Summer 2008 - Franziska Racker Centers

Outlook
Creating Opportunities for People with Special Needs
INSIDE this issue
2 Conversation "60"
On the meaning of sixty years
3 News
Jaydn McCune recognized
Marcy Luffman honored
William Earl's photography
displayed
4 Spotlights
The Circle of Courage at
work in people's lives
5
The Centers Section
The Centers turns 60-Part 2
·An advocate speaks
·The Celebration is underway
Parent's Perspective:
Part 2 of the roller-coaster ride
10 Making Friends
Thank you, Business Partners!
Funding options for gifts
11 Making It Happen
First Book Cornell gives
students gift of reading
Ithaca Sertoma Club donates
money for laptops
QUARTERLY
SUMMER 2008
the
Wild Cards
I    F R C
family support coordinator suggesting that some
of the men receiving services in the Cortland area
who were not currently enrolled in any other
Two Wild Cards enjoying arm wrestling at their first event
socialization program might benefit from a men’s
social group. Input from service coordinators and families confirmed the need, and staff in the
Cortland Family Resource Program went to work to make it happen. At the first meeting of the
newly formed socialization group, the fellows who attended chose the program’s name. The group
would be known as “The Wild Cards.”
The first event was held in December at the Cortland Preschool and a group of about ten men
attended. They participated in activities like card games, board games and video games, and
enjoyed pizza while socializing. After the success of the first event, others were held, including a
dinner and movie night and a trip to the bowling alley.
Proving to be a success, the
Cortland Wild Cards will
continue to meet every six
weeks to provide the group
with opportunities for
socialization, skill building
and fun.
Conversation "60"
EDITOR/LAYOUT:
Costello Operating Solutions & Co, LLC
CONTRIBUTORS: Dawn Bricen,
Karin Burgess, Joan Costello, Jan Dyson,
Perri LoPinto, Roger Sibley, Jon Ulrich, Eric
Varden
Overheard in a café
in the Finger Lakes Region of New York
You folks at Franziska Racker Centers have been doing quite a bit
to celebrate your sixtieth anniversary. How’s it going?
Well, we’re still sixty.
What’s the big deal about sixty years? Last year you were fifty-nine and I
didn’t hear "boo."
I think it’s the ten fingers, so people find significance in one and two handed stuff.
Elephants, for example, have an arithmetic system based on one, for obvious reasons.
There is something about lasting that long. I suspect that not many delicatessens that
opened in 1948 are still around.
You all are telling a lot of history, talking about the courage of your founding families
in confronting and changing the perception of people with disabilities. Do you think that six
decades on, people have the same passion for change as they did then?
I had a geology professor, Rocky Parsons, who would take us out to the quarry to look at rocks. He
always said, “You can’t take everything for granite.” I do think we all have a tendency to forget the
struggles and sacrifices of many people, and just enjoy the fruits of their labors.
Executive Director: Roger R. Sibley
Medical Director: C. Philip Meyer, M.D.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Robert Bantle
Vice President: Mark G. Masler
Treasurer: George Schneider
Secretary: Rick Cowan
DIRECTORS
Eugene C. Erickson
Yvonne M. Everhart
James Jones
Phyllis Joyce
Dr. Jeffrey Lewis
Brian McAree
Kate O’Connell
John Rudd
Howard Schler
Christine Schweitzer
James E. Turner, Ph.D.
Robin Tuttle
James Willard
Emeriti Directors
David Dunlop
Sam Forcucci
Margaret Gibson
Tom Longin
Dan McNeil
Dave Palmer
Chuck Tompkins
F. Ben Williams
Associate Directors
Mission~ Our Mission is to help individuals, primarily those
with special needs, and their families, achieve their goals for
success and happiness. We do this by creating opportunities for
learning, having friends, making decisions and participating.
There is no question that things are better. The phrase in the Centers' Mission Statement about
opportunities is definitely true—that people with disabilities can participate, make choices, have
meaningful lives—in ways undreamed of when the Centers began.
That is absolutely true, and yet I grieve for opportunities missed, for the road not taken. Our
founders wanted to raise their children in caring and supportive communities. I’m not sure the
dream included a lifetime of Medicaid funded programs and services. Maybe we have to get
complicated before we can get simple.
What I have not seen in any of your publicity on “Celebrating Sixty” is a slogan, a catchy phrase
that sums up where Franziska Racker Centers is today. Anything coming in that regard?
When Warner Brothers celebrated an anniversary a few years ago, they focused on Bugs Bunny:
“Seventy-five years and only one gray hare.” For us, I don’t think the passage of time is that
important. People don’t live in decades, we live in moments. The deal about sixty years is not the
span, but the number of moments. The role of the organization is to facilitate those moments for
people to connect, for life to happen.
2
Dave Banfield
Carolyn Bartell
Sam Brewer
Karin Burgess
Daphne Cornell
John Crosby
Stephen Lipinski
Richie Moran
William Motsko
Sarah Rich, Ph.D.
Thomas J. Smith
Paul Steiger
Jeff True
Mark Weidman
Meghan Whalen
Tompkins County Sites
• Administration
3226 Wilkins Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850
Tel: 607.272.5891 Fax: 607.272.0188
• Clinic
1001 W. Seneca St., Ithaca, NY 14850
Tel: 607.277.8020 Fax: 607.277.7961
• TST BOCES
555 Warren Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850
Tel: 607.257.2353 Fax: 607.257.2510
Cortland County Sites
• 882 NYS Rt. 13, Cortland, NY 13045
Tel: 607.753.9375 Fax: 607.758.9287
• OCM BOCES
1710 NYS Rt. 13, Cortland, NY 13045
Tel: 607.758.5100 Fax: 607.753.9546
Tioga County Site
• 1277 Taylor Rd., Owego, NY 13827
Tel: 607.687.8929 Fax: 607.687.8153
News
J MC     “ O W Y S K”
by the Cayuga Radio Group, and honored at their spring Women's Expo 2008 as an individual
who "throughout her life has had a profound impact on people one person at a time!"
A member of Franziska Racker Centers' staff for five years, Jaydn is program coordinator
of the Lighthouse Classroom Program, a partnership between the Centers and TompkinsSeneca-Tioga BOCES that provides a short-term school alternative for kids experiencing
emotional trauma or crisis in their lives. She also directs the Possibilities Program, an extension
of Lighthouse that provides outreach and intensive intervention to kids in crisis who are best
served by remaining in their home classroom settings.
Photo by Robert Kaussner Photography
Lighthouse Classroom Program Director Recognized
Jaydn McCune
As a psychotherapist and author of the book Girls to Women, Women to Girls (Celestial Arts, 1998), Jaydn has led retreats and
workshops throughout the US, all of which have used creativity and music as avenues to personal growth and community building. A
performer in a variety of vocal ensembles and musical groups over the years, Jaydn is especially interested in the many ways in which
making music of all kinds helps us build community and enrich our lives.
Ithaca Resident's Photos Displayed
Owego Preschool Teacher Honored
Above Top: WEBO's Chris Schmidt presenting
Marcy with a trophy and gifts
Bottom: Marcy with her preschool class
M L,
a special education
teacher in
Franziska Racker
Centers’ Tioga
County Preschool
program, was
named January
2008 Teacher of
the Month by
WEBO News
Radio. Praised for
“keeping her spirits
up and working
many extra hours”
during two recent
preschool moves,
Marcy commented,
“I have a wonderful
staff, a great team
that I work with
who helped to keep
me going.”
“M 
in photography
began back in
December of
2005, when I
received my first
digital camera
as a Christmas
gift. Since then I
have taken photos
of everything
William Earl at the Ithaca Free Clinic
imaginable,"
writes William
Earl about his work. A member of Franziska Racker Centers’
Community Living Services Program, Bill's photography was
recently on display at the Ithaca Free Clinic, an agency that
offers free healthcare to the uninsured and under-insured.
"The photos I have taken are a reflection of both my
feelings and interests at the time, " Bill explains. "I also
like taking photos of my family and friends, and the
buildings and scenery of the Ithaca area. As I continue on
the path of photography, I am learning more about my
continued on page 9
continued on page 9
3
GENEROSITY
Spotlights
INDEPENDENCE
THE CIRCLE OF COURAGE AT WORK
BELONGING
MASTERY
The Circle of Courage is portrayed on the traditional Native American
medicine wheel as symbolizing the wholeness of life. The circle is broken
into quadrants representing four core values—belonging, mastery, independence and generosity—that represent basic human needs.
Executive Director Roger Sibley wrote in our last issue of Outlook that these values are "the ingredients of a ‘good life,’ a life filled
with meaning, joy and hope. We need to feel safe, that our basic needs will be taken care of. We need to feel capable, able to take care
of ourselves and do things. We need to feel in charge of our lives, able to make decisions and be responsible. And we need people who
care for us, people we can care for." The stories we share with you here show how the Circle of Courage, which Franziska Racker Centers
adopted in 1998, works in the daily lives of two of the people in our programs, and the staff who serve them.
MICHELLE
By Eric Varden, Levydale Team Director
Michelle, who resides at Franziska Racker Centers’ Levydale House, wanted to be
a volunteer. She identified this goal as a way to increase her sense of belonging, and
to exercise generosity by helping others in need. In her quest for this opportunity,
Michelle wrote letters and made phone calls to a number of locations to find an
environment that suited her goals and skills. There were many disappointments
due to her limited experience, but she continued to persevere. With the help
of Levydale Residence Counselor Bobbie Fox, Michelle was able to obtain the
opportunity to volunteer as an assistant at the Lamont Memorial Free Library in
McGraw, New York. The location fit Michelle’s ability and needs perfectly.
Michelle outside the library
DAVID
continued on page 9
By Jon Ulrich, Family Support Coordinator
With the help of his Franziska Racker Centers Community Support Staff
Mike Hennessy, David recently achieved success with a component of his
money management objective. His objective is written as follows: “David
would like to manage his money more independently by learning monetary
counting skills, how to pay for purchases, and how to save for larger items.”
A fan of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), David expressed to Mike
his desire to attend a Smack Down wrestling event in Elmira. This required
David to be conscientious with his expenditures and save the money he
earned through his job at Challenge, a vocational services organization that
David in his WWE T-shirt with Mike Hennessy
continued on page 9
4
The Centers Section
Advocacy
The Importance of
This article was derived from excerpts of a speech given by Karin Burgess—
mother, advocate and Friend of the Centers.
Advocacy for those
who are mentally retarded
and developmentally
disabled is not a new idea.
Almost sixty years ago, a
group of parents who were
frustrated by the lack of
available programs and
services for their children
founded what were then
called The New York State
Karin Burgess
Association for Retarded
Children and the National
Association for Retarded Children ("Citizens" now replaces
"Children" in the names of these two organizations).
a powerful incentive to try to do something to make these
conditions better.
There are numerous stages in the development of one who
finds himself—or herself—the parent of a child with special
needs.
• The first stage is denial: “There must be a misdiagnosis.”
• The next is anger: “Why did this happen to me? Why to
my child?”
• The final stage, and hopefully the one which we all will
achieve eventually, is acceptance: “What can I do, not only
for my own child, but for all those with similar needs?” We
who have come to this stage in our development find
ourselves in the role of advocate.
Many adages and trite expressions apply to the topic of
advocacy. “You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar,”
and, “Don’t use a cannon when a fly swatter will do,” are two
of my favorites. Another adage I hold dear is attributed to
Edmund Burke and says something to the effect that "the way
for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” The greatest
fear of people like me and others who have been active for a
long time is that there won’t be enough concerned, active and
vocal parents and caregivers to carry on when those of us who
have been involved in the earlier struggles are tired, retired
or dead. While we have come a very long way, we must never
take the improvement in services for granted and become too
comfortable and complacent. Vigilance is required, not only to
maintain what we have accomplished already, but to continue
to move forward.
Fortunately, we have seen many changes. Many of us were not
willing to accept purely custodial institutional care, and we
worked long and hard for the changes that we tend to take for
granted today. In thinking about progress, I would like to share
with you some personal experiences. My own mental images
included large institutions which were vastly overcrowded.
Rome State School in 1961 had a rated capacity of 2,700 and
a real population of 5,200. Newark State School was approved
for a capacity of 2,100 and had 3,800 in residence. Beds were
so close together that the care that was administered took
place from the head and foot of the bed because there was no
room to walk between the beds. Picture if you will and try to
imagine the smell and sounds of huge gymnasium-sized wards
populated in this manner. These visions and memories were
Karin Burgess has been an active and powerful force in the disability rights movement since the diagnosis of her son, Peter, with
Cerebral Palsy in 1957. Over the years she has served on more than a dozen boards and councils including the New York State Council
for Mental Hygiene Planning, the J.M. Murray Center and United Way for Cortland County. She also served on the New York State
Association for Retarded Children (NYSARC) board of directors until she was appointed Executive Director of the agency’s Cortland
chapter in 1978. She remained with NYSARC of Cortland until 1983 and continued her advocacy work with numerous other board
appointments and volunteer positions. Karin served on Franziska Racker Centers' board of directors from 2000 through 2007, and
remains an Associate Director for the agency to this day.
5
THE CELEBRATION IS UNDERWAY!
By Joan Costello, Freelance Writer
Franziska Racker Centers is "celebrating sixty." Special events are planned throughout the
year in Tompkins, Tioga and Cortland Counties. Here’s what’s happened so far this year!
Incorporation Celebration M 
F
or the Incorporation Celebration, staff and volunteers wore their special shirts and
celebrated with coworkers and program participants. Volunteers delivered special
commemorative gifts to the Centers’ community partners to thank them for their support.
At left, members of the Centers' team from Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES joined
in the fun by posing for a photo in their "Celebrating Sixty" shirts. Shown below are staff,
volunteers and preschool students celebrating sixty years of the Centers at Wilkins Road in
Ithaca.
Community Celebration in Cortland M 
“I
am so happy to be part of the
Centers’‘family,’” stated Senator
James L. Seward in his opening
remarks at Franziska Racker Centers'
Community Celebration in Cortland.
Emcee for the festive event, attended
by more than 200 staff, families and
friends of the Centers, was 2oo8 Board
President Bob Bantle. Senator Seward,
a long-term supporter of the rights
of people with disabilities, served as
2008 Board President
keynote speaker.
attending the man’s birthday party the following year. "I don’t see
why you shouldn’t be,” the man replied,“You look pretty healthy
to me.” At the age of sixty, Senator Seward asserted,“Franziska
Racker Centers looks pretty healthy to me.”
The senator outlined the history of the agency, beginning in the
1940s when people with special needs were either institutionalized
or kept at home. There were few supports, and access to therapies,
special education and basic opportunities for a fulfilling life were
“simply not available,” he said. Observing that it was the dream
of parents that gave birth to the Centers in 1948 as a group of
volunteers that raised funds to provide transportation to therapies
and diagnostic services, he remarked, "You've come a long way baby.
But even though there have been many changes, one thing has
remained constant: the agency’s mission to help people with special
needs achieve their goals for success and happiness by creating
opportunities for learning, having friends, making decisions and
Bob Bantle
Acknowledging the Centers’ long
history of service to the community, the senator recounted the
tale of a birthday party he attended for a 99-year old man. He
congratulated the elderly gentleman and said that he hoped to be
6
participating.” Noting that the Centers today employs nearly 200
people in the Cortland area and provides over 30,000 individual
services to hundreds of people with special needs and their families
each year, the senator
commented,“Creating
opportunities for people
with special needs is your
slogan. But every time
I see it, I can’t help but
think that it so much
more than a slogan—it
goes right to the core
of who you are. Your
mission is supported by
a vision of a world that
Senator James L. Seward
is welcoming to all, that
celebrates diversity and
invites each and every one of us to participate in the community in
which we live.”
Honored at this event
was soon to be retired
Judy Luyben, who has
helped agencies like the
Centers obtain funding
and develop many of
the services available
today. As Central NY
Developmental Services
Office Deputy Director– Executive Director Roger Sibley and Judy Luyben
Syracuse, Judy oversees
Service Coordination and Community Support throughout the
CNY area. Her help and support were key to initiating Cortland's
Family Support Services and Overnight Respite Program.“What
makes Judy unique and notable is that she has never lost sight of
people, kids, families, services in all of her roles, even when reaching
the highest administrative level,” says Director of Family Resources
Renie Petrovic.“She knew and kept in touch with people, knew
their names and situations, and understood their challenges."
He concluded by referring to the event’s invitation, which quoted
Warren Buffet as saying,“Someone is sitting in the shade today
because someone planted a tree long ago.” Senator Seward stated,
“We owe a great deal to the early pioneers, the parents and all those
who ‘planted trees.’ And new trees are being planted every day. This
organization has a very proud past. Because of this, you are giving
people bright futures with opportunities to fully participate in
society. For this, I say a big thank you.”
The Cayuga Wizards, led by Magician Mike Stanley, provided
entertainment, delighting the audience with illusions, magic and
charm. Started six years ago as a way to raise the self-esteem of
Mike's daughter, Michelle, who has Down syndrome, the troupe
has since grown to eleven adults—eight with Down syndrome, one
who is deaf and two with other physical limitations. Mike says that
a long-range goal of the group is to support themselves from the
fees they earn at their performances. Fun was had by all!
Photos of the Cortland Celebration by Robert Kaussner Photography
S  D
60th Anniversary Gala Picnic
Saturday, July 26: 11am-3pm
Wilkins Road, Ithaca
See back cover for details!
Celebrating Sixty Years in Tioga County
Thursday, October 9: 6-8pm
Treadway Inn, Owego
60th Anniversary Fall Celebration
Friday, November 7: 8am-10am
Celebrations, Ithaca
For more information call 607.272.5891 x.224
or email dawnB@rackecenters.org
Clockwise from top left, the Cayuga Wizards who participated in the
Cortland Community Celebration: 1-Annie and Jimmy; 2-Michael, Mike
Stanley and Kelley; 3-Michelle; 4-Kristen
7
The Centers Section
Parent's Perspective:
The Roller-coaster Ride: Part 2
In our last issue we introduced Part 1 of a 4-part
series written by guest columnist Jan Dyson
about her son, Jacob, who was born with cerebral
palsy or "CP." Jan described the experience
of having a child born with
special needs as "an
emotional roller-coaster
ride that no parent is
prepared to take." She
told of the confusion
surrounding Jacob’s
condition and her
paramount fear, that
Jan Dyson
he would die as a result
of it. Part 1 concluded with Jan coming to an
understanding of CP as she stated, “Whew, what
a relief, my son Jacob was going to live.”
Jan currently works for the Centers as a program
coordinator for The Family Resource Network,
providing advocacy to parents, and making
presentations on topics of interest to parents
who have a child with special needs. Jan and her
husband, Bob, make their home with their three
sons, Nicholas, Abram and Jacob, in Barton, NY.
THE GUILT Guilt is part of the roller-coaster
ride that gives us that lurching feeling in
our stomachs as we hurtle through selfrecrimination and other difficult emotions.
For me the guilt was that I must have done
something wrong for this to happen. When
I expressed this to one of Jacob's doctors he
said to me, “Mrs. Dyson, what did you do
differently in this pregnancy than you did
in the last two pregnancies?” I answered,
“Nothing. I have never smoked a cigarette or
taken an illegal drug. I drank an occasional
glass of wine, but never while I was pregnant.” The doctor responded, “There.
You have your answer. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
For other passengers on this ride, it hasn’t been easy either. My husband still
has not been able to let go of the anger and guilt over Jacob being born with
cerebral palsy. During the pregnancy he tried to convince the doctor that things
were not right. The doctor patted him on the back, and asked me what it would
take to convince my husband that I would be just fine. After all, I had my other
two boys right on their due date, and the doctor asserted that it would be the
same with this pregnancy. My husband’s guilt over not making the doctor
listen to him is real. In his mind, if he only could have made the doctor listen,
Jacob would not have been born with CP. My husband can go to work and fix
anything that breaks down. He can fix anything around the house that breaks
down. But this is something he cannot fix.
For our middle child, Abram, who already
has that "middle child syndrome," it has been
difficult as well. There was his older brother
who succeeded at everything he did, and
there was his younger brother getting all
of the attention. It was not that we treated
them any differently. It was just that Jacob
demanded so much of our time and energy.
With so many hospital stays and surgeries,
Jacob was in the hospital for one of Abe’s
birthdays. I remember Abe saying, “This
isn’t fair. Why do I have to have a birthday
party at Ronald McDonald House? Why
can’t I have a regular birthday party like my
The Dyson family are shown here when
friends?” To add to Abe’s feelings, there was
Jacob, now nine years old, was a baby.
the fact that with every surgery or hospital
From top left are: Nicholas, Jan, Bob,
stay, Jacob would be brought little gifts. Abe Jacob and Abram.
couldn’t understand why Jacob should get
the video game, the toys, the stuffed animals and the other little things that kept
him occupied and comforted him while he was hospitalized. Then there were
the items that looked to Abram like gifts but were really adaptive equipment,
such as walkers, standers and wheelchairs. Therapists coming in and out of
our house and paying attention to Jacob also seemed to Abram to be “special”
treatment. And while Abe was upset and even angry over it all, he was feeling
guilty for being jealous at the same time. He loves his brother very much. It was
just hard for him to understand.
Guilt is a very scary part of this roller-coaster ride. If we can let go of it, we can
start the climb to acceptance of circumstances that are beyond our control.
To be continued in our next issue…
8
Spotlights… from page 4
Michelle (continued)
Michelle now volunteers at the library every Friday, working to re-shelf the books
that have been taken out and returned. Initially, Michelle had some difficulty
determining where the books went. Shirley Helms, another residence counselor at
Levydale, is helping Michelle to develop her skills in this area.
The library provides many opportunities for Michelle to meet new people and
potentially develop new relationships. She already has been reintroduced to her
childhood babysitter, Julie Widger, who currently acts as her supervisor at the
library. Julie is a wonderful addition to Michelle’s circle of friends and both are
reaping the benefits of their relationship.
Michelle and Julie Widger
In her capacity as a volunteer at the library, Michelle provides an important service to the McGraw community, and is developing
valuable skills in organization and categorization as well. Michelle is expected to master these skills, thereby expanding her
potential to do further volunteer service. As people like Bobbie Fox, Shirley Helms and Julie Widger work with Michelle to realize
her goal, they are helping Michelle to improve her overall quality of life.
David (continued)
offers placement opportunities to individuals with special needs. Mike gave David a deadline he had to meet in order to
purchase tickets for the event, and David met the deadline without difficulty. With support and guidance, David was also
able to save money on top of the cost of his ticket to spend on concessions and souvenirs. Mike accompanied David to
the event, where they had seats right on the floor. David and Mike were both thrilled when one of the wrestlers “highfived” them. A second wrestler “high-fived” Mike only. “I still tease David about that,” Mike says.
Mike, who has worked with David since joining the Centers as a community support staff four years ago, has been a key
figure in helping David realize his dream, build skill sets and gain confidence through the attainment of this goal. Mike
says, “David has also learned to count money with me and how to make purchases independently, all part of his money
management goals. I enjoy working for the Centers because although I sometimes feel frustrated at not seeing results
right away, it is so rewarding to see an individual like David grow and progress.”
Teacher Honored… from page 3
Photos Displayed… from page 3
With the Centers' preschool now housed in Owego
Elementary School, Marcy says, “It doesn’t matter where
you are, you know what your goals are—working with the
kids and having fun. That has always been the same." Marcy
has been with the Centers for eight of her twelve years as a
teacher and says of her job, "I just love this age level. It’s very
rewarding to see the kids improve and grow and change."
natural surroundings, as well as the interesting aspects of
photography itself.”
In addition to enjoying photography, Bill is an avid reader, a
computer enthusiast and an electronic keyboard player. He
lives at Hook Place in Ithaca, one of the seventeen residences
operated by the Centers.
9
Making Friends
Your Gift Makes a Difference
and We Thank You!
When you become a Friend of the Centers, you help us
provide people with disabilities the services, supports and
opportunities they need to do the things that are important
to all of us: learn, have new experiences, enjoy friends and
family, and be contributing members of our communities.
Thank you
2007/2008
Business Partners
Funding Options
for your generous support and unfailing commitment
Unrestricted Annual Support allows us to respond to areas of
immediate need.
to the mission and vision of Franziska Racker Centers.
Bohn Family Fund created by Donna and Tom Bohn, provides
resources and supports for families with children having
special needs.
BorgWarner Morse TEC
Frances G. Berko Lectureship Fund created in memory of
Dr. Berko, the Centers’ executive director from 1964 to
1974, supports community education and professional
development for those working in the disability field.
Jeffrey J. & Mary E. Burdge Family Trust
Consulting Risk Associates, LLC
CRESP Center for Transformative Action
Frances V. Wilson Memorial Fund created by Margaret Gibson,
provides financial support for needed items not covered by
traditional funding sources.
CVS Pharmacy
Dryden Mutual Insurance Co.
Elks of New York State
Franziska W. Racker Memorial Fund created in memory of
our former medical director and the agency’s namesake,
supports early childhood services, an area that was dear to
Dr. Racker’s heart.
Emerson Power Transmission
Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library
Ithaca Plumbing Supply Co.
Richard M. Leavitt, M.D. Memorial Fund created by Judy Leavitt
and her sons, provides support for special experiences for
children and young adults with disabilities.
McNeil Development Co., LLC
NYS Office of Children & Family Services
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Scriber/Cash Family Fund created by Jody and Kent Scriber
and David and Lori Cash, supports community-based
experiences for preschool/elementary age children with
special needs.
Smith Charitable Trust
Tioga United Way
Tompkins Trust Company
Triad Foundation, Inc.
Tompkins Trust Company Bridge Fund supports otherwise
unfunded clinical services for children throughout the year.
United Way for Cortland County
For more information on making a donation to
Franziska Racker Centers
call Perri LoPinto at 607.272.5891 x.234 or
or email perri@rackercenters.org.
United Way of Tompkins County
Wegman’s Food Markets
Our Business Partners are donors
that make gifts of $1,000 or more.
~
United Way Member Organization
10
Making It Happen
First Book Cornell Gives the Gift of Reading to Students
By Dawn Bricen, Director of Public Relations
Borders Bookstore in Ithaca was the scene of great
excitement for fifty students from the Counseling for School
Success Turning Point program recently. Each had a $60 gift card
to spend, courtesy of First
Book Cornell, a nonprofit
organization that provides
funding for disadvantaged
youth to buy books. Upon
arrival, enthusiastic Cornell
volunteers and Borders
employees immediately
began to assist the kids with
finding books.
program.“The reality is that First Book Cornell is giving $3,000
worth of opportunity to our students.”
The Turning Point staff
used the entire experience as
a learning tool. Initially, the
A First Book Cornell Volunteer and a
students filled out a ‘petition’
student from the Turning Point program
explaining why they would
sharing a book at Borders Bookstore
be good candidates for the
excursion and what kind of books they would want to buy.“We
had them research which books they might like and also think
about what they could buy for a classmate that wasn’t able to come
on the field trip,” says Laura Havill, a teacher in the Turning Point
program.“This is such a great experience. Some of these kids have
never had the ability to buy a book for themselves,” commented
Mary Hutchens, Director of the Counseling for School Success
A nonprofit organization
committed to providing
the opportunity for youth
and families to read and
own their first new books,
First Book has provided
more than fifty million new
books to children in need in
thousands of communities
nationwide. For more
information about First
Book, visit www.FirstBook. A First Book Cornell Volunteer helping a
student pick out books at Borders
org or call 866.393.1222.
Counseling for School Success is a collaboration between
Franziska Racker Centers, Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES
and the local school districts to help young people with emotional
and behavioral needs through individual and group counseling,
proactive in-classroom treatment supports, and supported afterschool activities in the community. A subset of the Counseling for
School Success program, the Turning Point program is a licensed
day treatment program that works with youth who are referred by
their home schools. For more information about the Turning Point
program, visit www.rackercenters.org or call 607.257.2353.
Donation from Ithaca Sertoma Helps Therapists on the Road
By Perri LoPinto, Director of Community Relations and Development
Executive Director Roger Sibley accepting a
check from Ron Davenport, president of the
Ithaca Sertoma Club
The Ithaca Sertoma
(acronym for SERvice TO
MAnkind) Club, a longtime friend and supporter of
Franziska Racker Centers,
has stepped forward with a
generous gift of $2,000 to help
with our Technology Initiative
for our Clinic Without Walls.
The Centers employs more
than sixty-five therapists
that travel throughout a three-county area
to serve children at home and in their local
day-care centers and schools. These itinerant
therapists work out of their cars, traveling
from one child to the next to provide needed therapies. Keeping up
with the required paperwork and therapy notes can be a challenge
for these therapists, but with this wonderful gift from the Ithaca
Sertoma Club, we will be able to buy four more laptops for the
therapists to use while they are on their rounds. If you would like to
learn how you can help with the Technology Initiative for our Clinic
Without Walls, please call Perri LoPinto at 607.272.5891 x.234.
11
Be Our Guest! rain or shine !
60th Anniversary Gala Picnic
July 26, 2008 11am–3pm
Franziska Racker Centers
3226 Wilkins Road, Ithaca, NY
Come help us celebrate sixty years
of serving people with special needs.

Live Entertainment!
Including John Simon and the El Caminos!

Great food!

Activities for all ages! (face painting, field races,
bouncy hut, scavenger hunt, arts and crafts, bubble fun)
Faces of the Centers
Above: Preschool students from Owego Growing Years
play with snow at the sensory table wearing handknitted mittens that were donated to the class.
11:00–11:30Rusty James: Country rock duo with an edge 11:30–12:00Andy Russell: Children's songs with guitar
12:00–1:00 Blue Skies: Acoustic jazz standards
Bobo the Clown
1:00–2:00 John Simon: Musical entertainment for all ages
2:00–3:00 El Caminos: Danceable Americana/Alt-Country Mix
For more information call Dawn at 607.272.5891 x.224
or visit www.rackercenters.org.
Be Our Guest for the 60th Anniversary Gala Picnic! (see above)
and Save the Dates! for more events (see Page 7)
Outlook
Franziska Racker Centers
3226 Wilkins Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
www.rackercenters.org
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 780
Ithaca, NY 14850