September 2023 Newsletter | |
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Greetings Supporter,
Where did the Summer go? I hope that you and your family have been able to enjoy the closing weeks of warmer weather as we start thinking about the cooler days that Fall has in store for us.
As you may know, last evening we celebrated our largest fundraiser of the year, our 13th annual Savor the Summer tasting event, presented by M&T Bank, overlooking beautiful Cutler Pond. I’d like to thank everyone who sponsored, attended, or volunteered to help make the evening a massive success, with over 350 supporters in attendance sampling the finest food and beverages our area has to offer. I’d also like to extend a very special thank you to the 38 restaurants, breweries and wineries that joined us to share their delicious goods. Some pictures from the evening can be found in this month’s newsletter, and I’m beyond happy to report that we raised more than $56,000 to support programming across the agency!
With another successful Savor the Summer in the books, we turn our attention to our final signature fundraiser of the year, the 5th annual Half-K Classic – Walk & Roll, presented by NBT Bank, on Sunday, October 8th in Norwich from 11:00AM – 1:00PM. The return of this event last year was so much fun, and I hope you’ll consider joining us as we walk, run or ride in style 0.6 miles through downtown Norwich to the Northeast Classic Car Museum. Details on how you can be a part of this event are included in this month’s newsletter.
Finally, construction continues on our New Beginnings in Norwich renovation project, creating an innovative state-of-the-art day and community-based services facility in the heart of downtown Norwich. Excitement is building for this life-changing site that will offer greater opportunities for community integration and participation to over 100 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Chenango County. I’m happy to report that, thanks to our supporters, we’re at 61.7% of our $250,000 fundraising goal, but we still need your help to get across the finish line. Pictures outlining the progress of the project can be found in this month’s newsletter, and you can donate and be a part of its legacy here.
Thank you again to everyone who joined us at Savor the Summer last night to show their support for ACHIEVE and those we serve. We appreciate your dedication, and the broader dedication of our committed community of supporters. Have a great month of September!
Best regards,
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Amy Howard
Chief Executive Officer
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For over a decade, ACHIEVE has hosted Savor the Summer. This annual tasting event has grown to become a premier event in the Southern Tier, thanks to the restaurants, wineries and craft breweries who have supported us!
Presented by M&T Bank, Savor the Summer was conceived to not only be a fundraiser for ACHIEVE, but a way for us to invite friends and community members in to learn more about the agency and the incredible work we do everyday.
We were thrilled to welcome everyone to our 13th annual Savor the Summer celebration last night, and the elegant evening was a huge success!
Thanks to our corporate sponsors, attendees, volunteers, and vendors for making the event enjoyable for all!
Be sure to check out our Facebook page in the next couple days for more photos from this wonderful evening!
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Our 5th annual Half-K Classic - Walk & Roll, presented by NBT Bank, returns Sunday, October 8th from 11:00AM - 1:00PM in downtown Norwich!
Click the registration link below to join us in walking, running or riding in style for another 0.6 mile race starting in the heart of downtown, ending with a lunch reception at the Northeast Classic Car Museum!
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Earlier this year, ACHIEVE had the privilege of being selected as one of thirteen chapters across the country to participate in the NEON Project, or National Employment Expansion Opportunity Network.
Last week, staff members from different departments across all day and community programs came together for a half-day training on meaningful day programming, provided by NEON Project liaison Jeannine Pavlak. The goal of this training was to bring together different programs to work on a coordinated approach to providing meaningful day services with an employment-first focus for any person who desires to find work in the community.
Thank you to WBNG for helping us share this valuable story. Watch it here!
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Thank you, Endicott Sertoma! | |
A very special thank you to Endicott Sertoma for hosting several of ACHIEVE’s houses for a day filled with games, fun and delicious food at West Endicott Park! We are very appreciative for all your support and bringing everyone together since 1984!in | |
Children's Summer Program's Carnival | |
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Our annual Children’s Summer Program Carnival is always a highly-anticipated afternoon, with participants serving as counselors who develop the fun games and activities that everyone gets to enjoy, including the dunk tank!
Thank you to Assemblyman Joe Angelino and Senator Lea Webb for stopping by and taking some time to chat with the kids and counselors, and to play some games with everyone! As always, we appreciate your support!
| ACHIEVE's Summer Program Talent Show | |
Every year, our six-week Children's Summer Program ends on a high note with students showcasing their talents at the annual Talent Show. From singers and musicians, to dancers and artists, we saw a variety of amazing performances!
Thank you again to Senator Peter Oberacker for stopping by and supporting our talented participants, and thank you to all of the students, counselors and organizers for putting together a morning full of entertainment! "!
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The ladies from our North Broad Street IRA were able to go see one of their favorite artists, Zac Brown Band, perform live! More great memories for everyone to make, smiling, dancing and singing the night away! | | |
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Irish Weekend at Kelly Park | |
It's never a dull moment at the River Road residence! Everyone took a trip to Kellystone Park Campgrounds to enjoy the Irish Weekend celebration, trying authentic Irish food, drinks and of course, wearing plenty of green!
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Nice weather calls for picnics, and that is exactly what Country Club Lane did!
Everyone was able to enjoy good company and food with each other. Looks like a lot of fun, and a great way to spend an afternoon together!
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Andrea, Carol, and their Community Habilitation provider, Audrey, took an overnight trip to Alexandria Bay so they would have plenty of time to take in all the sights!
This trip brought out Andrea’s adventurous side and gave plenty of opportunities for Carol to practice her love of photography. While they were there, they visited Kring Point State Park, Boldt Castle, and of course all the shops and local eateries!
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Helping Our Furry Friends | |
This month, our On the Pond ~ At Cutler team were able to help some furry friends in need with some yummy treats! They dropped off homemade dog treats to the Broome Humane Society, and were even able to meet some of the residents there. It's safe to say the dogs enjoyed the visit! | |
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Last month, our Children's Summer Program held their first annual Color Wars Games, with campers in our three age groups being assigned a color at the beginning of the week and participating in activities each day that earned their team points, like a community-based photo scavenger hunt.
Everyone had a lot of fun all week, with the Blue Team winning the overall competition!
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The Maine Scoop Visits ACHIEVE | |
The Maine Scoop ice cream truck paid ACHIEVE a special visit last month, bringing over some delicious, ice cold treats for everyone to enjoy. What a great way to beat the summer heat! | |
Homemade pizza is always fun to make, and Tioga Day Habilitation set aside a day to make all different kinds of pizzas to enjoy at lunch! Bet that kitchen smelled fantastic! | |
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The Country Club Lane crew initially planned a trip to Chenango Valley State Park to enjoy a picnic and the splash pad at the beach, however everyone had a change of heart and decided that going home to throw water balloons would be an even better idea! It looks like everyone had a lot of fun and cooled off from the heat!
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This month, our Chenango Community Habilitation team took a road trip to Broome County to go check out the animals at the Ross Park Zoo! Everyone enjoyed taking in all of the new sculptures on display for the Lantern Festival, but, as always, the animals were the highlight of the trip, especially all of the birds!
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August was Broome County's annual SpiedieFest, and the team up at the Wilson Hill residence had an incredibly memorable experience, getting a front row seat to watch one of the hot air balloons land in the neighbor's yard! | |
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The great New York State Fair is in town, and you know what that means? A trip to the fair is just what everyone needs!
Many of our houses took a trip to the State Fair and had an absolute blast! From riding the rides, to enjoying the food and playing games, there wasn't a part of the fair that they didn't see!
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Chenango Community Habilitation has certainly been busy. This month it seems like they have been hitting all the major attractions across the state, including Howe Caverns!
It was an awesome tour, seeing the miles and miles of underground caverns and tunnels available right in our own upstate backyard.
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Chenango Community Habilitation was caught horsing around on all of the carousels located in Broome County! | |
Our On the Pond ~ At Cutler team traveled to Edwards Petting Zoo and Farm to check out the animals, as well as get a tour of the farm and learn more about the produce they grow! | Recreational Respite Travels | The Recreation Respite team were incredibly busy throughout the month of August. They visited the Windsor Fair, Sassy's Sidekick Stables in Owego, and finished it off with their famous Party night! | It wasn't all sunshine throughout August, with a couple rainy days here and there, but that didn't stop the Chenango Community Habilitation team from getting out and testing out their mini golf skills. They ventured over to Shipwreck Cove Mini Putt and made the most of some of those rainy days! | |
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Looking for more than “just a job?”
Seeking an employer who offers training opportunities for career development and advancement?
Do values such as honesty, integrity, transparency, and respect appeal to you?
If so, YOU may be our next valued team member!
All full time positions come with a great benefits package and generous paid time off!
Discover the rewards of your new career in direct support today!
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New Beginnings in Norwich | |
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 61.7% 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 Platinum Partners! | | | | |
