Sunshine Village

OUR ANNUAL REPORT

Thank YOU for helping us achieve our success!

Calendar Year 2022 / Fiscal Year 2022

MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sunshine Village was founded in 1967 by a small group of parents who came together to create an organization to improve the lives of their children who had developmental disabilities.  With the commitment of the local business community and civic groups, their dream was realized and has been sustained for over five decades. 

Their dream was to create a warm and welcoming organization that would improve the lives of their children - and other people's children. Their dream was to serve people with developmental disabilities, regardless of their level of disability. Their dream was to found an organization that would be around for more years than them - and continue in their tradition of caring.

Their dream was and is Sunshine Village.

As Sunshine Village continues to rebuild itself from the global pandemic – and grapples with the ongoing impact of the workforce crisis – we THANK YOU for your continued support of all that we do. Whether it is providing high-quality services throughout our day habilitation, employment, and community engagement programs – providing therapeutic and clinical services, or helping people find a job or make new friends – in the end, it is all about helping people have a GREAT day. We are committed to that – and we appreciate all your support in helping us make that happen!

Thank you! You SHINE!

Gina Kos

Executive Director

Click the video above to enjoy a viewing of our 55th Anniversary Celebration!

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sunshine Village is incredibly fortunate to have the support of eight experienced and talented professionals – who volunteer their time our on governing Board of Directors. This group – led by long-term Chair Ernest N. Laflamme, Jr. - provides guidance in directing the operations and programs of the agency – and each brings a unique perspective that aids Sunshine Village in ensuring the continued deliverance of high-quality support in safe, welcoming environments.

CHAIR - ERNEST N. LAFLAMME, JR. serving Sunshine Village since 1982

(Pictured above)                  

VICE CHAIR - STEPHEN C. MELNYCK, JR. serving Sunshine Village since 1982              

TREASURER - PETER S. BENTON, CPA serving Sunshine Village since 2012                       

CLERK - MICHAEL R. SIDDALL, ESQ. serving Sunshine Village since 2004                         

DIRECTOR - MARIE LAFLAMME serving Sunshine Village since 2002

DIRECTOR - TERI SZLOSEK serving Sunshine Village since 2011

DIRECTOR - DEBRA A. SCHNEEWEIS serving Sunshine Village since 2013                         

DIRECTOR - FRANK STELLATO serving Sunshine Village since 2015

OUR 55th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

STRATEGIC PLANNING –

OUR FY2023 REBUILDING PLAN

At the Annual Meeting in June of 2022, the Board of Directors approved a REBUILDING PLAN that will direct efforts thru June of 2023. The VISION is to rebuild Sunshine Village to its $16 million size with 500+ clients while continuing to successfully serve a more diverse population of individuals with a broader spectrum of disabilities. This will be accomplished through the ongoing delivery of an array of innovative IN-PERSON SERVICES. The organization will also continue working to achieve higher efficiencies based on investment in real estate and buildings, technology, and personnel.

So far, we have achieved our four Organizational Goals in the following ways: 

Advance SSV as a “Provider of Choice” by meeting the changing and growing needs of current and future referrals, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with intellectual disabilities (ID), and other growing populations. 



2022 Highlights

Ensuring the financial stability of the organization by maximizing current funding, diversifying funding streams, managing investments, and increasing development dollars while growing the organization.

Our FY2022 Financial Audit showed SSV is a strong, financially viable organization. At the end of June 2022, revenues exceeded $12 million. Employees numbered 152. Clients being served thru in-person services in Chicopee, Three Rivers and Agawam totaled 356.  

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, a local CPA firm, completed the Annual Financial Audit for Fiscal Year 2022. As in the past several years, the report was clean - with no material weaknesses or management recommendations. Sunshine Village spends more than 85 cents of each fundraising and contract dollar on programmatic services – directly benefiting our clients. This exceeds the national average of 80 cents – and is a true indicator that the organization is a good fiscal steward for our donors and taxpayers. 

Maximize property and technology utilization of all buildings, equipment, and vehicles owned and leased by Sunshine Village.

Security Risk Assessment

We are currently undergoing a second Security Risk Assessment – being completed by an external security professional – to ensure that we are providing safe environments within all of our buildings and we protect our people, property, and equipment.

  

Technology Plan

Our FY2023 Technology Plan will ensure that we are operating in efficient ways - acquiring the latest technology while upgrading our current systems.

Continue to be an “Employer of Choice” by providing competitive compensation, benefits, and professional development while implementing innovative promotion and recognition initiatives to improve recruitment and retention efforts. 

Compensation and Benefits

We realize that our paid employees are our greatest asset – and the Board of Directors works hard to provide annual raises – now coupled with Appreciation and Retention Bonuses. Benefits are reviewed annually – and this past year – we enhanced the Life Insurance Policy benefit as well as the Mileage Refund. 

Professional Development

We continue to invest in our employees – using our electronic training platform to provide a comprehensive Annual Training Program. 



Appreciation and Recognition

To enhance our retention efforts, we thank our employees in so many ways – all directed by a very robust Appreciate and Wellness Calendar. 

OUR SERVICES 

Throughout the years since 1967, Sunshine Village has achieved the dream of our founders in many ways. The agency has offered a variety of innovative programs designed to meet the ever-changing demands of its clientele. The organization provides a host of unique life, work, and community engagement supports for individuals with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders – while also having the capacity to successfully serve people with significant challenges - cognitively, physically, and behaviorally – and complicated medical conditions.

Sunshine Village currently provides a host of life, work, and community engagement services and works hard to design supports that continue to meet the needs of people with intellectual disabilities as well as people on the autism spectrum. These services are: