ACHIEVA`s Capital Campaign

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Dear Friends of ACHIEVA ........ 3
Trusting in ACHIEVA ................ 4
Kara and Terri, pg. 4
When Howard Met Patti ........... 6
Prepared, Confident and
Independent ............................. 8
Howard and Patti, pg. 6
ACHIEVA’s Capital Campaign
Progress ................................. 10
ACHIEVA Welcomes
Governor Tom Corbett ........... 12
HealthMeet™.......................... 14
Nancy and John, pg. 8
Star Program .......................... 16
Board of Trustees ................... 18
Governor Corbett, pg. 12
Front Cover Photography provided by: Martha Rial ©
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Trusting In ACHIEVA
Dear Friends of ACHIEVA
It was a picturesque summer day, the birds
chirped, children played in the park and walking
trails were full of chatting adults. It was the perfect
scene for a day of fun. For Kara, fun equaled a
day at the neighborhood pool. It was a place Kara
knew well; she had enjoyed swimming since she
was four years old. She had competed for district
titles and traveled across the state displaying her
talent. With Kara’s passion for the water, a
summer day at the pool was far from abnormal.
However that day, just a week after her 12th
birthday, would be far from normal. In fact, it would
become life changing.
We are staying busy at ACHIEVA, keeping up with the ever changing times and the financial
challenges facing all human services organizations. We face these obstacles head-on, all the
while staying true to our mission to provide excellence in lifelong supports and services for
individuals with disabilities and their families.
New doors open for ACHIEVA each year and we face new opportunities with success and
gratitude. Built on a strong foundation of advocacy, ACHIEVA is a leader in providing
innovative and industry changing programs and services. We owe our success to the
investment of dedicated supporters as well as staff who support children and adults with
disabilities and their families.
and the next two seconds she was disabled and
needed a wheelchair to get around and a nurse
to help her do daily functions that everyone else
could do. Things that before her accident, she
didn’t even think about.”
The months following Kara’s accident, she was
not the only one dealing with some adjustments,
so was her mom. Terri now had to learn how to
make the best decisions for Kara. “My biggest
thing was having to become Kara’s advocate and
finding out what was available for her, finding what
help was out there.”
It didn’t seem to take long for Terri to adjust. She
On August 23, 2000, Kara climbed the starting
block at the local pool and plunged into four feet of found the nurses and the home care Kara needed.
The day-to-day necessities to keep their family on
water, hitting her head on the bottom of the pool.
track were in place; however, there was a piece
Kara suffered a spinal cord
the puzzle missing.
injury and was told she would
You
feel
like
you are of
Terri needed to ensure that
never walk again. “I remember
it like it was yesterday. I got the
out there by yourself, her daughter would have the
financial stability she needed to
call telling me Kara had been
and then once you
continue her care for the rest of
hurt and asking if I could come
find out that there is her life.
to the pool,” recalls Kara’s
mom Terri. When Terri got to
so much out there,
A lawsuit and settlement
the scene, Kara was out of the
you have to try to get following Kara’s accident gave
water and in the care of
paramedics. Kara was taken to
that information and them the financial means, but if
that money were to go only to
the local hospital and later flown
get people to help
Kara’s personal needs, it would
to Children’s Hospital of
Pittsburgh for further treatment.
you.
–Terri run out fast.
As we look to the future, I foresee more positive changes in education, housing, transportation
and other community-based services. I also foresee more families getting the supports and
services they need to assure that their loved ones with disabilities live the best quality of life
possible.
“
ACHIEVA is dedicated to staying ahead of the curve as southwestern Pennsylvania’s
largest provider of lifelong services for people with disabilities, currently serving over
14,500 individuals and families.
As we continue to grow and thrive, we look forward to your support and direction.
Sincerely,
”
Marsha Blanco
President & CEO
According to researchers, spinal cord injuries
are most often traumatic. Symptoms vary
depending on where the spinal cord is damaged.
“Everybody’s accident or incident is totally unique.
When you have a spinal cord injury there are so
many different degrees to the injury,” says Terri.
Treatment normally starts with restraining the
spine to prevent further damage. In Kara’s case,
she was placed in a halo for three months, which
kept her head and neck immobile. In a matter of
seconds, the active pre-teen and avid swimmer
was introduced to a new way of life. “Everything
changed, from Kara getting up in the morning,
taking a shower, to transportation, to getting
around her own home,” Terri recalls. “For Kara,
one minute she was walking and an “abled body”
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“There are a lot of people who take the settlement
and they have this money and go out and spend it
and they’re not thinking about 5, 10, 15, 20 years
down the road,” Terri explains. Using that money
would also limit Kara’s access to Medical
Assistance or other government benefits.To
ensure Kara’s money was put to good use, Terri
reached out to ACHIEVA Family Trust.
In order for a person with a disability to become
eligible for Medical Assistance and benefits there
are certain limits to what that person can have in
their name and still qualify for benefits. By law,
a person with a disability is not allowed to have
more than $2,000 in assets at any time in their
name. There are some exceptions, but that
primarily includes anything of cash value.
However, assets put into a trust fund do not count
for purposes of calculating assets to qualify for
government benefits and services. In Kara’s case,
the settlement money received from her accident
took her over the $2,000 limit, but by entrusting
her money to ACHIEVA Family Trust she was able
to maintain her benefits and use her settlement
money to live independently. Terri sees the trust
fund as protection. “ACHIEVA
protects her money from her
going out and blowing it, or
anyone else getting their hands
on it. It helps her use that money
and feel normal to do the things
she likes. With the trust, Kara
can do the same things that
other kids can do.” The cost of
care can be substantial for a
person with a disability, so a loss
of Medical Assistance could
be detrimental. With ACHIEVA
Family Trust, a person with a
disability is still able to afford the
added expenses that come with
their disability, without depleting
their personal assets.
ACHIEVA Family Trust was
instrumental in helping Kara
have everything she needed
to establish her independence.
One of the projects the Trust
supervised was making Kara’s
home completely accessible.
ACHIEVA worked with Terri and
contractors to help build an
additional wing to Terri and
Kara’s home and make
enhancements to parts of the
existing home. The goal was
to make sure Kara could move
about freely. “They tore it out
from wall to limb, they made everything
accessible. Kara can get in the refrigerator, she
can open the cupboards, the doors are electric,
there’s an intercom system and she has a
scrolling closet. It’s really a beautiful house,” Terri
explains. Another very important task ACHIEVA
made sure was accomplished was Kara’s
transportation. A vehicle for a person with a
disability, equipped with motorized doors, a chair
lift, special seating and other necessary
accommodations can be expensive. For Kara, it
would be an expense of at least $60,000. With the
help of ACHIEVA Family Trust,
Kara was able to get a vehicle
that fit all of her needs and
afford the maintenance and
repair. “Kara is able to get out
and about a lot because of the
help of ACHIEVA,” Terri
explains.
Despite her health restrictions,
Kara keeps her spirits up. “She
has never complained a day;
she never got depressed.
People would stare at her and
she would stare right back,”
Terri remembers. Kara never
let her disability get in the way
of her aspirations. In December
2012, Kara graduated from
Edinboro University with a
Bachelor’s in Science and
Health and Physical Education
and is actively seeking
employment. At 24, she is just
as lively as she was when she
was 12. She hangs out with
friends, attends Pittsburgh
Pirates and Penguins games
and makes the occasional trip
out of the state, with her next
destination being the Big Apple.
“The trust helps Kara be more
independent. The money is
there and available for her to get
out and do what everybody else does. She needs
to feel like she can still go and have fun.” -Terri
When Howard Met Patti
Meet Patti
Meet Howard
Patti Peterman is a mother of six, a wife, a good
friend and an all around great person. Patti has
many of the characteristics ACHIEVA looks for in
a Home Care caregiver. For two years, Patti has
shared her smile and friendship with individuals
with disabilities in Westmoreland County. If you
watch her work, you have no choice but to admire
her dedication and kindness. For Patti, her job as
a caregiver appears to come naturally, part of her
commitment comes from her familiarity with the
disability community. In 1997, Patti gave birth to
a child with a disability, Maddy. She had Trisomy
13, a rare genetic disorder. 99 percent of children
born with it die before they are six months old.
Maddy lived to be 12 years old. Patti says “She
lived on love, she was a miracle.” After losing
Maddy, Patti felt like she had more to give, “I felt
like I wasn’t done, I knew I could do more.” She
applied to become a Home Care provider and has
not looked back. “I always said I wish I had a me
when my daughter was alive, someone to help
me out.”
Howard Schmitt is 70 years old and lives in
Westmoreland County. Howard has several
passions, but there are a few that you will learn
about within minutes of meeting him. He loves to
fish, likes to be outdoors, thinks of himself as an
avid photographer and absolutely loves country
music or “cowboy music” as he calls it. Howard
was born with a learning disability which limits
some of his abilities, but not his charm. His
infectious laughter and beaming smile has made
Howard a joy to work with. Through ACHIEVA’s
Home Care services, Howard is not only able to
do the things he loves, but he has met friends that
are now more like family to him.
ACHIEVA was among the first organizations in the United States to receive approval from
the federal government to provide family trust services. ACHIEVA Family Trust now serves
over 1,800 individuals, helping families plan and privately finance support for loved ones
with disabilities. For more information contact Rebecca Tyers, Family Trust Assistant, at
(412) 995-5000 x565 or rtyers@achieva.info.
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When Howard met Patti
Howard and Patti met at one of The Arc of
Westmoreland’s monthly dances. According to
Patti, they just clicked, “I just felt a connection
to Howard and I still do.” By the end of the
following month Patti was meeting with Howard
three times a week. At the time, Howard was living
in an assisted living facility. Although he and Patti
had a good relationship, Howard had noticeable
troubles. “He was very depressed and very
emotional,” Patti recalls. “There were times when
he would get so worked up from the caregivers
at that place that we would get in the car and he
would punch the dashboard out of frustration.
He would cry. He had no enthusiasm to do
anything.” As Howard’s behavioral issues grew, so
did Patti’s curiosity. Patti began to notice changes
in more than just Howard’s mood. For instance,
she started to notice a decline in his health care
and hygiene. “I would pick Howard up and his legs
would be so swelled that his pants would be like
spandex. He would cry constantly because his
legs hurt.” Concerned for Howard’s health, Patti
and Howard’s physical therapist agreed new living
arrangements were needed for Howard.
In November 2011, Howard was moved to a new
house. It was meant to be a new start for him.
However, it was 15 miles further away from Patti.
The decision of where Howard lived was out of
Patti’s hands, but she was determined to keep
caring for Howard, so she made the trip. “I want
him to always be with someone who will care for
him like I do,” says Patti. Howard now had a new
place to live and would still have Patti to depend
on, so he was happy, but it was short-lived. Things
took a turn very early in the move, Patti remembers,
“His care there was 10 times worse. It was to the
point where I would cry when I dropped him off.
He would call me at three o’clock in the morning
and ask me to call the staff to come and help
him change his diaper.” Committed to Howard’s
well-being, Patti started taking pictures and
documenting the bad conditions. She found
herself in familiar territory,
once again looking for a new
w
place for Howard to live. For
Patti it was not just about
a new home for her client,
Howard was now family.
“He’s a tossup between my
dad and my brother, he’s
probably more like a brother,,
but age makes me want to
say dad.” For Patti, being
with Howard was a rewarding
experience, an experience she was not ready to
give up. “The excitement he has when he sees
me, I just would never take that away from him.”
A major turn of events happened when the home
Howard was living in was sold. Now, all the
residents had to move and in a hurry. “At one
point they thought he was going to have to move
out of Westmoreland County,” recalls Patti. “I said
he can’t go to Allegheny County, he has to stay
here so I can take care of him. I even asked if he
could stay with me.” Patti even did her own
research on local homes; she got her son, a
certified nurse, involved. “I would ask him, what
about this house? Is it nice for Howard to live in?”
Patti wanted to make sure Howard’s next home
would be a good one.
That date came in October 2012. Patti and her
family packed up all of Howard’s belongings and
moved him into his new home, just four minutes
away from their own home. Almost instantly, Patti
could see the changes in Howard. “Now he is a
completely different person. It saved him, it saved
his life,” Patti explains. No longer is Howard angry,
he is having fun, enjoying life and happy to have
Patti as his caregiver. However, if you ask
Howard, he will tell you with no problem. “I want to
live with Patti, in her house.”
ACHIEVA Home Care has been a family support for children and adults with disabilities since
1980. ACHIEVA Home Care is committed to providing individuals with the support they need to
live their lives as independently as possible. For supports in Westmoreland County, please
call (724) 837-8159 x225. For all other counties, please call (412) 995-5000 x505.
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Prepared,
confident
and
independent:
Nancy and
John’s
story
disabilities. Staff guide families through the “do’s
Prepared, confident and independent: Three
and don’ts” of parenting. The goal is not to do the
simple words that Nancy can now use to describe
work for the families, but to show them how it is
her experience as a mom. 19 years ago, Nancy
done and how it should be incorporated into their
was introduced to ACHIEVA, then known as Arc
day-to-day living. The mission of the program is to
Allegheny. As an adult with a learning disability
develop safe and healthy families. However, the
and a mother-to-be, Nancy had doubts, fears and
program’s first priority is for
questions. She was in search of
There was a time it
the safety of the children.
somewhere to turn, a place that
From Nancy’s first day as a
understood her needs. That was was assumed that a
parent she had ACHIEVA’s
when Nancy was introduced to
ACHIEVA’s Parenting-Education person with a disability support.
program. Nancy remembers her
could not handle
On January 10, 1995, Nancy
first call, “So I called and they
raising a child. The
welcomed her son John into
said, would you be interested in
the world. “When John was
joining our program? I said sure, purpose here is to
born they (ACHIEVA staff)
I’m going to be a new mom and I
keep the child at home came every week. They
need a little guidance and help.”
Nancy wanted to know, would
and get them through taught me everything.” Staff
were available by
her child have a disability or if
school and we’re pretty members
phone and in person anytime
her own disability would limit
and for any reason. During the
her as a mother. “I was scared, I successful.
was stressed out. I was worried
–Ed, ACHIEVA Coordinator early months, Nancy focused
on a list of goals, including
I was not going to be a good
sterilizing bottles, giving John
mom because I had a disability.
a proper bath, how to determine if he was ill and
I did not know if I would be able to take care of
how to give him medicine if he was ill. Her
him.”
training and assistance was not limited to just
ACHIEVA’s Parenting-Education program provides John’s needs, but also how to maintain a healthy
home. There were grocery shopping tasks,
parenting instruction and assistance as well as
coupon clipping and cooking lessons. “It showed
independent living skills to parents with
“
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me how to take responsibility and not forget. I
knew that there were people watching behind me,
so I had to keep an eye on things,” says Nancy.
The help of the Parenting-Education staff does
not just stop at the home. The program also
works with families towards creating individual,
family and educational goals. For Nancy and
John, staff was there during one of Nancy’s most
trying times of parenting. John started having
problems in school and Nancy noticed a
dramatic change. “John was different, he wasn’t
the person I knew, he was mean and
disrespectful,” recalls Nancy. For some parents,
this time may have appeared as just those
teenager years. For Nancy, she saw more. “I felt
like I was failing as a parent.” With no end in sight,
things appeared to go from bad to worse. John
was facing expulsion from school and Nancy was
falling into depression trying to deal with it all,
but she did not give up. Instead she worked the
program. “We scrambled to come up with a plan.”
There were meetings with John and ACHIEVA
staff. There were also meetings with John,
Nancy, school officials and ACHIEVA staff.
“Without Parenting-Education staff I would have
been by myself, I didn’t have someone to just
call.” Thanks to Nancy’s call 19 years ago, she
was not alone and today John is in school, back
to himself and looking forward to graduation next
year. As for mom, she appreciates the extra help.
“They’re not there to ruin your life. They’re there to
support you and it’s good to have that help on the
side, that backup, in case something goes wrong.
It’s not a controlling thing; they’re just there to
guide you in the right direction.”
ACHIEVA’s Parenting-Education program currently serves 22 adults with disabilities with
49 total children and/or grandchildren. Staff typically meets with parents 6 to 12 hours a week.
Dedicated to helping families have healthy lives, four current families are working with the
Office of Children, Youth and Families to assist parents in regaining custody of their children.
For more information on ACHIEVA’s Parenting-Education program, contact Colleen Sokira at
(412) 995-5000 x426 or csokira@achieva.info.
ACHIEVA’s Capital Campaign
Spring 2013 Update
Progress
ACHIEVA is enjoying great success in its $8 million capital campaign –
Innovation in Support of People with Disabilities:
ACHIEVA’s Commitment to the Community.
Bill Demchak, President of the PNC Financial Services
Group, is the campaign chairperson. Former U.S.
Attorney General and Pennsylvania Governor
and First Lady Dick and Ginny Thornburgh serve as
honorary co-chairs. With their assistance, ACHIEVA
has built and deployed an impressive volunteer team
of 50 of southwestern Pennsylvania’s civic and
corporate leaders that have spearheaded fundraising
efforts for this campaign.
Thanks to the strong leadership of this team the
campaign has reached 65 percent of its goal,
raising $5.2 million from 245 donors (as of 3-22-13).
Dick and Ginny Thornburgh and Marsha Blanco
Do you want to work directly with the families and individuals
ACHIEVA serves?
The campaign has received major funding from PNC
Bank Foundation, Edith L.Trees Charitable Trust,
Henry L. Hillman Foundation, the Heinz Endowments,
Highmark and the Highmark Foundation, Bank of
America Foundation. Other major supporters of the
campaign include: the Massey Charitable Trust; Reed
Smith; Oxford Development Corporation; Buchanan,
Ingersoll & Rooney;Bayer USA Foundation; Calgon
Carbon Corporation and The Pittsburgh Pirates.
Are you good with hands-on activities?
ACHIEVA thanks the many volunteers and donors for
helping to make this important project a success.
ACHIEVA Is Looking For Volunteers
Looking for a rewarding way to become a part of your community?
Do you have unique skills to share?
If you have not had the opportunity to support the
campaign in reaching its fundraising goal, it’s not
too late.
Do you have some new ideas to help ACHIEVA expand?
For more information, to volunteer your time or
to contribute to the campaign, please contact the
campaign office at (412) 995-5000 x459 or
campaign@achieva.info.
We Can’t Do It Without You!
For all volunteer opportunities, please contact
Jamie Rhoades at jrhoades@achieva.info
or (412) 995-5000 x526.
Left: Erin Gannon, ACHIEVA, presents to campaign leadership
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ACHIEVA Welcomes
Governor Tom Corbett
ACHIEVA thanks Governor Corbett for his continued
commitment to individuals with disabilities and their families.
February 13, 2013, ACHIEVA was delighted
to host Governor Corbett at ACHIEVA’s
vocational training and employment site in
Pittsburgh’s Strip District. Corbett shared
more of his plans and desires to join ACHIEVA
in its mission to continue to provide the best
quality of supports and services for individuals
with disabilities and their families.
Linda Dickerson, Capital Campaign Consultant and Bill Demchak
Innovation in Support of People with Disabilities:
ACHIEVA’s Commitment to the Community
The objectives of the campaign are to develop and implement services that will enhance the life
experiences of people with disabilities and their families. Therefore, ACHIEVA is relying on the following
four initiatives of this campaign to further advance the full inclusion of people with disabilities.
Governor Corbett showed his dedication to
ACHIEVA and the State in his 2013-14 budget
proposal which includes $20 million to
Governor Corbett tours ACHIEVA’s Strip District site with
Reid Wolfe and Marte Novak, ACHIEVA
Accomplishing these objectives requires the following investments:
• $2.5 million to launch and implement the Waiting
List Reduction Initiative and provide families
the services they desperately need, to help
them leverage their collective resources for the
benefit of family members with disabilities, to
reduce institutionalization and to keep family
relationships intact.
• $700,000 to expand the ACHIEVA Family Trust,
increasing long-term financial security for 1,500
more people with disabilities, offering peace of
mind to more families and decreasing reliance on
public welfare systems.
• $1.6 million to invest in equipment and add new
space to expand production capacity, increase
earnings and create competitive jobs for young
people with disabilities at ACHIEVA’s growing
Bridgeville pallet manufacturing facility.
• $3.2 million to repair and replace materials
approaching the end of their useful life through
sustainable practices at ACHIEVA’s largest
commercial and residential properties. This
component of the project will create safe,
comfortable, and environmentally sustainable
workplaces and living spaces for many people
with disabilities in the region.
The success of Innovation in Support of People with Disabilities: ACHIEVA’s Commitment to the
Community will advance the well-being of people with disabilities and their families and will
contribute to the economic vitality and the overall quality of life in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Joining the governor from left to right, Tom and Patrick Niederberger, ACHIEVA Family and Kathy Brady, Supports Coordinator
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HeathMeet™
Project of The Arc of the United Sates
HealthMeet™ is a project of The Arc of the United States, funded through a million dollar
grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that works to reduce health
disparities and increase the longevity and quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities.
To achieve this, HealthMeet™ offers free community-based health screenings for individuals
with with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD); provides training and education to
individuals, their families, direct service professionals, medical providers, and medical
students; and raises public awareness of health issues that impact people with I/DD across
the country.
Through this project, five Chapters of The Arc, including ACHIEVA,
will have the opportunity to pilot local health screenings and to
promote health and wellness activities for people with I/DD.
These sites will play a critical role in national efforts to collect
and analyze data regarding health outcomes and issues for
people with I/DD, to promote information regarding health
disparities for people with I/DD and to improve health care
access for all people with I/DD.
Joining the governor from left to right, Cindy Shapira, Chair for 21 & Able, Nancy Murray, ACHIEVA, Fred Lockuta,
Office of Developmental Problem and Tom Nieberberger, ACHIEVA Parent
The pilot sites are:
• ACHIEVA - Pittsburgh, PA
• The Arc of Massachusetts - Waltham, MA
“We have an obligation to help Pennsylvanians, who in many
cases, don’t have the resources to get the care they need and are
being cared for by elderly or single parents,” Corbett said. “As we
prioritize our funding, they must come first.”
• The Arc of New Jersey - North Brunswick, NJ
• The Arc of North Carolina - Raleigh, NC
• The Arc San Francisco - San Francisco, CA
• Find out more about HealthMeet™ services
address the waiting list for people with
intellectual disabilities and an additional
$20 million for people with autism and
physical disabilities.
and why it’s needed by visiting
www.thearc.org/healthmeet-events
The Commonwealth’s investment will provide
ACHIEVA the opportunity to refine the way the
State helps people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities to live independent
lives integrated in their communities. These
incremental dollars will help ACHIEVA, in
conjunction with the State, to create a new
and sustainable model for transitioning
people with disabilities into homes of their
own or other independent living environments.
TM
Martha Rial ©
Kerry Cannon gets a photo with Governor Corbett
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Look Who Has
STAR
Quality!
In 2012, ACHIEVA introduced its
Employee Customer Service
Recognition Program to recognize
employees dedicated to always
providing the highest quality of
Customer Service to our customers.
ACHIEVA’s “STAR” – Satisfaction,
Totally, Achieved and Recognized –
program is designed to acknowledge
employees when they go the extra
mile to provide exceptional
customer service.
We are pleased to introduce you to our featured “Star” nominees:
Margaret Scott
Margaret is a Community Homes
Supervisor in the Residential
Department.
Martha Rial ©
ACHIEVA will offer free health screenings
to adults with intellectual and
developmental disabilities throughout
the Allegheny County region and
surrounding communities. At these
screenings, individuals will be
screened for basic demographic
information, height, weight, body
mass index, waist to hip ratio, pulse,
blood pressure, respiratory health,
vision, hearing, foot and
mobility health and a
visual dental assessment.
Any concerns will be
referred for proper follow-up..
ACHIEVA will also distribute an electronic
newsletter every few weeks to promote
HealthMeet™ events and provide wellness
information. More HealthMeet™ resources can
also be found on www.personfirsthealth.org.
“Margaret has always been attentive to the
healthcare needs of the people that she
supports. However, her dedication and caring
for this particular person while he was
recovering from a very significant medical
situation defines excellent customer service.
Margaret went above and beyond in her
attentions to the individual’s needs while in
the hospital and subsequent transfer to a
skilled nursing facility.”
To sign up for the HealthMeet™
e-newsletter, please email Melissa Allen
at mallen@achieva.info.
Nominate an ACHIEVA employee and become eligible to win $125.
ACHIEVA offers web-based
educational programs that
provide useful information on
health care topics. For a list of
current webinars visit
www.achieva.info. You will find a
link to ACHIEVA webinars on the
Services and Support page.
Martha Rial ©
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Every “Star” nominee will be entered into a drawing to win $500.00. If the
person you nominated is selected, you win $125.00. To nominate or get
more information about the program, go to the ACHIEVA website at
www.achieva.info and click on ACHIEVA Customer Service Recognition
Program under ACHIEVA News. You can also contact Michelle
Bowser, Director of Quality Assurance, at (412) 995-5000 x517 or
mbowser@achieva.info. Nominations must be submitted by the 5th
of each month to nominate someone for the previous month.
16
SPRING
2013
20
13
Put a
“STAR”
in the
Spotlight
ACHIEVA Board of Trustees
Colleen Sokira
Colleen is a Parenting-Education
Specialist for the ACHIEVA Parenting
Education Program.
“Colleen truly exemplified excellent customer
service on this occasion. Though it was the
worst experience a parent has to endure,
Colleen helped to make it easier for the
parent. Colleen went above and beyond the
call of duty. She assisted a parent through an
extremely difficult and distressing time.”
Estella Walker
Estella is a Home Care Provider for
ACHIEVA.
“Estella has been the best provider my son
has had. She genuinely cares and it shows.
My son takes some getting used to, but she
said she would not give up on him that
easily. It is refreshing to know that someone
else can care about your child like that, and I
can totally relax when he is in her care. Thank
you for finding her as my son’s provider. She
is a perfect fit.”
Mary Barnett
Mary is a Residential Counselor in
Greensburg.
ACHIEVA Board of Trustees
ACHIEVA Support Board of Trustees
Chair, William Lestitian, Esq., CPA
Chair Elect, Robert McDowell
Vice Chair, Michael L. Dever, Esq.
Past Chair, Suzanne Parks
Chair, Raymond Giarrusso
Chair Elect, Chaz R. Kellem
Vice Chair, Mary D. Richter, CPA
Past Chair, Arun J. Thomas, Esq.
Trustees
Helen Aldisert
Mark Brown
Sean J. Carmody, Esq.
Gregory Fajt, Esq.
Pete Fuscaldo, Esq.
Mary Lou Gegick
Raymond Giarrusso
Foster S. Goldman, Jr., Esq.
Jon Haglund
Dorothy M. Horvath
Edward W. Price
Mary D. Richter, CPA
Gary L. Sellers
Neal R. Shipley
Lisa G. Silverman, Esq
Stephen B. Spolar, Esq.
Arun J. Thomas, Esq.
James Woll
Michelle Wright
Trustees
William Bodnar, CPA
Fran Carter
Mel Delposen
Michael L. Dever, Esq.
David Donohue
Nancy Gannon
Kimberly Jackson
Robert L. Kelley
Thomas M. Lee
Paul Long
Dan Morgan
Alexandra Robinson
Matt Stewart
ACHIEVA Resource
Board of Trustees
Chair, William Lestitian, Esq., CPA
Chair Elect, Robert McDowell
Vice Chair, Michael L. Dever, Esq.
Past Chair, Suzanne Parks
“Mary is a very loyal and dependable staff member. She
is loved by the ladies she supports because of her
attentiveness to their needs and the wonderful rapport
she has with each and every one of them. She spends
time planning outings that she feels the ladies will enjoy
and has taken the ladies to her home for the holidays.
Mary remembers every birthday and holiday. She has
always given the ladies gifts and made their day
special in one way or another. She has stayed later for
work on countless occasions at a moment’s notice to attend to
the needs of the ladies she supports.”
SPRING
2013
20
13
17
18
SPRING
2013
ACHIEVA Family Trust
Board of Trustees
Chair, Neal R. Shipley
Chair Elect, Beth Fulena
Vice Chair, Jennifer C. Johnson, Esq.
Past Chair, Sean J. Carmody, Esq.
Trustees
Bernard C. Caputo, Esq.
Julie Dever
LeeAnn A. Fulena, Esq.
Holly Hoff
Stephan P. Hubbard, CLU, ChFC
Honorable Lee Mazur
Alan Meisel, JD
Dr. Irving J. Oppenheim
Richard S. Scott, Esq.
Joan Shoemaker, Esq.
Kristen Stokes, Esq.
Robert Wisner
Robert Woeber
Scott Yochum
Martha Zatezalo, Esq.
2013 - 2014
The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh
Board of Trustees
Chair, Jon Haglund
Chair Elect, Meghan Gannon Anderson
Vice Chair. Scott Bishop
Past Chair, Lisa G. Silverman, Esq.
Trustees
Pam DeGeorge
Stacey Diaz
Diane DuFour-Guadio
Tana Ford
Nancy Green
Michael G. Meyer
Cheryl Simchak
Jillian F. Zacks, Esq.
The Arc of Westmoreland
Board of Trustees
Chair, Edward W. Price
Chair Elect, Gary Teti
Vice Chair, Jerry Moschetti, Jr.
Past Chair, Gary L. Sellers
Trustees
James M. Duffy, Esq.
Gregory C. Moore, Esq.
David Tilstone
Ronald Toncini
Hire with
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 1983
Pittsburgh, PA
Heart™
ACHIEVA has partnered with AEC Group’s Staffing
Services for the Hire with Heart™ program.
Through this program when a business hires staff
through AEC Group Staffing Division, AEC will
make a contribution to ACHIEVA. ACHIEVA will be
able to use the donations for any programs and
services. ACHIEVA will be the featured charity this
Spring. Your support could have a great impact on
ACHIEVA’s work.
If you or your company is interested in the
Hire with Heart™ program, please contact AEC’s
Staffing Services at (412) 678-1440 or via email at
staffing@aecgroup.com.
We wish to thank Rob Hazlett of AEC Group for his
help making ACHIEVA their featured charity.
“ The corporations of Western Pennsylvania
have historically been very generous donors,
but, many organizations have been forced to
cut back or suspend their contributions. This
program makes it possible for them to
continue to give. Community support is an
essential part of AEC Group’s corporate
identity. Hire with Heart™ is not a short term
project, but a new way of doing business.
AEC Group is the first organization to directly
tie charitable donations to Staff Augmentation
Services. This is truly a unique opportunity
which offers unmatched value to our clients
and our community.”
– Chris Marshall in Business
Development with AEC Group
The AEC Group is a certified Women and Disadvantaged
Business Enterprise (W/DBE) company that offers technology,
infrastructure, construction management and staffing
services in our region. Many charitable organizations are
getting much-needed help through Hire with Heart™.
SPRING
2013
19
ACHIEVA News
711 Bingham Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
www.achieva.info
Address Services Requested
Combined Federal Campaign
ACHIEVA: 48463
The Arc of Westmoreland: 28623
United Way Contributor’s
Choice Campaign:
ACHIEVA: 161
(Allegheny County)
The Arc of Westmoreland: 390
The Arc of Westmoreland is a
partner agency of the United Way
of Westmoreland County
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Pittsburgh
20
SPRING
2013
Follow us on Twitter:
@ACHIEVA
www.achieva.info