Greetings Supporters!
The leaves have begun changing, the mornings are getting cooler, and the sun is setting earlier and earlier. Fall is officially here!
September marked another busy month at ACHIEVE, as we continue to pivot in the face of rising COVID numbers while trying to mitigate a workforce shortage.
Most importantly, September 12th kicked off National Direct Support Professionals Week, which always serves as a reminder of the incredible work of our essential frontline staff, which has especially been illustrated repeatedly over the last 18 months. Our amazing DSPs work tirelessly to provide care and support each and every day and step up in countless ways as the backbone of our agency, and I’d once again like to recognize their dedication and commitment to ACHIEVE. I hope you’ll take a moment and watch one of our tribute videos to our DSPs below.
As a show of support for our DSPs, we were proud to be the lead agency for a regional Southern Tier workforce crisis rally, partnering with legislators, other Arc New York chapters, local provider agencies, family members, staff and self-advocates to call on our representatives in Congress to fund the Better Jobs, Better Care Act in full, and to use it as a platform to continue lobbying New York State to remember our DSPs. This funding is critical for provider agencies like ACHIEVE and will be another step towards getting our exceptional frontline staff the pay they deserve for the care they provide. The full video of the rally can be watched below, and I hope you’ll consider signing the petition calling on this bill’s funding to show your support of our workforce.
To continue addressing workforce shortages, we partnered with our sister chapters of The Arc New York for a statewide job fair on September 23rd. Thank you to everyone who came out to discover the rewards of a career in direct support. If you or someone you know are looking to start your next best career, please learn more at our website.
Unfortunately, as we continue monitoring the spread of the Delta COVID variant and numbers increase daily, we’ve again made the difficult decision to transition our final fundraiser, the Half-K – Walk & Roll, to a virtual event in the interest of community safety. While we can’t be together like we’d planned, I’d invite anyone in Broome, Chenango and Tioga County to participate and send in your photos walking, running or riding in style in our beautiful upstate Fall weather. More details on participating are below.
As we move into Fall and look to finally fully reopen some of our remaining programs, we remain vigilant in ensuring that we do so safely and that all best practices are being implemented.
As always, thank you so much for your continued support of ACHIEVE and those we support.
Best regards,
Amy
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Amy Howard
Chief Executive Officer
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Please join us for our 3rd annual Half-K Classic! |
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From October 23rd-31st, participants can walk, run or cruise their Half-K
(0.6 miles), anytime, anyplace they choose and send in their pictures through Facebook or email to appear in our Finish Line Photo Album.
Have fun with it! Enjoy the fall weather, walk in costume, show off in a classic car, get the whole family involved!
Registration is $20, and includes a free ticket to the Northeast Classic Car Museum, & commemorative t-shirt.
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The Half-K Classic and our other signature events help us fund the crucial programming ACHIEVE Provides. Please help us spread the word and get involved! Simply click "Fundraise" on the event page to share with your friends and family! Start a friendly competition with coworkers...the options are endless! |
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Direct Support Professional's Week |
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September 12th was the start of Direct Support Professionals Week in New York State, and is a perfect opportunity to highlight the dedicated, innovative direct support workforce that is the heart and soul of ACHIEVE. Direct Support Professionals are entrusted with the awesome responsibility of walking beside the individuals we serve so that they may lead and live their best lives. On behalf of ACHIEVE's Board of Directors and Executive Management Team, we wanted to express our gratitude to all DSPs across our organization and New York State. |
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Congratulations Courtney! |
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Congratulations to our Chenango Day Habilitation Program Manager, Courtney Sarpriacone, on being selected as the NY Alliance Northern Region Outstanding Direct Support Professional Award recipient!
Thank you for all you do to model excellent supports and services as a DSP. You're truly deserving of this honor and we're #ACHIEVEProud to have you as a member of our team!
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For our September Employee of the Month, we're excited to recognize Jack Lezotte, Community Habilitation Provider!
Jack is an amazing community-based service provider who is reliable, engaging and creative, and has assisted many across the program with developing new skills and fostering their independence. He is always willing to assist across the department, often allowing new staff to shadow him so they can be as impactful as he is on those he supports.
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#WhyIACHIEVE, Julie Beyer |
Julie has been with ACHIEVE in the human resources department for over 20 years, and enjoys working with a professional team in an environment that provides plenty of opportunities for growth and appreciation.
For Julie, the smiles and pride of the individuals we support as they reach milestones changes you for the better, and she gets satisfaction knowing she plays a part in that joy. She's #ACHIEVEProud to work for an agency that truly gives back to the community and changes lives!
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Career Highlight - Lynne Mejewski |
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We're proud to highlight ACHIEVE's Director of Vocational Services, Lynne Majewski, as she shares why she's been with ACHIEVE for 17 years and some of the skills she's learned since starting her career as a Direct Support Professional!
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Congratulations to our
August Promotions
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Shawna Chesebro, Director of Residential & Day Habilitation
Kathy Titus, Assistant Residential Manager
Nancy Bidwell, Day Hab Specialist
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Southern Tier Workforce Rally |
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The time for action is now, and our federal representatives must act and pass the Better Jobs, Better Care Act with funding in full!
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Boscov's Friends Helping Friends
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We're excited to be partnering with Boscov's again this year for their 25th anniversary Friends Helping Friends day of fundraising on Wednesday, October 20th!
In honor of the anniversary, they're changing things up this year with increased sales of up to 25% with the purchase of $5 shopping passes, the sales of which directly benefit ACHIEVE, and include your chance to register for a $100 gift card.
Get your shopping pass today for your savings on October 20th!
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Riverside Drive Goes to Animal Adventure! |
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The gentlemen at Riverside Drive spent a fun afternoon at Animal Adventure, and had a blast seeing all the animals, including "Simba", as Jimmy called it!
Everyone is excited to put their picture with the bear on the wall of their home!
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These Day Hab gentlemen and their staff went to Jackson’s Pumpkin Farm! What better way to get outside on a BEAUTIFUL day!
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Everyone at Helen Street has been feeling extra crafty lately, and they worked on a couple different crafts to spruce up the house, including owls and magnetic tiles! They came out great! |
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Some of our Day Hab crew made spooky Halloween Candles out of pool noodles! |
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Recreation Respite at Sunflower Festival! |
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Recreation Respite Volunteerism |
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We are so proud of our Recreation Respite participants who volunteered with VINES Binghamton’s community day. Participants helped to build various garden beds - regular beds, raised beds, and accessible beds! They also helped fill the beds and clean up landscape. Everyone loved this opportunity to participate in the community, and we look forward to volunteering with VINES again in the future!
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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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Thanks to our Platinum Partners for sponsoring
all four of ACHIEVE's Signature events in 2021!
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Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, an Instagram to stay up-to-date with all that ACHIEVE is doing! |
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