20th Anniversary Gala

th
20 Anniversary Gala
Est. 1991
Friday, May 6, 2011
The Newark Club
The Phoenix Center Core Values
Each child is someone’s son,
daughter, brother, sister, niece,
nephew and as such, will be
treated with respect and dignity.
All of our students have abilities
and disabilities, and we will
discover and focus on their
abilities NOT their disabilities.
We will act with honesty and
integrity in all situations.
We will live the principles of the
FISH! Philosophy: choose your
attitude, be present, make
someone’s day and play.
We will provide high quality
programs that are researchedbased and designed to meet the
individual needs of each student.
Dear Friends,
Welcome to all of you who have come to celebrate The Phoenix Center’s
Twentieth Anniversary and to honor Dr. Jim Ball, George and Mary Forshay,
and the Dorothy B. Hersh Foundation. Seeing you inspires us to continue our
mission to help each child rise, like the ancient Phoenix, above his/her
disabilities to new levels of success, independence and happiness.
Through their generosity, care and compassion, tonight’s honorees share the
common desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Dr. Ball ―helps
people affected with autism reach their fullest potential, one teachable
moment at a time.‖ George and Mary Forshay devote themselves to
providing the ―most compassionate service to families in their time of loss.‖
The Dorothy B. Hersh Foundation is ―dedicated to making a meaningful
impact on the lives of children with special needs, one child at a time.‖
The Phoenix Center is dedicated to providing a well integrated, educational,
and therapeutic program focusing on the development of the whole child and
his/her family. We create customized, unique and individualized programs for
students whose profile of needs may not be met in other educational settings.
To provide such programs, we rely on three pivotal components which
enhance the quality of life for our students—Educational/Therapeutic
Programs, Transition Programs, and Leisure and Recreation Programs.
These three building blocks, combined with the competence and love of the
staff and steadfast support of our friends, make The Phoenix Center a very
exceptional institution. We are grateful to our honorees this evening who have
strengthened The Phoenix Center by providing and expanding each of these
three pivotal program components.
Thank you for your support and for sharing your Friday evening with us. We
are very grateful that you have taken the time to get to know us and our
mission. We hope that the presentations and our newly produced CD will
give you a glimpse of our students’ daily life at the school. Our wish is that
you enjoy the evening, meet new friends, celebrate the Phoenix Center and its
honorees, and most importantly have a spectacular time. Make it a great
night!
Dr. Geraldine A. Gibbia
Co-founder/Executive Director
Dr. Douglas A. Berrian
Co-founder/Director of
Professional Development
Gala Evening Program
Cocktails, Hors d'oeuvres, & Silent Auction
Welcome
Rosemary LaGamma, President, Phoenix Center Board of Directors
Opening Remarks
Dr. Geraldine A. Gibbia, Co-founder, Phoenix Center
Awards Presentation
Dr. Douglas A. Berrian, Co-founder, Phoenix Center
Dr. James Ball, Ed.D. BCBA
President and Chief Executive Officer
JB Autism Consulting
The Dorothy B. Hersh Foundation
Robert W. Donnelly, Jr. - Director and President
Harriet L. Donnelly, Administrator
George and Mary Forshay
Owners
Browning Forshay Funeral Home
Video Presentation –The 20th Anniversary Pyramid Show
Julie Mower, Principal, Phoenix Center
Video produced by Jennifer McQuade, Jemila Najjar-Keith, Cathy
Papuzenski and Marc Restaino.
Invocation
Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. Ciampaglio
Dinner
Dancing, Silent Auction & Dessert
Music provided by The Specialists Entertainment, Inc.
50/50 Raffle Drawing at 9:45 p.m.
Silent Auction Bidding Closes at 10:15 p.m.
20th Anniversary Gala Chairs
Paul Panicali * Chris Ruymen * Maria Sedlack
20th Anniversary Gala Committee
Sybille Kraft Bellamy
Mary Ann Cannella
Claudia Frankel
Jeff Hecker
Peter Kraft
Janet Kwiatkoski
Rosemary LaGamma
Pearl Ley
Chris Mappa
Karen McNamara
John Pogorelec
Susan Pogorelec
Jude Prunés
Susan Ross
Jacki Saltzman
Theresa Sweet
Kathy Troyer
James Turteltaub
Linda Turteltaub
Kerry Vara-Landolfi
Phoenix Center Board of Directors
Rick Claydon
Carolyn Gretchen
Rosemary LaGamma
Karen McNamara
Susan Mitchell
George Reinhardt
Karen Reinhardt
Andy Rovegno
Maria Sedlack
George Spina
Honoree
Dr. James Ball, Ed.D. BCBA
President and Chief Executive Officer
JB Autism Consulting
Dr. James Ball, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral has been in the
field of autism for over twenty-five years providing educational, residential,
and employment services to children and adults affected by autism. He is also
the Director of Clinical Services for New York Families of Autistic Children
(NYFAC), a private not-for-profit organization providing support and training
for children and families in New York City. He provides private consultation
to organizations, schools, and families regarding staff training, parent training,
home support services, classroom design/support, and behavior
management/assessment.
Dr. Ball is also a past member of the Autism New Jersey, formally known as
the New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community
(COSAC) Board of Trustees, and a member of the Autism New Jersey,
Professional Advisory Board. A member of the Autism Society’s (AS)
National Board of Directors, he is currently the Board Chair and has also
served in the past as the co-chairperson of AS’s Panel of Professional
Advisors. He also sits on the advisory board for the Autism Asperger’s Digest
magazine. Dr. Ball has lectured nationally and internationally on various
topics related to autism, such as early intervention, inclusion services,
functional behavior assessment, social skills training, behavior management,
direct instruction, sensory issues, and accountability. He has published in
many of the above areas and authored the award winning breakthrough book
Early Intervention and Autism: Real-life Questions, Real-life Answers.
Dr. Ball has enhanced The Phoenix Center’s Educational and Behavioral
Programs by providing expert consultation to our staff in Applied Behavioral
Analysis and Behavior Management Practices.
Honoree
The Dorothy B. Hersh Foundation
Dorothy B. Hersh was born on June 28, 1899 in Elizabeth, NJ. Dorothy
never married or had any children but she was always interested in helping
those in need. Upon her death at 80 in October of 1979, the Dorothy B.
Hersh Foundation was founded. In Dorothy's will, she asked that a
foundation be established to provide for a milk fund for orphans in the
Elizabeth, NJ area - near where Dorothy was born and spent most of her life.
However, by that time in 1981, the State of New Jersey had disbanded all
orphanages. Thus the Foundation set on their path to provide grants for
handicapped, underprivileged, and special needs children in New Jersey starting out first in the Elizabeth area and then rapidly expanding.
The Dorothy B. Hersh Foundation is dedicated to making a meaningful
impact on the lives of special needs, and handicapped, and underprivileged
children in the New Jersey area. The Foundation awards grants to qualifying
organizations supporting capital expenditure programs and projects such as
building improvements, specialized transportation vehicles, specialized
equipment, as well as and the physical property needs of these children in
terms of "brick and mortar" projects.
The Dorothy B. Hersh Foundation and its Trustees have enhanced The
Phoenix Center’s Transition Program by funding a mini-school bus, two vans
for our Community Based Instruction Program, renovations to our
Consumer and Family Life Program, upgrades for our playground and gym,
and installation of a stair lift.
Honoree
George and Mary Forshay, Owners
Browning Forshay Funeral Home
Lifelong residents of Hawthorne, George and Mary Forshay both graduated
from Hawthorne High School. George received his Bachelor of Science
from Rider College and graduated as valedictorian from McAllister Institute
of Mortuary Science. Mary graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of
Arts degree from William Paterson University. Married in 1973, the
Forshays have two children, Lauren, a 1999 graduate of Villanova University
and Michael, a 2001 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. They
also have two grandchildren, Matthew and Caitlin. George is a member of the
New Jersey and National Funeral Directors Associations and the Hawthorne
Lion’s Club. He is also a Permanent Deacon serving in St. Anthony’s R. C.
Church in Hawthorne. In that capacity, he is chaplain of Hawthorne
PBA#200 and the Hawthorne Fire Department. Mary is the former President
and a member of the Auxiliary of the Little Sisters of the Poor. She is also a
member of the Hawthorne Planning Board.
As owners of the Browning-Forshay Funeral Home, George and Mary and
their professional staff make every effort to provide the most personal, the
most caring, and the most compassionate service to families in their time of
sorrow. Since 1953, they have served the community from their original
location, a landmark home on Lafayette Avenue.
The Forshays have enriched our Leisure & Recreation Program by opening
their shore home each summer to our students and staff to provide many of
our students a once in a lifetime experience—a day at the beach, a boat ride,
crabbing and a delicious barbecue including a castle cake. The joy and
wonder this annual event gives to our students is immeasurable.
20th Anniversary Gala Event Sponsors
Gold Sponsor
Anonymous
Silver Sponsor
Columbia Bank
Bronze Sponsors
Browning-Forshay Funeral Home
De Meola Zawacki Mingione & Co., LLC
The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation
Hecker Family
Inserra Shop-Rite Supermarkets
JB Autism Consulting
Kwiatkoski Family
Rosemary and Ralph LaGamma
Elizabeth and Paul Panicali
Rahaim Consulting
RJG Insurance Group
Sonia and Mel Ruffini
Maria and John Sedlack
Linda and James Turteltaub
Benefactors
Atlantic Cleaning Services
FGX International
The Jones Group, Inc.
Neglia Engineering
Mary Toomey
Troyer Family
Special Thanks
Stephen Andolino, Artist, for original artwork used in our Awards.
Action Graphics (Lincoln Park, NJ) for invitation printing.
Aroma de Napoli Bakery (Nutley, NJ) for our ―Phoenix‖ cake.
FOX Recording Studio (Rutherford, NJ) for recording our Phoenix CD.
Westwood Pets (Westwood, NJ) for the fish for our centerpieces.
Beth Pstoa- Miele for our student slideshow.
Rich Holdsworth for the Phoenix CDs and duplication.
Silent Auction Donors
Aleo Restaurant
American Girl
Anchor Dance Studio
Andreas Ristorante Italiano
Arturo's Restaurant
Bagatelle Int'l
Barth's Market
Bed Bath & Beyond
Benjamin Brothers True Value
Hardware
Bergen PAC
Blanchard Co.
Bowler City
Deborah Brandell
Cafe L'Amore
Camp Gaw
Mary Ann Cannella
Centre Deli & Restaurant
Cenzino's Ristorante
Chart House
Cheesecake Factory
Chef Mark Biroc, Special Requests
Snow Chu
Colony Florist
Columbia Bank
DePasquale The Spa
Devon fine Jewelry
Ditolla's Pro Shop (@Bowler City)
Joanne Doyle, AVON Representative
East Japanese & Asian Fusion
Elite Island Resorts-Caribbean
Empire CLS Worldwide
Esposito's
Eurica Gifts
Fancy Gram Embroidery
Gravity Vault
Carolyn Gretchen
Jeff Hecker
High Mountain Golf Club
Hospital for Special Surgery
Irish Repertory Theatre
Juicy Couture
Kid Ro Productions
La Lanterna Café and Grill
Labelle Jewelers
Landgrove Inn
Lighting Emporium
Linden Lanes
Maximilian at Bloomingdales
Susan Mitchell
Mirror Lake Inn
Music in the Mission
Nagoya
Napa Valley Grill
Nest & Company
New Jersey Nets
New York Red Bulls
NY Jets
NY Sports Club
North Jersey Guitar & Music Center
Olympus
Cathy Papuzenski
Donna Picheria
Pogorelec Family
Ramsey Golf and Country Club
Chris Ruymen
Roma Ristorante
Rosario's Butcher Shop
Roshlers Garden Center
Salon Visage
School of Rock
Sears
Sferra
Shiva Shanti Yoga School
Skyline Cruises
Somerset Patriots Baseball Club
Sonia S. Ruffini Design Studio
Janet Sullivan
The Lodge at Woodloch
Thomasville
Ticketmaster
Uncorked Wines & Spirits
Upper Montclair Country Club
Kerry Vara-Landolfi
Wellness Springs Spa
White Beeches Golf & Country Club
Phoenix Center Staff
The Phoenix Center is the wonderful place it is because of the
professional, caring and compassionate people who work here every day.
All of our staff deserves recognition. Pictured below and on the following
page are the co-founders and staff members who are celebrating 20, 15
and 10 years of service at The Phoenix Center. Twenty-five percent of the
staff has been at the Center for more than ten years! This dedication and
staff retention speaks to the warm and nurturing environment and love
everyone at the Center has for its students.
Co-founders
Dr. Geri Gibbia, Dr. Doug Berrian
Twenty Year Employees
Left to right: Julie McCall, Diane Hayes, Kathy Veenstra, Luz Bencivenga,
Dr. Geri Gibbia, Beth Anne Psota-Miele, and Dr. Doug Berrian.
Phoenix Center Staff
Fifteen Year Employees
Left to right: Gerry Woodlief, Cheryl Campbell, Nancy Busby, Terry Vasile, Julie
Mower, Claire Holdsworth, Bebe Cherian, Laureen Protomastro, Amy Maciag,
Karen Gordon, Frank Ortiz. Not pictured: Tracy Hanna, Andrea Mannes.
Ten Year Employees
Top row (left to right): Rob Engelbrecht, Michaelle Dorcent, Marie LaManno,
Susan Horst, Carmel Duchard, Kim Wynbeek, Marie Ulysse, Eileen Mulcahy,
Katie Schoerner, Anne Jens, Tanya Taibl, Mary Roeder, Lewis Odige.
Bottom row (left to right): Marie Wyatt, Jeanine Zatorski, Isabel Cosme, Angela
Scafidi, Georgeann Huber, Nancy McDonald
St. Mary’s Parish
Nutley, New Jersey
We extend our sincere
congratulations to
The Phoenix Center
on their 20th Anniversary Gala.
St. Mary’s continues to
offer our prayers and good
wishes for the wonderful work you
continue to do to bring joy to your
students.
888-GO-NU-TEL 888-466-8835
Congratulations to
The Phoenix Center
Wishing you
Continued success
th
Happy 20
Anniversary
Phoenix Center
Thank you for
ALL you do
and for
Making a DIFFERENCE
in many lives!
Friends
TO ALL OF OUR FRIENDS
AT THE PHOENIX CENTER
WE ARE BLESSED TO
CELEBRATE WITH YOU AND
THANK YOU FOR TWENTY
YEARS OF SERVING
ONE ANOTHER
THE FORSHAY FAMILY
Congratulations to The
Phoenix Center on its 20th
year Anniversary,
We wish you continued
success.
Maria and John Sedlack
AFORCE, INC.
Dirt Merchant, Inc.
PO BOX 236
6 MAIN STREET
OCEANPORT, NJ 07757
(732) 389 1133 (732) 389 3363 FAX
Best Wishes For
The Phoenix Center's Continuing
Important Work!
Carole and David Ravin
Dignity…Respect…Patience…Understanding…Commitment…..
Vision…..Trust…..Dedication…..Motivation…..Love…..Hope…..
Enrichment…..Abilities…..
The Phoenix Center
th
Congratulations on your 20 Anniversary.
Wishing Many Years of Continued Success,
Elizabeth & Paul Panicali
Happy 20th Anniversary to the Phoenix Center.
Thanks to all the staff for everything you do!
Love, Friends and Family of Erin Hecker
\
Congratulations to
THE PHOENIX CENTER
For your 20 years of success
with a special thanks to all the
wonderful teachers and staff for
their great work
James M. Turteltaub, Esq.
Real Estate Litigation
Carlin and Ward, P.C.
25A Vreeland Road, Florham Park, New Jersey 07932
Direct Dial: (201) 704-1442
A PROUD SUPPORTER OF
THE PHOENIX CENTER
Congratulations on 20 years of service
and our 10 years together.
Rahaim Consulting, L.L.C.
Fundraising and consulting to nonprofit organizations
Nora Nasif Rahaim
Tel: (201) 675-0635
E-mail: norarahaimfreelance@hotmail.com
Partners in Caring
The Parent Association of the Phoenix Center,
congratulates The Phoenix Center
on its 20th Anniversary! We look forward to
many more years of partnership in the service
of our wonderful students!
“Keep Rising”
Msgr. Joseph A. Ciampaglio
Charter Board Member
Best of luck from the Pezzolla Family at
325 Orient Way, Lyndhurst, NJ 201-939-7708
www.FranksTruckCenter.com
Congratulations to Dr. Jim Ball and the
Phoenix Center for their dedication to
children.
Dr. John P. Campion
OFF: (201) 444-3333
CELL: (201) 724-6588
ALEJANDRO “ALEC” ANDERSON
SALES ASSOCIATE
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PHOENIX CENTER ON A JOB WELL DONE
20 GOFFLE ROAD, MIDLAND PARK, NEW JERSEY 07432
Notes
The Phoenix Center
The Phoenix Center was co-founded in 1991 by Dr. Douglas Berrian and Dr.
Geraldine Gibbia. The Phoenix Center, a New Jersey Department of Education–
approved 501 (c) (3) non-profit school started its first academic year with 16
students and 12 staff. Currently, 167 full and part-time staff members provide
services to 144 students age five through 21 with autism and moderate to severe
developmental disabilities from 69 districts in nine New Jersey counties. Many of
the Phoenix Center’s students’ learning profiles may not ―fit‖ into traditional
programs because of their unique and complex needs. Many students require a
highly customized program tailored to their individual needs. Many students have
communication and behavioral challenges and may have difficulty being
mainstreamed into public schools. Nevertheless, the school and its co-founders
embrace the philosophy that these children have gifts that deserve to be nurtured
and the potential to become independent, productive members of society. The
Phoenix Center was founded on the belief that, with advanced, bold and researchbased integrated interventions, these children can thrive. The Phoenix Center’s
purpose is to provide a well integrated, educational and therapeutic program
focusing on the development of the whole child and his/her family. The reason
we exist is to care for, educate and empower our students and graduates so that
they may develop skills which will maximize their adaptation to adult life. Since its
founding, the Phoenix Center has stayed true to its original mission to help each
child rise, like the ancient Phoenix, above their disabilities to new levels of success
and happiness
Phoenix Center Fundraising
The Phoenix Center’s programs are primarily funded by restricted tuition
contracts with the school districts to whose students it provides services. The
majority of our program is paid for through this tuition; however, in order to keep
tuition increases to a minimum and to enhance our programs and provide the
best possible learning environment for our students, The Center continually seeks
private funding from individuals, local businesses foundations and corporations
for items many of our cutting-edge programs and therapies that are not covered by
tuition dollars. Because our students learn differently, they benefit from activities
like Therapeutic Horseback Riding, adaptive bowling ramps, therapeutic
swimming, special Voice Output devices, and touch screen and SmartBoard
computers to name a few. Monies are raised through the Annual Fund,
Foundation & Corporate Grants and Anniversary Gala (only held once every five
years).
16 Monsignor Owens Place, Nutley, NJ 07110 * 973-542-0743
www.phoenixcenterinc.com