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NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE
12 MetroTech Center, 29th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 422-4200
www.heartshare.org
PAID
BROOKLYN, NY
PERMIT NO. 2179
HELPING CHILDREN AND ADULTS LEAD MEANINGFUL LIVES
IN THIS ISSUE:
• HEARTSHARE HAPPENINGS
• HOW YOU CAN HELP
“We will be looking
to determine what
the personal outcomes
are that the individual
desires for his or
her life.” —Linda Tempel
Save the Date!
ANNUAL SPRING GALA AND AUCTION
Thursday, March 21
New York Marriott Marquis,
Times Square, New York
CHANGES
RACE TO COMBAT AUTISM
Sunday, April 28
Harbor Fitness, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
33RD ANNUAL BUCKLEY’SKENNEDY’S 5K CHARITY RUN
Sunday, May 19
AND HOW HEARTSHARE IS PREPARING
EDUCATION SERVICES DINNER
DANCE
Thursday, May 23
Russo’s On The Bay, Howard Beach, Queens
FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES
DINNER DANCE
Monday, June 3 & Monday, June 17
Russo’s On The Bay, Howard Beach, Queens
ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC
Tuesday, June 11
Colonia Country Club, Colonia, NJ
Golfers helped raise $37,000 for HeartShare at the 3rd Annual Jim Buckley Memorial
Golf Outing in October. Thank you to everyone who supported the event!
For more information, visit www.heartshare.org/calendar.
WINTER 2013
Table of Contents
HeartShare: Preparing for Changes Ahead
HeartShare Happenings
How To Help
BOA RD OF DI RE CT ORS
Paul J. Torre
Chairman
Robert Charles Golden
First Vice Chair
John T. Sharkey
Second Vice Chair
Michael J. Abatemarco
Treasurer
Salvatore A. Calabrese
Secretary
Joseph A. Benfante, Esq.
Joseph A. Caruana, DO
Rita Chopra-Brathwaite
Nancy C. Cianflone
Linda Dano
Craig A. Eaton, Esq.
Gregory V. Generet
Jonathan C. Goldstein, Esq.
Jim Kerr
Michael P. Kiley
Frank J. Maresca
Raymond J. Mollica, DPM
Kenneth P. Nolan, Esq.
The Reverend Thomas G. Pettei
Peter E. Pisapia, Esq.
Dennis W. Quirk
Anthony M. Riccio, Jr.
Rosanna Scotto
Christine E. Strehle
Joseph V. Taranto
1
5
9
William R. Guarinello
President and CEO
P U B LIS H E D B Y
HeartShare Human Services
of New York
12 MetroTech Center, 29th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 422-4200
info@heartshare.org
www.heartshare.org
www.facebook.com/heartshare
www.twitter.com/heartshare
www.youtube.com/heartshareny
Tricia Fleming
Director of Communications
Brian Fitzgerald
Communications Coordinator
D E S IG N E R
New Beautiful Studios
Visit www.heartshare.org to
sign-up for email updates!
FOLLOW HEARTSHARE
ON TWITTER OR LIKE US
ON FACEBOOK!
As we look back on 2012, it was a good year for HeartShare. We
continued to provide vital services to 19,000 children, adults and
their families. Program development continued on new program
initiatives which will be starting in early 2013, increasing the
number of individuals and families we are able to help each year.
It would be impossible to reflect on 2012 and not include
Superstorm Sandy that hit the New York City area. In addition
to extensive flooding and power outages, gas shortages caused
additional havoc for the City. Several of HeartShare’s programs
were damaged and gas shortages caused difficulties for agency
vehicles used to transport program participants to doctor
appointments and other services. Most of our programs have
returned to normal operations, but we know for many in the
community they are still struggling.
Looking ahead to 2013, we have already begun administering an
energy-assistance program for customers of National Grid in 37
counties in Upstate New York, the Care & Share Energy Fund.
Similar to other energy funds we administer, this program helps
low-income individuals pay their heating bills, enabling them to
stay warm during the cold, winter months.
This year, we invite you to join us for the 25th Annual Spring
Gala and Auction on Thursday, March 21. It will be held at the
New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square and is our premiere
fundraising event of the year. As a contributor to HeartShare you
know that 90 cents of every dollar of revenue goes directly to our
programs and services for children, adults and families.
COVER STORY
We hope that you stay up to date on all the news and activities
happening at HeartShare through our Facebook and Twitter
pages and have signed up to receive our electronic newsletter.
We also will be producing new videos throughout the year that
highlight the work being done in our programs. Be sure to look
for those on our YouTube page.
We wish you and your family a happy and healthy new year!
Sincerely,
OPWDD Commissioner
Courtney Burke
(Photo credit Times Union)
Paul J. Torre
Chairman, Board of Directors
William R. Guarinello
President and CEO
HEARTSHARE:
PREPARING FOR CHANGES AHEAD
One of the first executive orders issued by New York
Governor Andrew Cuomo in January 2011 was the
establishment of the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT). Its
purpose was to bring together stakeholders and experts
to collaboratively reform the Medicaid system and reduce
costs to the State. Perhaps the most significant aspect of
this process is the transition of all Medicaid programs
from a fee-for-service system to a managed care system.
In April 2011, New York State Office for People With
Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and New York
State Department of Health (DOH) officially launched
the People First Waiver process to highlight the main
outcomes New York would aim to achieve through a
redesigned service system.
HEARTSHARE HUM AN SERVI CES OF NEW YORK • W I NTER 2013
These outcomes included:
• improved care coordination;
• person-centered planning, individual
responsibility and self-determination;
• new reimbursement models;
• expanded range of community-based
services;
• redesigned assessment tools; and
• a transformed comprehensive quality
care management system driven by
personal performance metrics linked
to personal outcomes and system
performance.
PEOPLE FIRST WAIVER
In October 2011, OPWDD released
its four-year Statewide Comprehensive
Plan which described the way services
w w w. h e a rt sh a re . o rg
1
NYIN Family Support Forums
In early 2013, NYIN hosted a series of
Family Forums throughout New York City
and in two counties north of the city
so that individuals with developmental
disabilities and their family members
could learn more about the coming
changes as well as the creative and
exciting services NYIN is planning
to offer. Presenters explained what
NYIN is, why it now needs to exist and
shared plans related to Day Services,
Residential Services, Care Coordination,
Primary Care Services, and Education
and Outreach. Video footage of these
forums will be available at NYIN’s
website launching in 2013,
www.nyin.org, and additional forums
will be planned throughout the year.
NYIN plans to continue the Family
Forums on a regular basis in the months
and years ahead to keep individuals,
family members and advocates both
updated and informed.
for individuals with intellectual and
developmental disabilities will be delivered
in the future.
According to OPWDD Commissioner
Courtney Burke, “All Medicaid services
and supports for individuals with
developmental disabilities will ultimately
be funded and managed through this new
waiver agreement between New York State
and the federal Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS).”
Commissioner Burke continued, “In
the past, coordinating care meant putting
individuals into existing programs where
there was availability. Now, OPWDD
will start with the person first, assess
his or her ability level and preferences,
2
and then develop a person-centered
plan that will encompass all Medicaidfunded supports and services, and work to
build an individual’s capacity for greater
independence. Through redesigning the
system, we hope to serve New Yorkers
holistically through provision of long-term
supports traditionally funded through
OPWDD along with physical health,
mental health and substance abuse, and
other supports across the system.”
Originally, OPWDD proposed an
1115 Waiver, but in June 2012, CMS
recommended that a 1915b and 1915c
Waiver Combo would provide the most
flexibility to redesign the system to provide
person-centered, need-focused supports
and services. The 1915b Waiver agreement
will authorize creation of a Managed
Care Delivery System for individuals
with developmental disabilities, and the
1915c Waiver will establish the specific
supports and services that will be provided.
The complete redesign and transition is
expected to take five to 10 years.
WHAT IS A DISCO?
Perhaps the most dramatic component of
the redesign to the system is OPWDD’s
call for the creation of Developmental
Disabilities Individual Support & Care
Coordination Organizations (DISCOs).
OPWDD has stated that key elements of
DISCOs will include:
• Receiving funds, providing personcentered planning, coordination of
services, and ensuring delivery of highquality services;
• Funding to the DISCO will be based
on the individual’s needs, not allocated
based on general service categories;
• Managing per-member-per-month
funds to meet the needs of all its
members;
• No limit for spending on any
individual—the capitated rate will not
mean limited services; an individual
must have a service plan that meets his
or her needs, regardless of cost; and
• Organization being a non-profit entity.
Essentially, DISCOs will be managed
care companies responsible for overseeing
the services delivered to its members by a
wide network of providers.
“HeartShare is partnering with the
Institutes of Applied Human Dynamics,
H E A R TS H AR E : C H A N GIN G L I VE S TH R O U G H M U SIC
Inc. (IAHD), Services for the UnderServed
(SUS), United Cerebral Palsy of New York
City, YAI, and Coordinated Behavioral
Health Services (CBHS) to form a new
DISCO called the New York Integrated
Network for Persons with Intellectual
& Developmental Disabilities (NYIN),”
said William R. Guarinello, President and
CEO for HeartShare. “The six sponsor
agencies have combined revenue of more
than $800 million, serve more than 30,000
children and adults, and offer a full range
of services throughout New York City,
Long Island, Westchester, RockIand,
Orange, Sullivan, and Dutchess Counties.
Additionally, NYIN has a Business
Council of more than 15 service providers
and 11 committees working together
to develop the organizational structure
and programs. We are very excited to be
joining together in this collaborative way
to continue providing high-quality services
to individuals and their families.”
Arthur Webb, former OPWDD
Commissioner and Senior Advisor to
NYIN, said, “For many individuals, their
services will be the same as they are now.
The coordination of care will offer a fuller,
more comprehensive range of services
that includes medical care, developmental
disabilities services and other supports.”
Several of the committees within NYIN
have begun creating innovative plans to
deliver new services to the individuals. For
example, the creation of a home-cleaning
service called “Cleaning with Meaning”
is underway for adults who would like to
obtain paid employment. The agencies
within NYIN operate four health care
clinics. Plans are being developed to have
clinics open later in the evening and on
weekends to provide some urgent care
services and reduce visits to emergency
rooms.
Mr. Webb continued, “NYIN will use
the collective wisdom and experience of its
sponsor agencies to protect, preserve and
sustain the progress we have made in the
developmental disabilities field.”
According to OPWDD’s most recent
update issued in January 2013, OPWDD
will issue a Request for Applications to
become a pilot DISCO in March of this
year. NYIN will submit an application
describing how it will provide care
coordination and deliver services through
the established network of providers.
In June, OPWDD will select the pilot
DISCOs and in November 2013, pilot
DISCOs would begin to offer eligible
enrollees, who volunteer to participate,
traditional OPWDD waiver services,
DOH long-term services and behavioral
health services provided through the New
York State Department of Mental Health
(OMH). In 2015, OPWDD would begin to
expand managed care operations throughout
the state and it will phase out fee-for-service
operations.
QUALITY OVERSIGHT
The People First Waiver also focuses on
the quality of services offered and the
impact those services make on the lives
of the children and adults being served.
OPWDD will utilize the Continuous
Quality Improvement (CQI) model which is
currently used in its Home and Community
Based Services (HCBS) Waiver programs.
OPWDD has created a focus group of 21
agencies throughout New York State to pilot
this model and HeartShare has been selected
as one of the Case Study agencies.
“HeartShare has 22 individuals who
have agreed to be part of the Case Study,”
said Linda Tempel, Executive Director of
Developmental Disabilities Services for
HeartShare. “Participants will be involved
in a comprehensive conversation about the
quality of their lives. The interview will look
at all areas of a person’s life with the goal
of finding out what is really important and
meaningful to him or her. We will be looking
to determine what the personal outcomes are
that the individual desires for his or her life.”
These comprehensive interviews will be
administered by HeartShare facilitators
trained by the Council on Quality and
Leadership to use a tool it created called the
Personal Outcomes Measure (POM). “We
have focused on person-centered planning
for years; the POM gives us a way to measure
the effectiveness of our person-centered
efforts,” explained Laurie Yankowitz, Ed.D,
Vice President of Individual and Family
Support Services for HeartShare. “There
are 21 personal outcomes that have been
identified as the key quality of life indicators
and they are divided into three categories—
My Self, My World and My Dreams.”
Based on CQL’s POM tool, HeartShare’s
facilitators will interview the 22 program
participants in early 2013 using the 21
personal outcomes, and then re-interview
those same 22 individuals a year later.
Outcomes within My Self include people
are safe, people are treated fairly, people
are connected to natural support networks,
and people have the best health possible.
Outcomes within My World include people
choose where and with whom they live,
people choose where they work, people live
in integrated environments. Within My
Dreams, outcomes include people choose
personal goals, people realize personal goals,
and people have friends.
“For each individual, we determine if
the outcomes are present and if supports
are in place to support each outcome,”
continued Dr. Yankowitz. “The results could
be a combination of outcome is present and
supports are present, outcome is present but
supports are not present, or outcome is not
BY THE NUMBERS
126,000
Number of people served by
OPWDD in NYS
600
Number of nonprofit providers of
OPWDD services in NYS
1,313
Number of people living in institutions, down from 20,062 in 1975
120
Number of Medicaid billing
categories
5,138
Number of Medicaid billing rates
13.5 Million
Number of Medicaid
transactions in NYS
(source: OPWDD Statewide Comprehensive Plan 2011-2015)
present but supports are present. Within
this year-long pilot program, we will have a
measure of how well HeartShare is doing in
providing supports that result in outcomes
important to our individuals, not just related
to meeting required regulations. We will
have evidence-based information with
which to answer the ultimate questions: Are
we supporting people in a way that results in
them being happy?”
NEXT STEPS
With all of these changes coming, what
should individuals with intellectual and
developmental disabilities and their family
members do? One of the most important
things is to stay informed. The OPWDD
website has a section devoted to the People
First Waiver at http://www.opwdd.ny.gov/
opwdd_ser vices_supports/people_first_
waiver/home. HeartShare will also share
updates on the Case Study as it progresses,
and NYIN will provide updates through
its website www.nyin.org launching in 2013.
If individuals or family members have
questions, they should contact their service
providers for additional information as well.
It is important to keep informed and be an
advocate!
HEARTSHARE HUM AN SERVI CES OF NEW YORK • W I NTER 2013
w w w. h e a rt sh a re . o rg
3
SUPERSTORM SANDY
HITS NEW YORK
On Monday, October 29, Superstorm
Sandy hit New York City causing
devastation never seen before in this area.
Flood waters destroyed homes, businesses
and community organizations like
HeartShare.
In preparation for the storm, one of
HeartShare’s group homes for adults
with developmental disabilities located in
Evacuation Zone A was evacuated. Other
group homes made necessary preparations
for the impending storm. HeartShare’s day
programs for adults with disabilities and
preschool and school age programs were
closed. As New York City schools were
closed, HeartShare’s after-school programs
also were closed.
When the flood waters began entering
neighborhoods never before considered
in flood zones, many of HeartShare’s
programs were damaged, some extensively.
One group home in Brooklyn with
11 adults who are medically frail and use
wheelchairs had to be evacuated when
the house lost power. When flood waters
hit the Coney Island section of Brooklyn,
many of HeartShare’s programs there
were impacted. The buildings housing two
4
S U P E R S T OR M SA N D Y H IT S NEW Y O R K
after-school programs, the HIV/AIDS
Community Follow-Up Program and a
Family Services Center were all damaged
by up to six feet of water. Many of those
programs also were looted. Coney Island
also is home to many of the children in
HeartShare’s Foster Care Program who
were now without power as well.
In the Howard Beach section of
Queens, three feet of flood water destroyed
HeartShare’s Evaluation Center for
children with developmental delays and
disabilities. The preschool program for
children with developmental disabilities in
Howard Beach was forced to remain closed
for several weeks, displacing many young
children, while power could be restored to
the building.
Several months have passed since the
storm hit, yet things are still not back
to normal for everyone. The Evaluation
Center required extensive renovations
and was finally reopened in January. The
Community Follow-Up and Family
Services Programs are operating at their
locations but do not have phones or
internet service. HeartShare’s after-school
programs are still operating at different
Image, top: Three feet of flood water destroyed
HeartShare’s Evaluation Center in Howard
Beach, Queens. Image, below: Flooding
caused massive damage to the Coney Island
neighborhood, home to several HeartShare
programs. (photo credit NBC News)
locations so that children have a safe place
to go.
“I am extremely proud of how our staff
pulled together following Sandy,” said
HeartShare President and CEO William
R. Guarinello. “Even though staff had their
own personal crises to handle, they put
them aside to ensure those in our care were
safe and secure.”
HEARTSHARE
Several artists and members of HeartShare’s Board of Directors
attended the Closing Reception of ArtShare for HeartShare on
November 16, 2012.
HAPPENINGS
4th Annual ArtShare for
HeartShare—Bigger Than Ever!
Each year, ArtShare for HeartShare has
grown and this year was no different. In
September, ArtShare for HeartShare made
its debut in the galleries on Governors
Island, enabling the exhibit to reach a new
audience of art lovers. Through a grant
from the Brooklyn Arts Council, paintings
and photos were displayed in Downtown
Brooklyn for several weeks in October in
the lobbies of 12 MetroTech Center and
National Grid as well as at Brooklyn
Borough Hall.
These smaller exhibits led up to the
main exhibit at the New Century Artists
Gallery in the Chelsea neighborhood of
Manhattan. This year’s exhibit was planned
for three weeks, instead of the two-week
run of previous years. This proved to be
critical as the gallery was without power
and a functioning elevator for almost two
weeks following Superstorm Sandy
This year, more than 60 children
and adults contributed 150 pieces of
art including paintings, drawings and
photographs. A wide selection of handcrafted jewelry was available for sale as
well.
“None of this would have been possible
without the dedication of the exhibit’s
co-curators Barbara Nowak-Cuthel and
Anna Copland. They worked hundreds of
hours to ensure the success of this year’s
exhibit,” said Linda Tempel, Executive
Director of HeartShare’s Developmental
Disabilities Services. “This exhibit creates
such pride in the children and adults with
intellectual and developmental disabilities,
and it enables their friends and families to
see what they are capable of creating.”
HEARTSHARE HUM AN SERVI CES OF NEW YORK • W I NTER 2013
Congratulations to all the
artists and volunteers who
helped make this year’s
ArtShare for HeartShare
so successful!
w w w. h e a rt sh a re . o rg
5
A Celebration Raises
Nearly $75,000
The holiday season kicked off with a bang
as 200 supporters of HeartShare Human
Services of New York gathered for a
Celebration of Hope, Thanks and Giving.
The evening raised nearly $75,000 for
HeartShare and included the presentation
of three awards, a silent auction, wine
tasting with a free raffle, and musical
entertainment.
Guests bid on sports memorabilia,
autographed ornaments and teddy bears
dressed by top designers in the fashion
field. There was also an exciting Cork Grab
in which guests purchased a numbered
cork and won the bottle of wine with the
matching number. One lucky bottle also
included a case of wine with personalized
labels.
During the event, Robert Charles
Golden, First Vice Chair of HeartShare’s
Board of Directors, was honored with
the Ralph A. Subbiondo Excellence in
Volunteerism Award for his 27 years of
dedication and commitment to HeartShare.
The award is named for the late Ralph
Subbiondo who chaired the
HeartShare Board for nine
years.
Barbara Nowak-Cuthel was
presented with the Excellence
in Programmatic Volunteerism
Award for her role in creating,
producing
and
curating
ArtShare for HeartShare, an Guests purchased
art program for children and corks and won he
corresponding bottle of wine during a
adults with intellectual and Celebration of Hope, Thanks and Giving.
developmental
disabilities.
This program helps individuals
“There were many people in attendance
develop their artistic abilities and express who are still dealing with the effects of Sandy,
themselves through painting, drawing, yet they showed up to be part of this special
photography, and jewelry making.
night honoring our terrific volunteers,”
The James J. Buckley Excellence in Event said William R. Guarinello, HeartShare’s
Volunteerism Award was presented to the President and CEO. “HeartShare is truly
31 members of the Buckley-Kennedy’s blessed to have such devoted friends, and
Run and Jim Buckley Memorial Golf I deeply appreciate their continued support
Outing Committees for their hard work of our programs and services for children,
organizing those events over the past 20 adults and families throughout Brooklyn,
years. Jim Buckley was a dedicated member Queens and Staten Island.”
of HeartShare’s Board and champion of the
agency for nearly 30 years before passing
away in 2010.
Dedication Ceremony Honors Board
Member’s Commitment to HeartShare
On September 13, HeartShare dedicated The Rev. Thomas G. Pettei
Residence, home to six women with intellectual and developmental
disabilities. Located in Flushing, Queens, the home was opened in 2002.
The residence offers all the amenities of a typical home with the added
benefit of 24-hour staffing to meet its residents’ special needs. Special focus
is placed on learning daily living skills, such as doing laundry, cooking and
cleaning one’s room. The women also enjoy a wide array of activities in the
community and take advantage of all that Queens has to offer.
The home is named for The Rev. Thomas G. Pettei who joined the
HeartShare Board of Directors in 1986. During his 26 years of service
to HeartShare, Rev. Pettei has been a member of two committees of the
Board and HeartShare is proud to name this home in honor of someone
who truly understands and promotes the agency’s mission to nurture and
support, with dignity and respect, children, adults and families in order to
expand opportunities and enhance lives.
6
H E A R TS H AR E : H AP P E N IN G S
New Group Home for Adults with
Developmental Disabilities Opens
TOY & GIFT DRIVE
On January 14, 2013, HeartShare opened
its newest home, named in honor of actor,
producer, director, and philanthropist
Tamara Tunie and husband Jazz Vocalist
and HeartShare Board Member Gregory V.
Generet. Located in Holliswood, Queens,
the residence provides a new communitybased home to six men with intellectual and
developmental disabilities.
“HeartShare’s new home provides an
opportunity for the individuals to have a
typical life in the community and a chance
to participate much more in community
activities and amenities that they may
not have had as much access to in the
developmental center where they previously
lived,” said HeartShare’s Executive Director
for Developmental Disabilities Services
Linda Tempel. “Just living in a regular home
and being a part of a small family, rather than
living in a larger institution, will help open
up a whole new life for them.”
HeartShare began the renovation of the
house in the Spring of 2012 and completed
it in December 2012. The first floor consists
of recreation, laundry and office space. The
second floor is designed with 5 bedrooms, a
kitchen, living room, and bathrooms. Special
accommodations in the construction include
a fire alarm system, accessible bathrooms
and CareTracker, a wall mounted computer
system to record and maintain important
goals, behavioral and medical data for each
resident.
The men also attend HeartShare’s
Frances Aiello Day Habilitation Program
which offers adults with developmental
disabilities a wide range of individualized
skill-building services and carefully planned
day program experiences with an emphasis
on community-based volunteer and work
experiences. The residence and day program
provide a continuum of services which
enhance an individual’s ability to gain
meaningful experiences in the community.
The move from the developmental
center will help provide a higher quality
of life through the benefit of community
integration and the opportunity for
individualized choices. While moving is
never easy, the opportunities that await these
men are plentiful and the staff at HeartShare
are happy to have them join their family.
HEARTSHARE HUM AN SERVI CES OF NEW YORK • W I NTER 2013
This holiday season, nearly 2,700 gifts
were distributed to the children and
adults served by HeartShare. Gifts were
donated by 18 individuals, businesses
and community organizations to
spread holiday cheer. Additionally,
$2,000 was collected and used to
purchase gifts for older teenagers in
our Foster Care Program. For many
of the children and adults, these were
the only presents they received this
holiday season. HeartShare extends its
deepest appreciation to everyone who
contributed!
FOLLOW HEARTSHARE
ON TWITTER
ARE YOU ON TWITTER?
HeartShare is. Stay up to date
by following at www.twitter.com/
heartshare.
LIKE HEARTSHARE
ARE YOU ON FACEBOOK?
HeartShare is. Like us on Facebook
and stay up to date on news and
events, view photos and videos,
and hear from program participants.
Go to www.facebook.com/
heartshare.
w w w. h e a rt sh a re . o rg
7
Everyday Heroes—
DO YOU WANT TO
RECEIVE E-MAIL UPDATES
FROM HEARTSHARE?
SUBSCRIBE TODAY AT
WWW.HEARTSHARE.ORG!
Albert Gaydos
Thomas J. Cuite Residence
More than two years ago, Albert began working at the
Cuite Residence in the Woodside section in Queens, NY.
He had previously worked at a day program for adults with
developmental disabilities and was referred to HeartShare
by a friend. One of the residents that he first met in the
house was Vinnie who is non-verbal but able to communicate through a device.
Early on, Albert realized how anxious and upset Vinnie
would become when it was time to shower. Just the loud
sound of the shower water would change his mood, almost
as if he was afraid of getting in the shower. Wanting to ease
this fear and upsetting situation for Vinnie, Albert had the
idea of giving Vinnie a bath in place of a shower. Vinnie
was apprehensive in the beginning but slowly over time
began to enjoy taking baths and no longer became anxious
or afraid of bathing himself. Now, Albert can’t get the bath
tub filled quickly enough for Vinnie!
Last summer, Albert and Vinnie went to a Brooklyn
Cyclones game at MCU Park. For Vinny, who generally
does not like noises and distractions, it was a wonderful day.
He enjoyed being outside and watching the other spectators and the baseball game.
For Vinnie, Albert’s suggestion of taking a bath had
improved his life in immeasurable ways. Now, a daily task
is an enjoyable experience instead of a fearful one. Albert
is an “Everyday Hero” and has truly made a difference in
Vinnie’s life.
HEARTSHARE appreciates
the generous support of
individuals, corporations
and foundations. You may
not need our services, but
19,000 New Yorkers do.
Albert has helped Vinnie
overcome a fear and
improve his life.
EVERYDAY HEROES
recognize the contributions that direct support professionals make in
the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities--particularly in
being part of their local communities. Community inclusion is all about
assisting individuals in making personally meaningful connections and
in forming relationships with people who are not disabled.
8
H E A R TS H AR E : H AP P E N IN G S
HeartShare is proud that nearly
90% of every dollar of revenue goes
to its programs. There are a number
of ways you can help HeartShare
assist 19 ,000 children and adults:
WAY S T O C O N T R I B U T E :
Volunteers Make Family Day Special
Sixty-eight students from three of
HeartShare’s First Step Early Childhood
Programs came together to kick-off the
new school year and celebrate Family
Day. On September 29, students and their
families made Spin Art, played games like
Bean Bag Toss and a Fishing Game, were
entertained by Omar the Magician, made
goodie bags, decorated visors, and were
treated to a visit from Elmo.
“None of this fun could have happened
without the wonderful volunteers from
St. John’s University’s Women’s Track
and Field team,” said Dianne Cattrano,
Director of the Cuomo First Step Early
Childhood Center. “We truly appreciate
all the volunteers who helped make this a
special day for our families.”
HeartShare’s
First
Step
Early
How You Can Help
HeartShare
Standard Contribution:
Leave a Legacy:
You may mail a check, call
with a credit card, donate stock,
or give online.
You may continue to support
HeartShare’s programs through
your will, a charitable gift
annuity or a gift of life insurance.
Through your will, you may leave
all or a portion of your estate to
HeartShare. With a charitable gift
annuity, you receive an income for
life, and the remaining balance of
the donation goes to HeartShare.
HeartShare Human Services
of New York
Public Affairs Office
12 MetroTech Center, 29th Floor,
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 422-3210
www.heartshare.org
Tax ID#: 11-1633549
HeartShare truly appreciates the help students from
St. John’s University provided at Family Day!
Childhood Centers provide students
3 to 5 years old with an intellectual or
developmental disability a supportive
learning environment. They offer special
education services in a classroom setting
and additional therapies are available if
needed. The Universal Pre-Kindergarten
Program is available to all 4 year old
students and helps prepare children for
kindergarten. HeartShare’s programs help
children get the best possible start in life.
Make a Memorial or
Tribute Gift
A wonderful way to honor a family
member or friend is to make a gift
in memory of or in tribute to him
or her. Tribute gifts may be made
for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, in place of holiday gifts, or
for any other purpose. Whatever
the reason, you can feel good that
your gift is twice given—once to
honor your dear one and second to
help those in need.
Matching Gifts:
Your Target Card:
Shop iGive.com:
This is an opportunity to double
your contribution to HeartShare.
Be sure to check with your
company or organization to
determine if it has a Matching
Gift Program. Often, your Human
Resources Department can assist
you with this. Complete the form
and mail it to HeartShare.
If you have a Target Visa, Target
Card or Target Check Card, The
HeartShare School can benefit
from your purchases. Up to 1%
of your purchases will be donated
to The HeartShare School. Visit
target.com/tcoe and designate
The HeartShare School as your
beneficiary.
Shop at this online mall of more
than 700 stores and a percentage of your purchase is donated
to HeartShare. Simply select
HeartShare Human Services as
your Cause when you register and
shop ‘til you drop!
HEARTSHARE HUM AN SERVI CES OF NEW YORK • W I NTER 2013
NEW VIDEOS ADDED
TO YOUTUBE
Did you know HeartShare
has a channel on YouTube?
It does! New videos were
recently added, and more
are in production, to give
viewers a better understanding
of HeartShare’s available
programs and services. Be
sure to visit www.youtube.
com/heartshareny to
see what’s happening at
HeartShare.
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