Centerpoint Summer 2015 - Mary Cariola Childrens Center

Centerpoint
A Newsletter for Friends of Mary Cariola Children’s Center
SUMMER 2015
Annual Dinner “Spreads the News”
W
ith so much happening on the
Mary Cariola campus and in
its residential homes, it was
quite fitting that attendees at the
66th Annual Dinner were treated to a
news-themed evening complete with
Agency updates, social media tweets
and posts, selfie photos and the presentation of our 2015 award winners.
The good news continued with the
debut of MCNN: the Mary Cariola News
Network, where student reporters and
news anchors shared the Agency’s top
news during a 10-minute broadcast.
More than 200 people attended the
event to celebrate with community
supporters who have made an impact
at the Agency.
The Rochester Press-Radio Club received the Community Partner Award
for their decades of philanthropic contributions that have enabled the Agency
to purchase classroom supplies, support
the Camp Cariola program and sponsor
the Agency’s fundraising events.
The DiGiovanni family was presented the Family of the Year Award. For
the past 10 years, this Pittsford family
has supported the Agency in many
ways. Since 2004, children Jack and
Ashlyn have held birthday parties and
asked friends to bring a gift that would
be donated to Mary Cariola. Parents
Chris and Larry have donated auction
items for the gala and golf tournaments, while Chris served on the committees for both events. Chris said,
“Mary Cariola has given us so much
more than we have given them.”
Special Education Teacher Liz Gould
was announced as the winner of the
TOP: Vice Principals Jessica Schoonerman, Earl Farber, Sarah Peters and Julie
Matukewicz enjoyed themselves at the annual dinner. ABOVE LEFT: Chris, Jack
Ashlyn and Larry DiGiovanni were honored with the Family of the Year Award.
ABOVE RIGHT: Agency President Karen Zandi presents Liz Gould with the Paul
C. Scott / Mary Cariola Children’s Center Employee of the Year Award.
Paul C. Scott Mary Cariola Children’s
Center Employee of the Year Award.
Liz teaches in a busy Kindergarten-1st
grade classroom where students work
with multiple communication systems
and are provided with sensory activities throughout the day. Her students
are challenged with vision, hearing
and motor impairments. Liz was nominated by her peers and cited for her
commitment to her students, staff,
and families. She was recognized for
her ability to adapt and find creative
continued on page 3
Dear Friends,
In our last Centerpoint, I reflected on the importance of advocacy and how it helped
create the special place we now know as Mary Cariola Children’s Center. Mary Cariola
was one of the best known advocates of her time, fighting against the norm for the
educational rights of children with disabilities. With this in mind, I am delighted to mark
the 25th anniversary of the passage of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. The Act
prohibits discrimination and guarantees people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone
else to participate in the main stream of American life.
Last month, 25 students graduated from our school age program, completing their Mary Cariola educational experience. Individuals with disabilities are entitled to a “free and appropriate education” up to
the age of 21. Recognition of their accomplishments was enthusiastic and heartwarming as we reflected on their achievements and future steps.
The 853 Coalition of Schools is comprised of 40 state-wide agencies that
provide services to school-aged children involved in the foster care, juvenile
justice and special education systems. One important aspect of advocacy among
the 853 Coalition is to ensure that our students are entitled to the same
services and ‘extras’ that are afforded students who attend public schools.
As Vice Chair of the 853 Coalition, I am committed to continued advocacy for
our students through sharing information with those in the legislature who can
influence funding decisions. Through the many changes in the Office for People
with Developmental Disabilities system, we continue to be creative in the design
of new services through understanding the needs of those we serve, while focusing on the removal of barriers and the empowerment of people.
Over the past few months Assemblyperson Harry Bronson, and Bob Duffy,
former Mayor of the City of Rochester and current president of the Rochester
Business Alliance, have toured Mary Cariola. Plans are in the works for NYS
Senator Rich Funke to visit as well. We are also in ongoing contact with NYS Senator Joe Robach and
Assemblyperson Joe Morelle, both of whom admire and support the work we do. We remain grateful to
all for their work on behalf of the children, youth and families we serve.
However, as reported in last month’s Democrat and Chronicle, more work needs to be done to support
families with children and youth with intellectual disabilities, especially those in need of residential
placement. Residents have waited for placement for as long as ten years. Caregivers are aging and the
acute needs of their children are uncertain. Local advocate and Mary Cariola parent Pat Muir, who heads
Family Advocates United, is on the front line working to obtain appropriate funding for residential
services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We honor and support her hard
work. If you would like to be included in their contact list to receive action alerts about pending
legislation and public forums, please contact Pat at familyadvocatesunited@aol.com.
I ask for your continued support for the work we are doing on behalf of the children, youth and
families we serve . . . they deserve our very best. I welcome your advice and counsel and also invite you
to visit Mary Cariola Children’s Center. It is indeed a wonderful place.
Happy Summer!
President/CEO
2
Centerpoint
Centerpoint is published three
times a year for students, parents,
donors and friends of Mary Cariola
Children’s Center and is produced
by the Agency Advancement
Department.
Editor: Joanne Fisher
Contributors & Photography: Mel Carpino, Amanda
Eggleston, Linda Henning, Fred Henry, Kathy Howe,
Amelia Mounts, Jean Peyton, Emily Smith, Karen Zandi.
Layout: Dave Danglis / Pinwheel Creative
Walking on Sunshine 2015
. . .we can only shine because of you!
M
ary Cariola’s annual fundraising event, Walking on
Sunshine, has become the
highlight of the year for Agency
staff, families, and friends. The
Agency continues to be inspired by
the overwhelming support of the
community and the Walk’s ability to
team-build and bring friends together.
The Agency appreciates the support
of community partners who continue
to help plan and grow this event.
Marlene Dattilo, Partner at Keystone
Capital Partners Group, is a friend of
the Agency who has been involved
with the Walk for six years. She started as a member of the Raffle subcommittee, and is now one of this
year’s Co-Chairs of the full Walking on
Sunshine Committee. When Marlene
was asked why she continues to volunteer, she said, “My husband Sam and I
are always so impressed with the level
of caring, creative and talented staff
that assist a population of children
that need our attention. We really
have enjoyed the friendships we are
making; it’s not volunteering, it’s
hanging out with our friends.”
More than 1,400 participants raised
$152,250 last year. The money raised
at this event is unrestrictred and covers non-reimbursable services such as
social work, music therapy and technology. For example, the Agency has
used Walk dollars to purchase a num-
2015 Walking on Sunshine
ine
WE are sunsh
Sunday, September 27, 2015 • Ontario Beach Park
Registration 9:30; Opening Ceremony 10:15
Family Activities, Face Painting, Healthy Snacks,
Live Music, Team Mascots, Team Photos,
Celebration Lunch, Silent Auction and Raffles
www.crowdrise.com/WalkingonSunshine2015
Dan Guilfoyle accepts the Community
Partner Award on behalf of the
Rochester Press-Radio Club.
Annual Dinner, from page 1
ways of positively impacting her students and staff. Her colleagues
described her as “dedicated; collaborates well with others; shows leadership skills; is compassionate, innovative, resilient, and optimistic; shows
integrity; and is confident and always
willing to extend herself to others.”
Agency President Karen Zandi
shared Agency updates from each
department, recognized employees of
the month, milestone anniversary
employees, and retirees. She introduced the “MCNN Nightly News
Report,” where students served as
ber of iPads and apps that enhance
the communication skills of many
students. You can help the Agency
reach this year’s goal of $160,000 by
creating a team or making a donation
at www.crowdrise.com/Walkingon
Sunshine2015.
Many thanks to major sponsors who
have already committed in 2015:
Smola Consulting, QCI Asset Management, Upstate Systems, Rochester
Clinical Research and media sponsor
News 8 WROC.
For information on sponsorship
opportunities, gifts-in-kind support
and auction donations, contact Emily
Smith at esmith@marycariola.org or
585-271-2897 ext. 1622
•
news anchors, reporters and sportscasters, and reported on stories
including the East River Road home,
the cooking program, and technology
in the classroom. The MCNN project
was filmed over three days which
allowed students the opportunity to
interview staff, read from
teleprompters, and edit their news
copy while filming each segment.
“Great things are happening at Mary
Cariola,” Karen said. “As they say in
the news business . . . stay tuned!”
The 66th Annual Dinner was sponsored by Smola Consulting and the
Ames Amzalak Memorial Trust.
•
3
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Moments
Thanks to a grant from the Guido and
Ellen Palma Foundation, Cariola students
have visited local attractions where they
learn about connections between art and
the natural environment. Kaydesha
enjoyed her visit to the Dancing Wings
Butterfly Garden at The Strong.
Employees from Paychex, RIT, Hammer
Packaging, Harris Corporation and Xerox
worked on several improvement projects
at the Mary Cariola campus and three of
our residential homes as part of the
United Way Day of Caring.
4
Bob Duffy, former New York State Lt.
Governor and current President of the
Rochester Business Alliance, enjoyed meeting Devin and classroom staff during a
recent Agency tour.
Mary Cariola’s Community Services Department held their Employee Appreciation
Brunch, where milestone anniversaries
were celebrated and each of the
residences announced its 2015 MVPs.
Welcome to Comm Town! The Speech
Department shows off their new Communications Community where individual and
small group speech therapy sessions are
held. Each office has its own theme to
make speech lessons more fun, including a
post office, a movie theater, a bakery, ice
cream stand, pizza parlor and even a book
store! Thanks to Builders Exchange of
Rochester for helping secure a portion of
building supplies.
MCNN anchorman Josue reviews copy for
the nightly news report which was “broadcast” during the Agency’s Annual Dinner.
Mary Cariola employees are enjoying FREE
weekly Health and Wellness classes as part
of the Agency’s Wellness initiatives.
Strength Training, Meditation, Zumba and
Yoga are offered.
Candace and her family made a night of
memories at the 2015 Mary Cariola Prom.
The “Fire and Ice” theme provided some
colorful backdrops for photos and dancing.
Thanks to Mirror Show Management and
Wegmans for their support.
5
OFFICERS:
MARK ARMBRUSTER
Board Chair
President, Armbruster Capital Management
Joined the Board in 2009
PAT LARRABEE, NP
Board Vice Chair, Treasurer
Chair of Audit and Finance Committees
CEO, Rochester Clinical Research
Joined the Board in 2009
JASON R. HALL
Assistant Treasurer
Director of Corporate Development,
Benefit Resource, Inc.
Joined the Board in 2014
JOHN M. BARR
Secretary
Chair of Agency Advancement Committee
Partner, Blue Lake Associates
Joined the Board in 2010
BOARD MEMBERS:
MIKE ARMBRUSTER
Associate Consultant, Cornerstone Advisors
Joined the Board in 2013
MATT BAILEY
President, Global Gateway, LLC
Joined the Board in 2010
MARY BOWE*
Regional Vice President of Sales,
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
Joined the Board in 2015
JAMES E. DEVOE
Chair of Governance Committee
President/CEO, Seniorsfirst
Joined the Board in 2005
RICHARD FINLEY*
CFO, Buckingham Properties
Joined the Board in 2015
MALINDA GASKAMP
Chair of Building and Facilities
Senior Landscape Architect and
Managing Leader, Stantec
Joined the Board in 2001
MICHELLE L. HALLORAN
Director of Human Resources and
Corporate Compliance,
eHealth Technologies, Inc.
Joined the Board in 2010
SUSAN HETHERINGTON
Associate Professor and Director,
Strong Center for Development Disabilities,
University of Rochester
Joined the Board in 2012
BARRY JENCIK, CPA
Partner, Greendyke Jencik & Associates
CPAs, PLLC
Joined the Board in 2013
WILLIAM L. MACK
Executive Vice President,
LeChase Construction Services
Joined the Board in 2013
6
FRANK MAGNERA
Account Director, Catalyst
Joined the Board in 2011
Honoring all Mary
Cariola Board Members!
M
ary Cariola’s Board of Directors the Agency’s presence in the community and in the generation of imporis a group of passionate and
committed advocates with skill tant funds to enhance the programs
and services we
sets from a variety
offer. They are
of fields. From
often unseen and
CEO’s to CPA’s to
away from the
College Professors
everyday life of
to Human Resources
Mary Cariola, but
experts to Attorneys
beyond our doors
at Law, each memthey sing the praisber brings a unique
es of each staff
lens through which
member and
they view the chalteacher who make
lenges and opportupossible our lifenities at Mary
changing work.
Cariola.
Our Honorary
Most Board memBoard member Will Mack (right)
Board Members also
bers serve on one of
discusses Agency updates with
advocate in the
the nine Agency
Jim D’Anza at the Board Reunion.
community on
committees that
behalf of Mary Cariola and advise staff
match their areas of expertise and
members on particular issues as needdive into projects that utilize their
ed. We thank these talented individuals
knowledge and understanding of their
. . . Howard Berman, Frederick Tee
professional fields.
Boon, James Grossman, Kate Lyon,
The Board plays an integral role in
JEFFREY McCORMACK, CFA
Managing Director, IP.com
Joined the Board in 2014
LINDA MILLER
Chief Strategic Development Officer,
Hillside Family of Agencies (Retired)
Joined the Board in 2014
MARIE E. O’HORO
Associate Commissioner, OMRDD (Retired)
Joined the Board in 2014
MARY OVERFIELD
Parent Liaison
Joined the Board in 2013
JO ELLEN PINKHAM
Chair of Human Resources Committee
AVP for Human Resources, Nazareth College
Joined the Board in 2011
RENU SINGH*
CEO, UR Medicine Employee Wellness Program
Joined the Board in 2015
MIKE STACHURA*
CFO, Arnold Magnetic Technologies
Joined the Board in 2015
LYNN SULLIVAN
CEO, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Joined the Board in 2013
FRONT ROW: Linda Miller, Mike Osborn, Jeff McCormack, Jim DeVoe, Mark
Armburster, Marie O’Horo. SECOND ROW: Kate Lyon, Mary Bowe, Susan
Hetherington, Will Mack, Richard Finley, Pat Larrabee, Jo Ellen Pinkham, Jason
Hall, Barry Jencik, Karen Zandi, Malinda Gaskamp, Michelle Halloran, Rob
Vigdor, Mary Overfield. NOT PICTURED: Mike Armbruster, Matt Bailey, John
Barr, Frank Magnera, Renu Singh, Mike Stachura, Lynn Sullivan, Joe Tobin.
Mike Osborn, Mark Siewert, Diane
BOARD TRANSITIONS
Syta and Justin Vigdor who continue
Jim DeVoe, President/CEO of Seniorsto serve as valuable ambassadors of
first, has served as the Chairman of
the Agency.
the Board of
Past and present
Directors since July
Mary Cariola Board
2012 and has seen
Members gathered
the Agency through
in April at the
significant growth
Country Club of
and transition,
Rochester to share
particularly in the
their love of the
search for Mary
Agency and to hear
Cariola’s current
how they have
President/ CEO,
helped change the
Karen Zandi, followlives of so many
ing Paul Scott’s
children and youth
retirement in 2012.
in our community.
Jim will pass the
We thank them all
Board leadership
M AYA A N G E L O U
for their time and
role to Mark
many talents! Mary
Armbruster, and
Cariola Children’s Center is fortunate take on the role of Governance Chair.
to have this group of community
In this role, Jim will evaluate and
leaders—advocating on behalf of the
appraise Board organization, operaAgency, and the children and youth
tion, membership, personal gift
it serves!
support and attendance.
Nothing can
dim the light
which shines
from within.
•
JOSEPH TOBIN
Chair of Corporate Compliance Committee
Branch Manager, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Joined the Board in 2010
ROBERT M. VIGDOR
Corporate Counsel
Attorney, Lacy Katzen, LLP
Joined the Board in 1982
HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS:
HOWARD BERMAN
Chair, Center for Community Engagement,
St. John Fisher College
Joined the Honorary Board in 2015
JAMES GROSSMAN, Esq.
Partner, Hiscock & Barclay, LLP
Joined the Board in 1982
KATE LYON
Chief Compliance Officer,
Lyon Capital Management, LLC
Joined the Board in 2001
MICHAEL OSBORN
Managing Director, Catalyst
Joined the Board in 1997
MARK R. SIEWERT
Owner, Siewert Equipment Co. (Retired)
Joined the Board in 1986
DIANE SYTA
CFO, Holy Childhood
Joined the Board in 1986
FREDERICK TEE BOON
Administrator in the Health & Science Div.;
Eastman Kodak Co. (Retired)
Joined the Board in 1982
JUSTIN VIGDOR
Senior Counsel, Bond Schoeneck & King
Joined the Board in 1957
*New Board Member
7
Agency friends raise funds
and awareness
T
he Agency is grateful to many
community organizations, individuals and friends who support
Mary Cariola by selecting us as the
charitable recipient of their events or
programs.
If you’re planning a dance-a-thon,
garage sale, volleyball tournament,
car wash, etc., and you’d like to
choose Mary Cariola as the charitable
recipient of your event, let us know!
We are always looking for the next
third-party fundraiser!
These groups have already supported Mary Cariola through a third-party
fundraiser. Thanks to . . .
• Reeds Jenss Jewelers and their
Embrace the Difference jewelry
line . . . donors have designated
over $3,000 to the Agency since the
program began.
• Jenny and Paul Wheeler, who
organized a 5K run in their neighborhood. Fifty people participated
and Mary Cariola received $700.
8
• The Son of Fools Open, for holding
their annual golf tournament, which
has generated thousands of dollars
for the Agency over the years.
• The Harley School, for sponsoring a
music recital featuring soloists and
small ensembles from the Harley
Music Program; $296 in donations
were accepted.
• Breathe Yoga, for sponsoring a Pay-ItForward Kindness Class that generated $700 to benefit Mary Cariola.
• Financial Architect employees, for
paying to wear jeans at work and
donating those profits to Mary
Cariola.
• The ROC City Roller Derby, who
sponsored Mary Cariola night at one
The Agency continues to benefit
from your support of Amazon
Smile and Target Red Card
purchases as well as your
donations of Box Tops for
Education and Campbell’s
Soup Labels.
of their Spring bouts and donated
$204 to the Agency.
• The Alfred State Drama Club’s
Spring Performance, that benefitted Mary Cariola with a $600 check.
• The annual Victor Poker Tournament, which has generated thousands of dollars for the Agency. This
year’s poker players won big, but
Mary Cariola was the bigger winner
receiving a check for $474.
• Agency friend Mike Haney, for sponsoring the Caring for a Cause golf
tournament to benefit Mary Cariola
on July 27 at Ridgemont Country
Club. You can join the fun and sign
up as an individual or foursome at
www.marycariola.org.
If you’d like to make Mary Cariola
the charitable recipient of your event,
please contact Director of Agency
Advancement, Mel Carpino, at
mcarpino@marycariola.org, or 585271-0761 ext. 1633.
•
Remembering
Friends
Carter was an adorable little boy with
the most brilliant blue
eyes. He captivated all
who knew him with his
adorable cheeks and his
dapper clothes. He will
be remembered for his
love of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
and the lasting impression on all who
spent time with him.
Teagan was a happy, loving, active girl.
She taught herself how to
walk, run, and dribble a
ball. She enjoyed sitting
on an adult’s lap, reading
her favorite book, eating
lunch, and dribbling her
‘Frozen’ ball. We miss her smile, her
“love pats” on the head and her occasional hugs and kisses. We think of her
often and miss her every day.
When anyone who knew him talks of
Koriyone . . . they smile.
He was sweet and funny
and a good friend. When
he smiled, the room lit
up. He loved his music
and videos (especially
“Let it Go,” “Happy,” or anything
Minion). Kori will truly be remembered as our sweet, sweet boy.
Norm Knapp was a special friend to
the students and staff at
Mary Cariola Children’s
Center. He was a loyal
donor, active volunteer
and special friend. As the
Director of Security at
the Elmwood Campus, he always
showed a very special concern for the
safety of our students.
Bob Quist was a great friend of the
Agency. He embraced
the work done by the
Cariola staff, and was a
longtime supporter and
faithful participant at
Agency events: Grandparents Day, Walking on Sunshine, and
the Golf Tournament.
•
Josiah proudly shows off his Preschool Graduation certificate.
Class Acts:
Congratulations to the
Class of 2015
T
Plenty of Pomp and Circumstance
hree ceremonies, seventy five
graduates and hundreds of
smiles later, the Class of 2015
has officially started their next
adventure. Mary Cariola’s Preschool
Program graduated 50 preschoolers
while the School Age program said
farewell to 25 graduates last month.
Half of this year’s Preschool graduates will return to their home
school district in the Fall and the
remaining will move up the hallway
to the Agency’s School Age Program.
The School Age graduation is
always an emotional ceremony since
many of the graduates have attended Mary Cariola for the past 18
years. One graduate will attend
Project SEARCH (which prepares students for competitive employment
through classroom instruction and
hands-on training) while other graduates will attend adult programs.
“We congratulate all our graduates,” said Agency President Karen
Zandi. “For those that remain with us,
we will work tirelessly to discover
your lifelong potential and for those
who return to their home schools or
move on to other programs, please
know that you’ll always be part of
the Mary Cariola family and we are
proud to call you alumni!”
•
New Recuiting
Specialist announced
The Human Resources Department is
pleased to announce that Wayne
Wiggs has joined the
Agency as Recruiting
Specialist. In this role,
Wayne will coordinate
all aspects of staff
recruitment and hiring
to ensure that the recruiting programs are consistent with the
Agency’s commitment to being an
equal opportunity employer. Wayne
lives in Spencerport and is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University.
•
9
East River Road Open House
TOP: Karen Zandi thanks Malinda
Gaskamp for her support.
BOTTOM: K.C. Burritt and Rob Vigdor
take a tour of the new home.
Community leaders, state representatives, families and friends gathered
recently to dedicate Mary Cariola’s sixth residential home. The six bedroom home located in West Henrietta features 3,700 square feet of living
space, including a recreational area, a spacious living room, and an outdoor patio. ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Kirk Maurer, Western NY Director of
OPWDD; Agency President Karen Zandi; East River Road Resident Moezella;
State SenatorJoe Robach; Bernie Iacovangelo, President of Faber Homes.
Bon Appétit with
Cariola Cookbook
“This past spring my 17 year old son
received the In the Kitchen with
Mary’s Kids cookbook as a birthday
gift. The recipes
include listing all
the tools and
ingredients needed and follow
with simple, stepby-step instruction. Every recipe we
have tried so far has been delicious!
“Thank you for taking the time to
put together such a useful cookbook.
Mary Cariola’s In the Kitchen with
Mary’s Kids has and will continue to
help my son develop greater independence and confidence in the
kitchen.” — Karen Warfle
Let’s get cooking! Order your copy
at www.marycariola.org
10
“Keep Calm and Cariola On”
Vandals broke into the Elmwood
Campus in May. Damage was contained to the Preschool area, but
residue left from a discharged fire
extinguisher caused the cancellation
of school for a day. A professional
service thoroughly cleaned the
area to ensure a healthy and safe
environment.
“Our dedicated staff also assisted
that day and pitched in to clean
equipment and classroom supplies
that were affected,” said Agency
President Karen Zandi. “The support
from the Rochester community was
uplifting as many people and organizations reached out to assist us.”
•
“I Appreciate . . .”
Increased donors
boost Annual Giving
dollars
IT Specialist Tom Peterson resolves a Help Desk ticket with Finance Director
Irene Magee.
IT Help Desk: only a click away
Mary Cariola’s Information Technology
Help Desk has been operational since
February and has fielded and resolved
more than 600 staff requests for assistance with technology issues involving
anything from hardware to Smart
Boards, to software, to log in issues
and network connections.
The Help Desk was established to
centralize requests for IT support and
resolve them in the order of importance. Users enter their concern online and choose the level of urgency
to resolve the issue.
In addition, the IT Department
helps staff feel more confident about
their own technology skills as they
respond to individual requests for help.
Information Technology Manager
Bridget Borsa is pleased with the
implementation and feedback she has
received as a result of the new system.
“Staff has had a positive response
and acceptance of the new system
and it has moved us closer towards a
couple of our major goals for the
department and the Agency,” Bridget
said. “We will continue to provide
efficient, ongoing support while continuing to encourage a more technologically self-sufficient environment
down the road.”
Congratulations to Terri Chapin and
Karen Strothmann on their combined
60 years of service to Mary Cariola as
they retire from the Agency.
Education Supervisor Terri Chapin
retired in January and moved to
Hertford, North Carolina.
Terri had a long and productive career and was
instrumental in establishing many educational
programs at the Elmwood
and East Henrietta campuses.
We are fairly certain that Adapted
Physical Education Teacher Karen
Strothmann has taught 48,000 gym
classes. Karen has retired
after 30 years with the
Agency. During that time
she introduced creative
and fun gym activities
such as wheelchair
square dancing and reindeer games in
order to include students of all abilities.
She was instrumental in establishing
and planning the annual Holiday Extravaganza and Spring Talent Shows.
•
Going to the head of the class
•
Mary Cariola’s Annual Giving Campaign
saw a 12% increase in donors from the
previous year.
The theme of the campaign centered on the accomplishments in
classrooms and residences and featured a story about Moezella, a new
member of the Mary Cariola residential family. The progress she has made
during the past six months is encouraging and heartwarming. She is quick
to acknowledge that her success is a
result of her East
River Road staff.
“We know that
charitable giving
is on the rise
after several
years of our economic downturn,” said Mary
Ellen (Mel)
Carpino, Director of Agency
Advancement. “We are thankful to
these new and returning donors and
are humbled by their support of the
great work that happens every day at
Mary Cariola.”
The annual appeal is nearing its
record setting goal of $150,000. More
than 12,000 direct mail pieces were
sent during the past 12 months followed up by social media reminders
and electronic communication to help
reach the goal. Donations to the
Annual Giving Campaign can still be
made at www.marycariola.org under
the How Can I Help tab.
•
On-line donations can always be
made at www.marycariola.org.
It’s a great way to honor a special
person in your life, remember a
milestone occasion, memorialize
a loved one or make a general
donation. Your gifts make a
world of difference to the students
and staff at Mary Cariola
Children’s Center. Thank you.
11
Mary Cariola Children’s Center
1000 Elmwood Ave., Suite 100
Rochester, NY 14620-3093
(585) 271-0761
www.marycariola.org
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Please contact Emily Smith
with your changes:
esmith@marycariola.org
or phone 271-0761 ext. 1662.
Thank you.
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Join us for the Mary Cariola Children’s Center
2015 Walking on Sunshine
SEPTEMBER
27,
2015
•
ONTARIO
BEACH
PARK
Registration at 9:30 am
Opening Ceremony at 10:15 am
Funds raised benefit the children and youth who
are served by the educational and residential
programs at Mary Cariola Children’s Center.
Create a team and fundraise online at
crowdrise.com/WalkingonSunshine2015
Thanks to our major sponsors:
Smola Consulting
Benefit and Wellness Consultants
WE are sunshine