E-BEACON
April, 2018
LEADERSHIP MESSAGE
Greetings Everyone!

As I reflect back on the month of April, it occurs to me that never have truer words been spoken than those of the great Vince Lombardi when he said,

“The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”

This is absolutely the case here at ACHIEVE and we are so privileged to have individuals, both within our organization and in the broader community, who not only believe in our mission, but help so that we can live it each day.

On April 20 th we at ACHIEVE held a ground breaking ceremony for commencement of construction on our new Adult Social Program, which will provide 50 individuals with a new integrated and inclusive day programming option. This project was the culmination of a team of direct care and other professionals articulating a common vision, unwavering support from agency leadership and Boards of Directors, and generous financial commitments from the ACHIEVE, Decker, and Gaffney Foundations, NYS OPWDD, Empire State Development, the Menzies family, and NYS Senator Fred Akshar, who helped us reach goal by securing an allocation for our project in the NYS budget! The combined effort of all parties involved brought this project to fruition in a very short period of time and we are grateful.

Additionally, this month we held our 23 rd Annual Bob Warner Pin Crushing Classic. This event, which is co-chaired by Assemblyman Cliff Crouch and Assemblyman Chris Friend, and presented by Visions Federal Credit Union, was our best event yet with record breaking fundraising and attendance levels! Many thanks to our amazing Development Team including Bob Brazill and Christa Reese for all of your effort as well as the 25+ volunteers who gave of their time and talents that day. Another example of great teamwork!

You will find many other Agency highlights within the body of this newsletter, so many of which clearly demonstrate how impactful the combined efforts of individuals served, employees and others truly are.

I hope to see all of you at ACHIEVE’s Dinner Dance and Awards Banquet on June 1 st at the The McKinley. This signature event, which spotlights the many accomplishments of our individuals served, employees and community partners, never disappoints!

Warm Regards,

Amy Howard
Acting Chief Executive Officer
NEW ACHIEVE ADULT SOCIAL PROGRAM
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
ACHIEVE and ACHIEVE’s Agency and Foundation Board of Directors hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, April 20 th at 3:00 pm for the new ACHIEVE Adult Social Program located at ACHIEVE’s 125 Cutler Pond Road facility.

This project represents a unique integrated setting for both disabled and non-disabled individuals where retirees and others can socialize and participate in activities of their choosing. The program will offer art, music, exercise, computer skills, recreation and daily activities that can be selected by the participants. Attendees will spend 4-7 hours a day at the program with flexibility being offered to meet the scheduling needs of the individuals enrolled and their families, many of whom work during the day and will be relying on ACHIEVE’s Adult Social Program for a safe, fun place for their loved ones.
The transformation of the former manufacturing space to the ACHIEVE Adult Social Program will require a complete renovation of the identified 11,000 square foot space. Once the renovation is complete the space will house new activity rooms built with retractable walls for program flexibility and nursing stations, offices and conference rooms in support of program participants. There will be designated space for ACHIEVE’s Supported Employment Program to provide tools and training to ready individuals with disabilities to work in a competitive environment in our community. 

Sen. Fred Akshar said, “ACHIEVE is an incredible organization and family of professionals dedicated to providing opportunities for fulfillment and success to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. They have my and the entire 52nd Senate District’s thanks for their continued service to our community, which will only grow stronger when this project is completed. My thanks to Empire State Development and the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities for their commitment to this worthy cause as well. I’m proud to have also been able to secure an additional $150,000 in this year’s State Budget to help ACHIEVE complete these much needed renovations and expansions. I feel that we as a community and a society have a fundamental and moral obligation to take care of people with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities. It’s just the right thing to do.”

“ACHIEVE is very proud and excited to start construction on our new Adult Social Program. This is an opportunity for our organization to expand the high quality services that we provide to our community while creating new options for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.  We are grateful for the incredible support of our local legislators, state agencies and other funders who made this project possible.” said ACHIEVE Acting CEO Amy G. Howard
Pictured: Senator Fred Akshar; Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo; Broome County Executive Jason Garner; Southern Tier Regional Director, Empire State Development, Donna Howell; Assemblyman Clifford Crouch; ACHIEVE Acting CEO Amy Howard; Supervisor, Town of Dickinson, Michael Marinaccio; Deputy Director OPWDD Ann Marie Peterson; ACHIEVE Foundation Board Chairman Jeff Lake and ACHIEVE Board of Directors President Ellen Feldman.
23rd Annual Bob Warner Pin Crushing Bowling Tournament
Saturday April 21, 2018

RECREATION RESPITE PARTICIPATES IN PAINT THE ICE NIGHT
March 23
Submitted by: Mel Blakeslee
ACHIEVE's Recreation Respite program participated in Paint the Ice night in support of Hockey 4 Hope. Hockey 4 Hope is an annual charity hockey game organized to raise money to help alleviate the financial burden that is associated with cancer. Prior to the game community members "Paint the Ice" with messages of hope, love, memories and encouragement.
TIOGA CHICKS
Submitted by: Caitlin Ropp

Team Tioga welcomed the first baby chicks Wednesday April 4th!! Tioga receives eggs, incubator and all the necessary equipment to hatch baby chicks each spring from a local Tioga farmer. Everyone learns about how the baby chicks grow inside the eggs and then they get to watch them hatch and rasie them until they are old enough to rejoin the farmer. This has been such a wonderful experience for everyone at ACHIEVE's Tioga facility! 
ACHIEVE RECREATION RESPITE PROGRAM
Submitted by:Mel Blakeslee
ACHIEVE HUMAN RESOURCES
Submitted by:Jamie Striley

ACHIEVE currently has full-time, part-time and flexible schedule positions available with new pay levels and a great benefits package. Whether you’re just beginning a career in Human Services, or you’re a Human Services Professional with prior experience; ACHIEVE offers learning and growth opportunities for a rewarding future! We have an incredible team at ACHIEVE and we are looking to add more exceptional team members.

If you are interested in positively impacting the lives of others, visit


to view, and apply for, any of our open positions at ACHIEVE.
DID YOU KNOW..........?
Submitted by: Pam Northrup

Did you know that ACHIEVE Chenango has something unique? We have an onsite Dental Clinic! Our small clinic can accommodate the I/DD population that we serve. The committed team of Dr. Mark Egner, Brandy Lobdell, Jane Kinneary and Pam Northrup can take care of all general dentistry needs from cleanings, exams, xrays, oral cancer screenings and sealants, to fillings, simple extractions, some endodontics, crowns and dentures. 

Our clinic also recently acquired a panorex x-ray machine. This is a huge asset to our patients, as so many are unable to tolerate the smaller x-rays, and it is helpful for staff to do proper diagnosis. 

We also welcome our employees and their dependents to use our clinic. We keep our prices a bit lower than the area dentists, and we will complete the Delta Dental forms for your reimbursement.

Although a drive, we feel confident that you will find us worth the trip. Please call Pam at 337-2050 to answer any questions or to make an appointment. 
The 64th Annual Dinner Dance
proudly presented by: The ACHIEVE Foundation
2018 ACHIEVE MEMBERSHIP
Submitted by: Christa Reese
We are fortunate to have so many opportunities in our community through the programs we offer and the partnerships we have created. But there is always more we can do. We ask you to encourage local businesses to hire a person with a disability, invite people with disabilities to participate in your civic organization or community activity, or to give time or money to an organization supporting people with disabilities. Our membership campaign is an important part of our year and support helps us to continue our mission to advocate for an enhanced quality of life through skill advancement, inclusion, integration, and independence of persons with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities through services provided in Broome, Chenango and Tioga Counties.

What is ACHIEVE’S Annual Membership Campaign?
·          Each year ACHIEVE runs a membership campaign in which we ask our staff, families, people we support and the community to become a member of the agency.
·          It is only $5.00, per person, to become a member!
·          Membership lasts one full calendar year.
 
Why is ACHIEVE’S Annual Membership Campaign So Important?
·          Your support and inclusion in the agency helps people with disabilities become more independent, productive and integrated in our local community. Without your help there is less opportunity for personal growth and achievement.
·          Membership provides our agency the ability to advocate legislatively at the state and national levels. As we move forward, our agency continues to face enormous challenges given the current economic climate of our state and nation. It would be helpful for our advocacy with legislative and government officials to have the largest membership ever.

We hope you'll join ACHIEVE. Together, we will keep the vision alive of creating opportunities for individual successes.
2018 Sponsorships
Kathy Muller 2017
CVI Employment Center Participant of the Year
Submitted by: Bob Brazill

Here at ACHIEVE we are busy planning the 64th Annual Dinner Dance, 9th Annual Savor the Summer and the 2018 Binghamton Devils Charity Golf Classic. As you may know, ACHIEVE provides programs and services to 2,200 individuals with disabilities in Broome, Chenango and Tioga Counties. Our organization is growing physically and programmatically and we are asking for sponsorships to help support our organization and the individuals that we serve. Sponsorship opportunities come in in many sizes and provide you with recognition as a business that supports individuals with disabilities in our community.