Winter 2013

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AABR 57th Annual
Singing Like a Soprano
For more information contact Chris Luther at 718.321.3800 x 252, CLuther@aabr.org or visit aabr.org
They sing, clap, and sway to the beat
of the music. Their repertoire includes
motivational songs like “I Believe I Can
Fly,” “Stand by Me” and crowd favorite,
James Brown’s “I Feel Good.” Applause,
cheers and whistles from an excited
audience rain down on them like
confetti. They have rhythm. They can
move. They are the Chorus of AABR.
quality to the group. Ann belts out
hardy “whoas” in “I Feel Good.” Yvonne
intones Richie Valen’s “La Bamba.”
Maxine keeps the rhythm, clapping in
time. Patty and Jeanne bob to the beat.
Marian and Mathew, along with their
colleagues, Olivia, Bobby and Priscilla,
harmonize, singing backup.
“When the crowd cheers for them, they
“When it comes to music, they can do it light up. It’s really gratifying,” Will says.
as good as anyone,” says Tom Jordon,
Weldon Hall’s music teacher who plays AABR’s chorus has started to take its act
the electric guitar. His sentiments are on the road. They visit senior centers,
echoed by his choral partner and pianist, other sister agencies like AABR and
Will Mosley: "They always perform with nursing homes, like Margaret Tietz
Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in
tremendous passion and enthusiasm."
Jamaica. The chorus practices every
AABR’s chorus is comprised of ten indiv- week. They are helped by Assistant
Music Instructors: Joyce Holmes, Clauiduals, each of whom brings a special
Yvonne belts out La Bomba
dette Fraser, and James Powell. During
the holidays, they add songs to their
performance like “Jingle Bells” and
“Jingle Bell Rock.” Other signature tunes
are “My Girl,” “Twist and Shout,” and “Do
You Love Me?”
If you want to see the chorus in action
or want to donate in support of their
good efforts, visit AABR.org and follow
the link. You just might find yourself
crooning from your seat.
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
AABR, Inc.
1508 College Point Blvd. 2nd Floor
College Point, NY 11356
A Whole Lotta Turkey The Passing of a Great Lady
It started with an email. AABR’s Director of Development, John
Frank, reached out to Tom Palma, President of the College Point
Board of Trade, asking for turkey donations. Within minutes, Mr.
Palma had called to say he’d help spread the word. In the final
count, twenty-eight turkeys were on their way to AABR.
Karline Dambreville, Dir. of Family Services, with Mr. Ernest Gordon.
Gifts Galore
This year’s Holiday Gift Program ascended into
the record books. An incredible 774 gifts were
donated. Over a hundred volunteers and staff
pitched in by shopping, wrapping presents or
delivering gifts. With so many people involved,
and too many people to acknowledge here individually, please know that your generosity created
smiles, shouts of joy and untold happiness. We
couldn’t have done it without you.
“Some of the families we serve are really struggling right now,”
notes Karlene Dambreville, Director of Family Services. She and her
staff of Medicaid Service Coordinators selected those most in
need. Kymm Elliot knew of a family whose father had been unemployed. “When I gave him the turkey, he was stunned. He thought I
was making a regular house call,” Kymm says. He then called out to
his fourteen year old son, Richie, who has disabilities, to explain the
reason for Kymm’s visit. Richie broke into a dance, stuffing his
hands near his chest and flapping his arms like wings, “Then the
father says to me--Look! He’s doing the Turkey Dance!’ We all
busted out laughing.”
John McCarden gave a turkey to a family where English is their
second language. The mother thanked John and jokingly said,
“You’re like Turkey Claus!” Both enjoyed a rolling-belly laugh.
The companies who graciously contributed were Precision Gear,
Five Guys Burgers, Belaire Offset Co., Jag Specialty Food, Ad
Design, Senid Plumbing & Heating, Ciampa Organization, and
College Meat Center, where Ray Leonardo and Steve Picarello did
much of the coordination.
If we count the turkeys donated to residences by our business partners, Trooper Foods, Ace Endico and Driscoll Foods, we received
a whopping 71 gobblers. Now, that’s a whole lotta turkey.
On December 16, the AABR family bid farewell to one of
its pioneers, Mary Lonergan Walsh, a devoted mother, benefactor, and tireless advocate for the intellectually disabled.
Her son, John, lived in AABR's group home, established in
1977, with his friends and companions on Linden Boulevard,
Queens.
"AABR transformed John's life," says Patricia Walsh Kay, Mrs.
Walsh’s daughter, declaring that her brother, “was really
happy there."
Overjoyed that their son had found a new home, Mary and
her husband, William, dedicated themselves to helping the
agency through four decades. “She was always there to
support AABR no matter what," recalls former Executive
Director, Christopher Weldon.
William and Mary were there working Bingo games, organizing and supporting annual fundraising luncheons and
dinner dances, soliciting funds from families and friends,
assisting in annual appeals and most of all running the thrift
shop on weekends.
"They found enormous joy out of fundraising and giving
back to AABR," says Patricia, "because AABR gave so much to
them."
Two years ago, on Mary Walsh's 100th birthday, the residential facility that had been a home to her son, John, for over 30
years was named in honor of her and her husband. Fittingly,
their names will forever be etched in AABR's history.
Taking a Punch from Hurricane Sandy
It’s a law in physics. For every action there is an equal
and opposite reaction. This statement’s truth was never
more evident as AABR staff members rose to the occasion, meeting Hurricane Sandy head on, to ensure the
well-being of our individuals.
Bob Moran, Weldon Hall’s wood shop
instructor, a fourteen-year veteran at
AABR, biked from his home in Rockville Center on Long Island into
Queens. A then newly hired George
Kearse, Weldon Hall’s Academics
Assistant Instructor, worked 52 hours
straight, pitching in wherever he
could.
Bob
w// Dominick
B
b Moran
M
D i i k
“Some staff gave up staying with their families to take
care of our guys,” says Hezikeigh Elliott,
Director of Residential Services. “They
could have easily said, ‘I have to stay with
my mother or my child,’ but they didn’t.
They felt the need to extend themselves
and they did.” The outpouring of support
George Kearse
from staff prompts Hezikeigh to gush, “I
always tell my staff--there’s no me without you.”
As the storm headed to shore on Sunday night, the Director of Maintenance, Luis Reynoso, and his staff were
already setting up Weldon Hall with air mattresses,
covers, robes, and flash lights. Eleven years prior, they did
the same in the aftermath of 9/11. In the wake of Sandy’s
destruction, five residences required evacuation. At one
point, there were twenty-six individuals with disabilities
living in Weldon Hall’s auditorium.
Once again, staff rose to the occasion. Melanie Hackett from Water Street ICF didn’t
sleep for the first 24 hours. Selesha Gowins
of Water Street IRA-I, who hails from Far
Rockaway, prepared meals, called pharmacies for medicines, assisted with toileting
working non-stop even during the night. Melanie Hackett
“One of our guys Frank couldn’t fall asleep,
so we walked with him in the halls,” Melanie comments.
“You really can’t say enough about our staff,” says Thomas
McAlvanah, Executive Director. “When I first came here, I
was impressed with the culture of care at AABR. Now,
almost two years later, especially after Sandy, my admiration only grows.”
Son and mother together at the Harvest Ball
Faces of AABR