and how heartshare makes it possible

Over a C
of Caring
InSights
HELPING CHILDREN AND ADULTS LEAD MEANINGFUL LIVES
SPRING 2015
IN THIS ISSUE:
Providing Inclusion
Opportunities for
Children and Adults
Diagnosed with
Disabilities
HeartShare
Happenings
How You Can Help
INCLUSION
AND HOW HEARTSHARE
MAKES IT POSSIBLE
Table of Contents
Inclusion: How HeartShare Makes It Possible.....................1
HeartShare Happenings........................................................4
How to Help........................................................Back Cover
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Paul J. Torre
Chairman
Robert Charles Golden
First Vice Chair
John T. Sharkey
Second Vice Chair
Michael J. Abatemarco, CPA
Treasurer
Salvatore A. Calabrese
Secretary
Joseph R. Benfante, Esq.
Joseph A. Caruana, DO
Nancy C. Cianflone
Craig A. Eaton, Esq.
The Reverend Patrick S. Flanagan, CM
Jonathan C. Goldstein, Esq.
Christopher G. Jones
Jim Kerr
Michael P. Kiley
Frank J. Maresca
Raymond J. Mollica, DPM
Terence Mullin
Kenneth P. Nolan, Esq.
The Reverend Thomas G. Pettei
Andrew T. Piekarski
Peter E. Pisapia, Esq.
Dennis W. Quirk
Anthony M. Riccio, Jr.
Rosanna Scotto
Christine E. Strehle
Roger G. Young
PUBLISHED BY
HeartShare Human Services
12 MetroTech Center, 29th Fl.
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 422-4200
www.heartshare.org
info@heartshare.org
Jennifer Reres
Director of Communications
Dylan Da Silva
Video Production Associate
Follow HeartShare on
social media and visit
www.heartshare.org
to sign up for e-mail
updates!
Dear Friends,
We’ve had quite a busy year already. The HeartShare Spring Gala
and Auction at the New York Marriott Marquis raised $600,000.
We participated in the Harbor Fitness 5K Race for Autism in
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and hosted a rock concert at St. Finbar
for The HeartShare School, featuring an opening act from our
students diagnosed with autism. That fundraiser, which actively
involves the participation of children with intellectual and
developmental disabilities, is a personal triumph for them and
their families, as well as for HeartShare, which always has strived
to promote community inclusion for people with disabilities.
In this issue, we proudly share with you how HeartShare actively
incorporates inclusion opportunities into its programs to support
people with disabilities in reaching their fullest potential.
HeartShare’s Day Habilitation Programs have encouraged our
participants to hone their skills for competitive mainstream
employment, as well as advancing their educations. We also
continue to make great strides in serving children, teens and
families in need of foster care and adoption services. HeartShare
St. Vincent’s Services continues to build an academic, emotional
and social infrastructure to support its American Dream
Program (ADP) scholars throughout their college years, as
well as its Permanency Pact Program, pairing young men
and women aging out of foster care with supportive adults.
Although we continue to grow our list of accomplishments with
every passing month, HeartShare relies on funding from New
York City and State, which often is stagnant or shrinking. For
example, HeartShare continues to respond to the needs of the
community by providing strong early education for children
with developmental delays, but there has been a cost of living
freeze for the past six years. We rely on the generosity of private
donors to continue providing quality services to over 42,200
New Yorkers annually. We thank you for your steadfast support.
Inclusion Opportunities at NYU Polytechnic....................3
Paul J. Torre
William R. Guarinello
Chairman, Board of Directors President and CEO
HeartShare Prioritizes Inclusion
in Employment and Education
Having an intellectual or developmental
disability changes the scope of a person’s life
through the opportunities, or lack thereof,
available to him or her. For example, a person
can experience social limitations. The men
and women who participate in HeartShare
programs, however, have consistently proved
societal expectations wrong in reaching their
full potential at work and in the classroom.
HeartShare’s Day Habilitation and Pre-Vocational
Programs help adults with intellectual and developmental
disabilities hone a wide range of such skills on their road
to greater productivity and independence. Those include
greater independence in travel, building relationships
with people in their communities, learning employable
skills through community volunteer activities, learning
how to create resumes and interview for jobs, and how
to be stronger self-advocates. Community inclusion
and volunteerism have become a part of HeartShare’s
programmatic DNA, which is why the agency provides such
a rich day habilitation experience to its program participants.
HeartShare’s Kaleidoscope Program provides
opportunities for supported employment based on the
individual’s personal interests and employment goals.
Through those opportunities, HeartShare Employment
Specialists provide job coaching supports at employment
sites that range from retail and clerical to commercial
and home cleaning jobs with Cleaning with Meaning.
HeartShare’s dedicated staff makes those opportunities
possible through their work with program participants, as
well as prospective employers. Employment Specialists,
like Joseph McCrae, (above, left), prep Kaleidoscope Day
Hab participants for interviews, as well as how to adapt to
a professional work environment. As a part of its expansive
employment training opportunities, HeartShare developed
a partnership with St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY,
which will further prepare program participants for fulltime mainstream work. Nicholas, age 21 (above, right),
who has been attending the Kaleidoscope program for
two years, is a greeter at the college, serving as the first
point of contact to all who enter the building to provide
directions and other relevant information to visitors.
St. Francis College Director of Special Events Robert
Oliva believes that HeartShare program participants will
1
Darron, who attends the HeartShare Kaleidoscope Day
Habilitation Program, was one of the first employees
of Cleaning with Meaning. For more information
on available services, visit www.cwmnyc.org.
experience opportunities not ordinarily available in the
New York community, as well as enrich the diversity of the
college’s student life. “HeartShare individuals diagnosed
with intellectual and developmental disabilities and our
students will learn from one another by studying and working
together within the same college community,” said Oliva.
In addition to ample and thorough training,
HeartShare Employment Specialists amplify the future
success of their program participants by initiating and
building strong relationships with prospective employers.
“It’s challenging to find new opportunities. Often employers
have negative preconceived ideas or a lack of education
about our population,” said Mr. McCrae. However, the
difficult job market has not prevented HeartShare’s
Supported Employment team from making strides. “When I
approach new partners, I pitch using a bottom-line approach.
Our individuals are qualified people, who just happen to
have a disability. They are ready and willing to work.
They just need to be given that chance,” noted McCrae.
Most importantly, HeartShare employees aim to find
opportunities that utilize program participants’ strengths
and personal interests. The Kaleidoscope Program has
been successful in placing individuals in various jobs,
such as Receiving Associates at Marshalls, Recovery
Associates at Burlington Coat Factory, Teacher’s Aides
for Sesame Flyers Beacon programs and as a Receptionist
and Training Clerk for HeartShare Human Services.
In addition to working hard to develop individual
relationships with businesses, HeartShare also innovated
to create its own job opportunities for adults diagnosed
with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Cleaning
with Meaning, a “green” home and office cleaning
2
business serving the five boroughs of New York City and
nearby counties, was founded last year by HeartShare
and its partners and business associates at the New
York Integrated Network (NYIN), which includes The
Institutes of Applied Human Dynamics, Services for the
UnderServed, Lifespire, Westchester Jewish Community
Services and United Cerebral Palsy of New York City.
Cleaning with Meaning is a meaningful and
legitimate business model that enables adults with disabilities
to successfully enter the workforce. After several weeks of
rigorous training, prospective employees learn appropriate
cleaning skills, as well as how to deliver quality customer
service. Employees are then paired with a home cleaning
professional who also serves as an on-site supervisor.
Together, the duo tackles a repertoire of work, including
homes and office cleaning, move-in and move-out cleaning,
post-construction cleaning, and even exterior cleaning at
MCU Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones. Cleaning
with Meaning employees also receive oversight and
support from their respective agency-assigned job coach.
“Whether it’s our Pre-Vocational Programs or
becoming an employee of Cleaning with Meaning, individuals
with intellectual and developmental disabilities are pushing
beyond the limitations that society often imposes upon them.
They are a valuable, growing segment of the New York
workforce,” said Joy Palmer, Director of the Kaleidoscope
Program. Cleaning with Meaning is just another example
of HeartShare’s innovative spirit in pioneering programs
that are the first of their kind. In accordance with the New
York State policy Employment First, Cleaning with Meaning
seeks to close the employment and poverty disparity between
people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and
people living without disabilities, while also fulfilling their
individualized personal goals and enhancing self-esteem.
Darron shared his experiences as a Cleaning with Meaning
employee at HeartShare’s 2015 Spring Gala and Auction.
w
Policy Snapshot: Inclusion in
Employment and Higher Education
Stephanie (center) of HeartShare’s Brooklyn Day Habilitation
Program, NYU Junior An Vu and NYU Lecturer Allan Goldstein
captured public art on MetroTech Commons during a photo workshop.
With community organizations and businesses
recognizing the quality and scope of HeartShare’s
employment training programs, competitive employment
opportunities are opening up. Vice President of the
Brooklyn Cyclones, Steve Cohen, recently hired Cleaning
with Meaning employees for maintenance work following
sporting and special events at MCU Park in Coney Island.
HeartShare’s inclusion opportunities also extend
to higher education. Adults from HeartShare’s Day
Habilitation Programs have had the opportunity to learn
and grow in a college setting. Spearheaded by NYU
Polytechnic instructor Allan Goldstein, HeartShare program
participants engaged in photo workshops last year and
are enrolled in a Disabilities Studies course this semester.
Both educational experiences–the workshops and the
class–are focused on utilizing artistic expression to dissolve
social barriers between people with and without disabilities.
The workshops and Disabilities Studies course actively
promote inclusion through a dynamic mix of HeartShare
program participants and budding NYU engineers.
The course provides a platform for HeartShare
program participants to find their voices through artistic
expression—a short auto-biographical film. “My
HeartShare students are sharing their ideas and what
it’s like to live with a disability. It’s a fitting platform
for self-advocacy. It also affirms and reinforces our
collective belief and confidence in everyone’s ability to
learn if we provide those opportunities,” said Goldstein.
With community volunteer activities in the Day
Habilitation and Pre-Vocational Programs, supported
employment through the Kaleidoscope Program and
empowerment in the college classroom, HeartShare program
participants pave the way for a stronger, more diverse workforce,
while bolstering their own independence. HeartShare
individuals, as well as HeartShare staff and partners, continue
to actively build a more inclusive New York community.
•
New York State established the Employment
First Commission last year to explore how New
York can ensure that individuals with intellectual
and developmental disabilities have opportunities
to participate in a competitive job market.
•
The state’s implementation of Employment
First will increase the employment rate and
decrease the poverty rate for adults diagnosed
with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
•
This policy also encourages removing barriers
to employment for people with disabilities, such
as transportation and education. In addition to
designating solutions to enhancing mobility for
people with disabilities, the policy encourages
the use of financial resources and an academic
support team, such as school guidance counselors,
to help students with disabilities pursue a higher
education degree and engage in career planning.
•
The policy seeks to transform deeply-engrained
attitudes about people with disabilities through
employee training. Direct Support Professionals
(DSPs) are equipped to help people with
disabilities achieve their individualized goals.
Source: NYS Employment First Commission’s Report and
Recommendations, March 2015
From pre-schoolers to adults, HeartShare values inclusion.
Zarah, age 5 (above with Speech Therapist at the Cuomo
First Step Childhood Center), will transition to a mainstream
Kindergarten classroom. Watch twin sisters Zarah and
Isabella’s story on HeartShare’s official YouTube channel.
3
HeartShare’s Residential Services
Residence Dedication in Queens
HeartShare dedicated two residences for 10 individuals
with intellectual and developmental disabilities located in
Woodhaven, Queens on May 11, 2015. The newly constructed
Woodhaven home is dedicated in memory of David Gregory
Healy, the late brother of Mark C. Healy, CEO and President
of American Stock Transfer Company, LLC. David, who
was the youngest member of the Healy family, sadly and
unexpectedly passed away in September 2012 at the age of 43.
The Woodhaven home’s location uniquely
accommodates taking full advantage of the local community
due to its proximity to Jamaica Avenue. The residents,
many of whom have had limited opportunities to actively
participate in community life, have acclimated to their new
neighborhood. Since moving into the home in September
and October 2014, the residents frequent local businesses,
including restaurants, grocery stores and salons, as well
as utilize local community resources, such as Forest Park.
Residents also attend HeartShare’s Union Turnpike Day
Habilitation, Queens Day Habilitation and Hoffman Day
Habilitation Programs in the borough where they volunteer
and work on expanding their skills. “Whether our residents
formerly lived in a more restricted setting or at home, the
residence is a unique opportunity to live in a community
setting. Everyone who lives here has acclimated well to
this new, but nurturing environment,” said Paula BenMoshe, who oversees management of the Woodhaven home.
HeartShare’s Day Habilitation Services
Day Hab Celebrates 20 Years
HeartShare’s Queens Day Habilitation (QDH)
Program celebrated its 20th Anniversary in April 2015.
The two-day occasion was held at the program, and
featured the Block Out Band and its performance group,
the Queens Day Hab Players, with guidance from HeartShare
employees Betty Green, Dominick Barone and Josh Tanitsky.
The program reached this milestone with the support
of its dedicated employees, some of which have worked at
the program since its inception. QDH Program Coordinator
Carolyn Delgado-Braimi vividly remembers volunteering
on April 4, 1995, the first day the program opened its doors.
Throughout the years, Carolyn rose from Direct Support
Professional to Senior Group Leader, and ultimately Program
Coordinator. Carolyn’s career exemplifies HeartShare’s
philosophy regarding investing in employee growth, as
well as her love of the work. “When I was out in the field
with our individuals, I would challenge them to designate
an alternate route to return to the program. Now, they can
use those skills to commute independently,” said Carolyn.
Today, individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities in the program are out in the community
4
daily volunteering at local senior centers, churches, York
College and other HeartShare programs, including the
Cuomo First Step Early Childhood Center. Several are
making the transition to working part-time for Cleaning
with Meaning. All enjoy spending time with their program
“family” during field trips and holiday celebrations.
Direct Support Professional Betty Green, who also
has been at QDH for two decades, instills her work with
vibrant creativity and a person-centered approach. Green
founded the Day Hab Players, which routinely performs
at HeartShare events, including at its Annual Everyday
Heroes celebrations and the Centennial Anniversary “Block
Party” last year. “It’s so important to recognize their talents.
For people diagnosed with autism, singing and dancing—
the performance experience—builds confidence in a way
that enhances their social skills in other aspects of their
lives,” explained Green. Throughout the years, Green
also has brought her program participants to shows on
Broadway and at Radio City Music Hall. “When they’re
uplifted, we’re uplifted. It’s that simple,” Green said.
Program Recognized By DOE
HeartShare’s First Step Early Childhood Center in
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, hosted an open house showcase
in April 2015 for education administrators and teachers as
a model early education program. The showcase featured
HeartShare teachers utilizing art in social studies, science and
mathematics. HeartShare Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Mabrouka
Braktia, using a spring theme to explore science areas, such
as weather, plants, gardening and pollution, commented,
“Each child deserves a vibrant education; one that engages
them academically and empowers them personally with
hands-on learning that sparks their imagination and curiosity.”
Through its Showcase Schools Program, the
NYC Department of Education’s Office of Interschool
Division of Teaching and Learning recognizes, celebrates,
and shares best practices among city schools based on
several criteria, including rigorous instruction and
effective school leadership. “I am so proud that the
HeartShare team has been nominated for this prestigious
showcase and that our teachers have been recognized for
their truly crucial impact on the lives of our students,”
remarked First Step Program Director Jill Fitzgerald.
Some featured classrooms are comprised of
children with intellectual and developmental disabilities,
while others bring together special needs and Universal
Pre-K students. “HeartShare pre-schools are a powerful
tool for the screening, identifying and intervening to
address developmental delays,” explained teacher Emilia
Nilkina. “It’s also a place for children from all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds to come together.”
Two pre-school students at our Taranto Campus HeartShare First
Step Program in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
Autism Awareness Month
HeartShare, which educates over 700 children
at HeartShare’s four pre-schools (ages 3-5) and The
HeartShare School (ages 5-21) diagnosed with intellectual
and developmental disabilities, including autism,
celebrated Autism Awareness Month with various events.
HeartShare hosted a rock concert fundraiser at St.
Finbar’s on Saturday, April 25th, featuring “On A Good
Run,” a local band led by HeartShare Education Center
board member Dr. Harry DeMeo. Also performing was The
HeartShare School (THS) Rock Band, Oversight, which
is comprised of students with autism spectrum disorders
(ASD) who enjoy this musical outlet as the ultimate form
of self-expression. In addition to appearances at the school’s
fundraiser and related school functions, THS Rock Band
also performed in front of 1,000 guests at HeartShare’s
Centennial Anniversary “Block Party” at MetroTech
Commons in July 2014, a milestone for children with
ASD who have worked with HeartShare teachers and
staff to develop strong social and communications skills.
Nearly 350 people participated in the 8th Annual
Harbor Fitness Race for Autism on April 26th, which directly
benefits HeartShare education programs. “The children are
incredibly excited about Autism Awareness Month and they
don’t want it to end! It’s moving how much they value, and how
much we often take for granted, participating in community
activities and events,” noted HeartShare DSP Monique Dalel.
Harbor Fitness also worked with HeartShare to
help its students with autism improve motor coordination
and social engagement through athletic activities. Harbor
Fitness trainer
Anthony Carucci
led a class for
HeartShare
students last
year, encouraging
their inclusion
in the Brooklyn
community, as
well as teaching
exercises for
healthy living.
HeartShare staff made it possible for the children, like Tallal,
age 12, from The HeartShare School and Children’s Residential
Program (CRP), to participate in the Harbor 5K Race for Autism.
5
HeartShare National Award Win
The New York City Training Collaborative, which
includes HeartShare, United Cerebral Palsy of New York
and Services for the Underserved, has been recognized
with the 2015 Moving Mountains Award. The University
of Minnesota’s Research and Training Center and National
Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) issue
this prestigious award, which recognizes organizations
for developing a nationally accredited credential
program for frontline supervisors. The Collaborative
was only one of two national award recipients and will
be presented at the Reinventing Quality Conference.
To be recognized for this award, an organization
must demonstrate workforce practices and philosophy in
how it engages its Direct Support Professionals, including
the opportunities for well-constructed and ongoing training
experiences and incentives for continuing education. The
award also acknowledges organizations that actively
strengthen relationships and partnerships between Direct
Support Professionals, self-advocates and families.
HeartShare developed and continues to improve
a series of trainings for its managerial and supervisory
staff. From enhancing medical care and safety to helping
a person with a disability achieve personally meaningful
life goals, those trainings provide the basis for the highest
quality of services possible for those in HeartShare’s care.
Additionally, as an agency-wide philosophy,
HeartShare routinely invests in employee growth and retention,
including its Management Training Program for employees to
enhance their managerial skills, Tuition Assistance Program
to help fund employees enrolled in higher education degree
programs, as well as HeartShare University (HSU) that hosts
workshops, taught by employees for employees, for the
purpose of professional advancement and personal growth.
Everyday Hero Recognized
The 8th Annual Everyday Heroes Storytelling
Celebration and Luncheon in April 2015 recognized
HeartShare’s Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), or
HeartShare employees who contribute to the lives of people
with developmental disabilities. Fourteen employees accepted
their awards at The HeartShare School, while also sharing
stories of their frontline experiences at HeartShare programs.
Armando Rosado, who has been working as a
HeartShare DSP for five years, developed a strong bond
with John, residing at HeartShare’s Clinton Residence. “We
always went for a morning walk to buy the newspaper and
then watched the football game together. It was our Sunday
tradition,” noted Armando. With this trust between them,
as well as HeartShare’s strong training program for its
frontline workers, Armando was prepared to take action at
a critical moment that saved John’s life. One evening while
John was eating dinner, he suddenly got up from the table
in a panic. When Armando realized that John was choking,
he responded quickly with CPR, which he learned during
a HeartShare training. “John hugged me and thanked me
over and over again. I never thought I would ever have
to use CPR, but I’m happy I knew it. If it weren’t for the
training, John might not be here today and for that, I want
to thank HeartShare for teaching me how to help him.”
Armando, who has acquired a great deal of experience
throughout his time at HeartShare, was recruited to facilitate
a smooth transition for the opening of another residential
6
program, the Nolan Residence, which opened in February
2015. Four
young men in
their twenties
live at the home
in Canarsie,
Brooklyn and
participate in
HeartShare
A i e l l o ,
Brooklyn PACT
and Lavin Day
Habilitation
Programs.
As an
Everyday Hero, Armando has set the bar even higher
in what it means to be a DSP. “Everyday Heroes is not
only about staff appreciation, but also a demonstration
of best practices. It’s inspiring to see employees
bonding over the joys and challenges of their work,
as well as to learn from one another in order to do the
best job possible,” stated Eunice Beck, HeartShare
Director of Special Projects & Family Support Services.
For those starting out in the field, Armando
advises, “Work hard and be patient every day. It will
be well worth it. I remember when I first saw John
complete a task by himself. It’s infinitely rewarding.”
Innovative Clinical Care
Currently in its second century of service to the New
York community, HeartShare’s leadership and staff have been
and continue to be pioneers in service delivery. “The agency
analyzes trends in community needs and social services
policies and applies those analyses to stay ahead of the
curve,” said HeartShare President and CEO Bill Guarinello.
HeartShare Wellness, Ltd. incorporates an Article 28
clinic that provides primary care and mental health services
and an Article 16 clinic that provides counseling, as well
as speech, physical and occupational therapy. There are
many barriers to quality health care for individuals with
intellectual and developmental disabilities, particularly
the lack of training in care for patients with disabilities
by the general healthcare professional community.
Dr. Vincent Siasoco, who joined HeartShare Wellness
within the past year as Medical Director, provides direct
patient care and also is spearheading a solution to this
problem. To ensure competency in caring for people
with disabilities, HeartShare Wellness established a
residency rotation at the clinic through its partnership
with Mount Sinai Hospital and Lutheran Medical Center.
HeartShare Wellness also launched its Electronic
Health Record (EHR) system, which will boost care
coordination for service recipients. EHRs contribute to
improved quality of care, including efficiencies in sending
prescriptions, receiving lab results and enhancing patients’
knowledge of their medical histories through a patient portal.
Wellness upgraded its infrastructure to support the system, as
well as trained its staff to enter, track and monitor patient data.
As a part of its
Integrated Health
Services, HeartShare
St. Vincent’s Services’
(HSVS)
Article
31 clinic is staffed
by psychiatrists,
psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors
and nurse practitioners trained to treat children and young
men and women in foster care, as well as their families.
HSVS’ Foster Care Program and the HSVS Mental
Health Clinic were selected by NYC’s Administration
for Children’s Services to be the pilot agency for a new
evidence-based model designed specifically to help foster
youth and their families achieve better outcomes called
“CBT+.” CBT+ aims to address behavioral health needs
of youth and families affected by foster care placement,
including trauma, anxiety, depression and disengagement.
This initiative, entitled “Partnering for Success,”
is federally funded by the Children’s Bureau and is being
led by the University of Maryland’s National Center for
Evidence-Based Practice. HSVS is the only Article 31
clinic in New York City to be selected. As a part of the
initiative, HSVS staff will participate in three training
tracks and engage in a series of surveys to measure
understanding of cognitive behavioral therapy and child
welfare. Through this initiative, HSVS is paving the way for
lasting change in the lives of foster youth and their families.
HSVS programs also work to ensure that families
receive the support they need to prevent children from
being placed in foster care. HSVS Family Service
Centers equip program participants with resources, such
as creative art therapies, to strengthen the family. At
Bensonhurst Family Services, HSVS staff developed
another creative outlet for program participants to
express themselves, the Community Wish Tree.
The tree started as an illustration of a tree trunk
and its bare branches with brown duct tape on the wall of
Bensonhurst Family Services. Art Therapists Jessica Benson
and Katie Hinson, who spearheaded the project, welcomed
program participants to write their personal wishes on a
leaf template and add it to one of the branches. “Kids love
to point out their wishes on the tree or wishes that belong
to family members. It’s a conversation starter and a way
to help families focus on their goals,” said Benson. Additionally, HeartShare employees shared best
practices
d u r i n g
National
Creative
Arts Therapy
Week this
year. Art
Therapists
Jennifer
R u s s o
and Linda Votruba at HeartShare St. Vincent’s Shirley
Tanyhill Family Services, presented their work using art
therapy with families in a variety of settings at the School
of Visual Arts’ MPS Art Therapy Department (above).
7
American Dream Prog on Air
HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services’ American
Dream Program provides education, emotional support
and career advancement programming to empower
older youth, who have experienced foster care, to
overcome their personal challenges and excel as adults.
Established as the American Dream Fund in 1997,
the program was designed to help young men and women in
foster care attend college, an opportunity which otherwise
HeartShare St. Vincent’s Executive Director Dawn
Saffayeh, Q104.3 Radio Host Shelli Sonstein and
HSVS American Dream Program scholar, Dylan.
may not have been possible given the lack of financial, social
and emotional resources available to them. “Only 4 percent
of kids who age out of foster care graduate from a college
or university. In addition to college tuition, a supportive
team helps them to secure internships and focus on a career
path,” said HSVS Executive Director Dawn Saffayeh.
In New York State, youth age out of foster care at
age 21, which becomes a time of uncertainty for them while
confronting competing challenges of young adulthood.
“You’re in this (foster care) system and then, you’re
not! How can we help them transition?” asked Q104.3
Radio Host Shelli Sonstein, who recently interviewed
Saffayeh and an American Dream Program scholar, Dylan.
Dylan, age 19, is a freshman student studying
criminal justice at LaGuardia Community College in
Queens, NY. Although she’s a high-achieving student and
currently is working part-time for HeartShare’s Energy
Assistance and Community Development Program, Dylan
experienced an abrupt change to her family life. She was
moved from home to home over the course of six years.
Dylan also was separated from her siblings at the same
time. “At 13 years old, when I was taken out of my home
and away from my family, I felt that I was not going to
8
beat the odds and live a ‘normal life.’ ADP has enabled
me to not only dream big, but also help me achieve those
goals. They’ve instilled in me that success is inevitable.
HSVS is like home—the home I never had,” she explained.
Due to her determination to focus on her school work and
nurturing support she’s received through the American Dream
Program, Dylan looks forward to her continued academic
career at LaGuardia with her future goal of becoming a
defense attorney. While attending the High School for
Civil Rights, Dylan discovered her desire to pursue that
career after joining and participating in the law team at the
High School for Civil Rights in Brooklyn, NY. “I fell in
love with the law. I just want to help people,” said Dylan.
Despite all that she’s been through, Dylan looks back
on her time in foster care as a blessing in disguise. “I
wouldn’t be the strong-minded, striving, independent
and optimistic person that I am today,” she noted.
The American Dream Program runs entirely on
private donations. HSVS currently has 45 young people
participating in the program and enrolled in college. To
date, the program has changed the lives of 100 young men
and women who earned degrees from prestigious schools,
such as Harvard, Polytechnic University and Amherst.
“Thank you for the support because this is
beyond what I envisioned. When I was going through
a storm, ADP gave me that light and faith in myself,”
Dylan described of her experiences with HSVS.
“You’re an absolute inspiration,” concluded Sonstein.
Jim Kerr, Q104.3 Rock and Roll in the Morning Host, is a
HeartShare Board Member, frequent Master of Ceremonies at
events and overall ardent supporter of HeartShare. Jim kindly
took Dylan on a tour of the iHeartRadio studios after her radio
interview with his morning show “sidekick,” Shelli Sonstein.
$140K Permanency Pact Grant
HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services has been awarded a
two-year $140,000 grant by the Redlich Horwitz Foundation to
implement a Permanency Pact Program for foster care youth.
Each HSVS Permanency Pact, which will be formalized by
a written agreement, ensures that a young man or woman in
HSVS’ care has the support of a trusted, reliable person to help
him or her navigate the challenges of impending adulthood.
Planning a personal budget, apartment
hunting and selecting college courses are among the
touchstone moments that collectively shape a young
person’s future. Like a parent or family member, adults
participating in this program will be there for many
academic, financial, social and/or spiritual experiences.
“Time and again, we’ve seen that a long-term
connection with a supportive adult can make all the
difference,” noted HSVS Executive Director Dawn
Saffayeh. HSVS consistently aims to provide the necessary
supports for young men and women transitioning out of
foster care to pursue a more secure, self-directed future.
HSVS also will partner with other foster care
agencies, such as Catholic Guardian Services (CGS)
and Good Shepherd Services (GSS), to develop and host
trainings for participants, as well as to define criteria to match
foster youth with appropriate adults. You Gotta Believe, an
organization that encourages foster teens and young adults to
find and cultivate permanent and unconditional relationships
with adults, will contribute to training sessions as well.
HSVS will host a series of events, starting in May,
to provide more information on how an adult is matched
with a young person based on mutual interests. Whether
it’s meeting up for dinner once per month to talk or to
help the young person register for the right courses for
the upcoming college semester, both parties figure out
together what they want out of the relationship. “This will
be a lifelong connection that will either supplement or
replace the supportive presence of a parent. It’s incredibly
fulfilling to be connected to young people who are so hopeful
and resilient despite their circumstances,” noted Saffayeh.
Spring Gala Raised $600K
HeartShare raised almost $600,000 at its
Spring Gala and Auction in March 2015 at the New
York Marriott Marquis. Over 950 guests attended
the Gala, which is HeartShare’s premiere event.
HeartShare honored Z100 Radio Host Elvis Duran.
“If all of New York doesn’t win, none of us win. So, it’s our
job, along with HeartShare, to make sure everyone in New
York has a chance to win and be winners,” Duran noted. He
articulated HeartShare’s core commitment to help children,
adults and families reach their full potential. “It is our great
honor to help those in our care,” said President and CEO Bill
Guarinello who proudly leads HeartShare, an organization
now in its second century of providing quality programs
and services to New York’s most vulnerable populations.
HeartShare also honored FOX 5’s Good Day New
York Traffic Reporter, Ines Rosales, Finance Executive
Joseph Mark Velli, as well as Patrick Clarke, President
of Celtic General Contractors, who rebuilt pro-bono
HeartShare’s Angels on the Bay Evaluation Center in Queens
following Superstorm Sandy. The Center evaluates and
diagnoses young children with intellectual and developmental
delays for early intervention and appropriate placement.
To support the silent auction, actor Danny Aiello
personally sold autographed copies of his memoir. During
its mobile pledge campaign, in which guests texted donations
throughout the evening, HeartShare reached its $50,000
goal. The event directly benefits HeartShare’s programs.
(Left to Right) Alyse Best Muldoon, Tony Lo Bianco,
Paul Torre, Rosanna Scotto, Ines Rosales, Mike Woods,
Bill Guarinello at the 2015 Spring Gala and Auction.
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How You Can Help
www.heartshare.org/donate
HeartShare is proud that 90% of every dollar of revenue goes directly to its programs.
There are a number of ways you can assist over 42,200 children and adults in HeartShare’s care.
Standard Contribution: You may mail a check, call with a credit card, donate stock or give online: HeartShare Human Services of New York, Public Affairs
Office, 12 MetroTech Center, 29th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, (718) 422-3210. Our tax ID#: 11-1633549.
Leave a Legacy: You may continue to support HeartShare’s programs through your will, a charitable gift 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.
Matching Gifts: 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.
Make a Memorial or Tribute Gift: Make a gift in memory of or in tribute to a family member or friend. Tribute gifts may be made for birthdays, weddings,
anniversaries, for 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.
Giving Tree: Become part of HeartShare’s history. Sponsor a leaf on the Giving Tree that celebrates HeartShare’s milestone Centennial Anniversary. The Tree
is on permanent display at HeartShare’s main office. An appropriate message will be engraved on the leaf in tribute to/memory of a person, family or group of
your choosing.
Your Target Card: If you have a Target Visa, Target Card or Target Check Card, 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 iGive.com: 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.
Amazon Smile: Contribute 0.5% of your eligible Amazon Smile purchases to HeartShare at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/11-1633549. To donate directly to
HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services, visit https://smile.amazon.com/ch/11-1631823.