers with locating merchandise. The job change was big for her, but she pulled through with the help and support of her ACHIEVE Employment Services Program staff and her very supportive co-workers at Joann’s.
Jenny has had some management changes since her job started at Joann’s, but each one of the managers have given her fantastic reviews and love having her on the team. Assistant Manager Destiny has said that Jenny works very hard and is very dependable, which is something all businesses love to have on their team.
Jenny’s journey shows how ACHIEVE strives to bring the best out of the individuals that we serve, and also assist them with continuing to maintain successful and meaningful employment! #ACHIEVEProud #ndeam2023
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Submitted By: Renee Heaney
Employment Services Professional
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Find Your Next
Best Employee at ACHIEVE!
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Sometimes all someone needs is an opportunity to succeed!
As we recognized October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we celebrate the dedication and quality of work that those of varying abilities bring to their workforces.
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Attention area business owners: are you interested in diversifying your workforce?
Are you seeking dependable, quality employees?
Please consider a partnership with ACHIEVE as we look to place individuals of varying abilities into meaningful employment positions. We currently have a large pool of available applicants ready to meet your business needs.
Learn More!
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2023 Broome-Tioga Mentoring Day | | |
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As part of NDEAM, it was our pleasure to serve as one of eleven participating host agencies for Broome-Tioga BOCES Mentoring Day!
Four students joined members of our leadership team to learn more about the agency and its programs, as well as about meaningful employment opportunities that exist at ACHIEVE!
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Promotions
Congratulations to the following employees for receiving a promotion in September!
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Tyonna Scott-Veira - Day Habilitation Specialist
Heather Hilgers - Assistant Residence Manager
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Recognizing Family Support Services | |
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Members of our Staff Appreciation Committee and Leadership Team recognized our Family Supports & Services team for all the work they do across the agency!
Wearing many different hats, members of Family Supports & Services oversee our Community Habilitation division, Children's Summer Program and Guardianship services, among others, and have been directly responsible for a surge in growth in programming across the organization over the last year.
Thank you to our Family Supports & Services team for all your work enhancing the lives of individuals in our community!
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In this edition of #WhyIACHIEVE we are excited to highlight Maritza Tolentino, Residence Aide at our Wilson Hill residence!
Maritza has been with ACHIEVE for six years and worn many hats throughout her time here! She loves being a part of such a great organization, being able to see the individuals working towards something they thought would be impossible to accomplish, and seeing the smiles that accomplishment brings!
Having a sibling with developmental disabilities, working at ACHIEVE has helped her learn more about their disability, needs, and understand why she is such an important part of her life. Maritza’s job is important to her because she knows she is changing someone’s life in a positive way!
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, Maritza. Thank you for all you do!
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It's Going to Be a Great Halloween - We can feel it in our Bones! | |
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All across the organization, everyone has been excited for one of ACHIEVE's favorite holidays, Halloween! If you venture across all of the programs, you'll see spooky decorations, creepy food being made, and candy being stockpiled for trick or treating!
We hope you had a happy Halloween!
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For the last couple of years, ACHIEVE has participated in the annual Scarecrow Contest at Otsiningo Park, and this year we had multiple programs enter their scarecrows. The Day Habilitation and Maintenance team at Cutler Pond and the Day Habilitation team at Tioga worked to create two of the best scarecrows on display!
Awesome job, ACHIEVE!
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You might have seen this local runner in the newspapers. Well, his name is Joel, and he certainly does like to run! Joel ran in many races over the past couple months, entering in the Special Olympics Fall Classic, The Face Race, and competing and WINNING ACHIEVE's Half-K Classic!
If you see Joel around, make sure you congratulate him!
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Jimmy celebrated his birthday in October and was welcomed home to a birthday party! Food, laughs, and delicious cake were all shared by Jimmy and everyone in attendance.
Happy birthday, Jimmy!
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Guardianship Halloween Party | |
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Last month, our Guardianship team and program participants held their own Halloween party. Joined by members of our Leadership Team, the party was a SPOOK - Tacular celebration to be a part of!
Crafts were made, bellies were full, and memories were made!
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The River Road residents sure knows how to decorate to get into the Halloween spirit!
Everyone helped out, putting up spooky inflatable decorations, and they turned out wonderfully!
Great job, everyone at River Road IRA!
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Tioga Day Habilitation has been busy with a whole bunch of spooky activities to prep for Halloween this year!
Pumpkin carving worked up everybody's appetite as well, so to stick with the Halloween theme, they made skeleton pizzas!
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There was a delicious smell coming from Sterry IRA this month, causing everyone to wonder what smelled so good. Well, here's the answer; cookies!
Everyone pitched in to bake homemade cookies! Don't they look amazing?
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Recreation Respite Road Trippers | |
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The Recreation Respite team were busy in October, finding something new to do every weekend!
They are on Week 4 of their Pickleball league, visited the Broome County Dog Shelter, took a trip to the State Fairgrounds, held a Halloween dance party, watched the new Haunted Mansion movie at Mirabito Stadium, and had a private training session at Synergy!
What a jam-packed month!
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ACHIEVE Takes a Trip to Iron Kettle Farm | |
Our On the Pond ~ At Cutler team visited one of their favorite places this month; Every Cat's Dream Rescue. They are becoming regulars, and love to check in on their furry friends! | |
North Broad Visits Jeff Dunham | |
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The ladies over at the North Broad house took a much-anticipated trip to watch one of their favorite comedians live and in action, Jeff Dunham!
Everyone had a great time!
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Chenango Supportive Apartments in the Kitchen | |
October and Halloween always brings out all of the creepy ideas! Our Chenango Supportive Apartments cooked up some scary food ideas, creating apple mouths, stuffed pepper-o-lanterns, mummy wrapped hot dogs, spooky cheeseburgers, and spidery deviled eggs! | |
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Jimmy celebrated his 58th birthday with a Mickey Mouse themed party, enjoying the day with staff and his housemates.
Jimmy chose McDonald's for dinner, enjoying a Happy Meal alongside his housemates!
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With everyone all excited about Halloween each October, one of the best things to do to get ready for the big day is carve some creepy pumpkins for the community to see, an activity that the folks at the Country Club Road house happily enjoyed! | |
More Otsiningo Scarecrow Displays | |
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Lucas and his mother visited Otsiningo Park to check out all of the awesomely terrifying scarecrow displays last month.
Lucas really loved the dinosaur scarecrows and just had to take some pictures with them!
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Adventures at Critz Farms | |
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Pumpkin farms are always a popular spot to visit, especially when Halloween is quickly coming up!
Our Chenango Community Habilitation team took a day trip to visit the pumpkin farm. They made sure to check out the petting zoo, the corn maze, and, of course, all of the pumpkins!
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Everyone at the River Road house had a blast at Wolf Mountain during their 17th annual Honoring the Spirit of the Wolf Festival, despite the chilly weather! | |
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Get Out & Vote!
November 7th is Election Day
While there aren't as many races this year, every race is important, as issues and legislative proposals that directly affect the intellectually and developmentally disabled are brought up all the time at local, state and federal levels of government.
Voting gives everyone a voice in these decisions.
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New Beginnings in Norwich | |
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Thank you to everyone who has donated to our New Beginnings in Norwich renovation project, which is on schedule to open in Fall of this year!
Through your support, we are at 70.7% of our $250,000 fundraising campaign goal!
But we still need your help to get across the finish line.
You can be a part of this state-of-the-art day and community-based services facility that will be right in the heart of downtown Norwich and directly impact the lives of hundreds of individuals in Chenango County by donating and helping us reach that $250,000 fundraising goal.
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Your Legacy, Our Future
Planned Gifts to ACHIEVE
The ACHIEVE Foundation seeks to support ACHIEVE’s mission to improve the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The growth of the Foundation is determined by planned gifts from our community and family members. These gifts are the cornerstone of our Foundation and allow us to continue to offer a wide range of programs and services.
Every year, more donors are discovering the benefits of supporting ACHIEVE through their estate plans. These planned gifts are the cornerstones to the ACHIEVE Foundation and support the programs and services of our organization.
Charitable Bequest through Last Will or other Estate Plan
Individual Retirement Account
Stock and Securities
Real Estate
To learn more about Planned Giving, or to make a donation, please contact Preston Evans, Vice President Development and Donor Relations, at (607) 352-3280 or pevans@achieveny.org
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Thank you to our 2023 Platinum Partners! | |
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay
up-to-date with all that ACHIEVE is doing!
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