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Dear Archway Friends and Family, 

As we move past the first few weeks of the new school year and the dust begins to settle, I want to extend a warm welcome back to all students and staff. I hope everyone had a refreshing summer break filled with time spent with family and friends. I look forward to the achievements we will accomplish together this year.  

Recently, our Upper School students and teachers showcased their creativity by celebrating Archway Programs’ 60th Anniversary. They did a remarkable job presenting various topics from the year 1965, grounding us in the history that has shaped our organization. I enjoyed spending time perusing the many displays and enjoyed the variety of topics the students covered. I am proud of the research and hard work they put into their presentations. 

Speaking of Archway Programs’ 60th Anniversary, we celebrated the exciting milestone on September 27, 2025, at Liberty Lake Day Camp in Bordentown, NJ, a family-friendly park. It was the perfect setting for honoring our shared Archway Family journey.   

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Jim Reilly, Board Member and Vice Chair; Ron Kennedy, Board Member and Chair; and Tom Grant, Trustee, for joining our celebration and for your continued support and dedication to Archway Programs.   

I would also like to express my gratitude to our special guest, Jessica Packer, who enriched our celebration with her presence, as the granddaughter of Irving Packer, the founder of Campy Happy Times—now known as Archway Programs—her connection to our history adds a personal touch to our community spirit.  

I sincerely appreciate all the Archway Family members who participated in the celebration and consistently contribute to our mission every day. It is your dedication and passion that make Archway Programs truly special, and I look forward to many more wonderful years together. 

Sincerely,   

George Richards   

President/Chief Financial Officer

(back row, left to right) Jim Reilly, Board Member, Vice Chair; Ron Kennedy, Board Member, Chair; Tom Grant, Trustee; Shawn Gibson, Executive Vice President/COO; George Richards, President/CFO; and Jay Montague, Director of the ACT Program. (front row, left to right) Susan Lafferty, the Executive Director of Education; Karen Todd, I.T. Director; Mickie Patetta, Director of DD Services; Kim Zweier, Corporate Controller; and Kim DePalma, Corporate Secretary.

Archway Programs Celebrates 60 Years of Service with a Day of Family Fun!

Jessica Packer with George Richards, Archway Programs' President/CFO

Archway group home residents were in attendance and taking part in the fun. From the smiles on their faces, it was apparent they, too, had a fabulous time! They seemed to enjoy the paddle boats particularly! 

A photo booth was available on-site to capture smiles and memorable moments, allowing guests to enjoy memories of the day for years to come. Special guest Jessica Packer attended the celebration. She is the granddaughter of Irving Packer, the founder of Camp Happy Times, which later became Archway Programs.  

Among those in attendance were George Richards, President/CFO; Shawn Gibson, Executive Vice President/COO; Jim Reilly, Board Member, Vice Chair; Ron Kennedy, Board Member, Chair; and Tom Grant, Trustee. Susan Lafferty, the Executive Director of Education, was also in attendance.  

The administration office staff at Archway Programs, Karen Todd, I.T. Director, Kim DePalma, Corporate Secretary, and Kim Zweier, Corporate Controller, enjoyed the day alongside their families. Mickie Patetta, Director of DD Services, and Jay Montague, Director of the ACT Program, and his family also joined in the fun. The celebratory day highlighted Archway's commitment to the individuals it serves and the sense of community among Archway Programs' employees. 

Celebrating Our I.T. Heroes: A Well-Deserved Thank You on I.T. Appreciation Day!

On September 16th, we celebrated I.T. Appreciation Day to honor the team that keeps us all connected: the Archway Programs I.T. Department. Karen, James, Zac, and Frank work hard to ensure that your computers are running smoothly, your phone calls stay connected, and your passwords are updated or retrieved. Their expertise goes beyond basic support; they also handle software installations, network security, data backups, and systems troubleshooting. They work together to maintain our intranet, implement new technologies, and offer training when necessary to help us all make the most of our equipment and to keep us all connected. Thank you to the Archway Programs IT Team for your invaluable support!

ACT Participants Unveil Powerful Artwork 'ACTs of Anger' Reflecting Raw Emotion  

Participants in the Archway Adult Counseling and Therapy (ACT) Program came together to create a unique piece of artwork using brushes and paint to express themselves on canvas. The group and staff are proud of the outcome, titled “ACTs of Anger,” which serves as a larger-than-life expression of raw emotion. We are impressed with their creativity and ability to convey so much emotion onto a canvas. 

The artwork was recently hung at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital with guidance from Ethan Diamond of Woods. 

Upper School Welcomes Fall in Cozy Flannel Style!

Upper School celebrated the first day of fall by donning their favorite flannel shirts. We captured a few staff members showing off their favorite cozy flannels. 
Happy fall, everyone!  

Upper School Students Celebrate 60 Years of Archway with a Throwback to 1965  

Upper School students and teachers celebrated Archway Programs’ 60th Anniversary by presenting on a topic from 1965. The topics proved to be quite interesting and eye-opening. Did you know that in 1965, a stamp was only five cents, and a gallon of gas was only thirty-one cents? A doctor earned $28,960.00 a year, and a nurse only $5,200.00! The Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 prohibited racial discrimination in voting, alongside the eruption of racial tensions that led to the Watts Riots. Additionally, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” made its debut, and we were introduced to the Pillsbury Doughboy. 

Despite the challenges and changes in the world at that time, Archway Programs opened its doors to provide specialized care for a population in need. We have been offering our services for 60 years and continue to grow each day. 

The hard work required to research and present the level of work the students produced is a testament to the quality of service Archway Programs provides. We are Archway Proud of every one of them! 

Lower School and Archway Early Learning Celebrate Spirit Week with Creative Themed Days!

Lower School and Archway Early Learning celebrated their second whole week back to school with Back to School Spirit Week. Students and staff participated on Monday, Reading Day, by dressing up as their favorite characters. Tuesday was “Math Day,” and participation included wearing a shirt with numbers on it. “Science Day” on Wednesday encouraged students and staff to dress like scientists, followed by “Gym Day” on Thursday, where everyone wore their favorite team gear. Friday was an enjoyable day for “Social Studies Day.” Everyone turned out in their favorite eye patches and headgear while adopting their best, argh, “pirate’ accent while chatting with their mateys. 

Archway Early Learning Students Rev Up Writing Skills with Creative Car Activity!

In late September, Archway Early Learning classes got together to practice writing skills in a unique and fun way. The students used cars to make lines and drawings! Kudos to our creative staff for finding unique ways to make learning fun for their students! 

Just Kids Program Starts the New School Year with Exciting Adventures and Creative Projects

After returning from summer break, students at Just Kids Parkview shared their summer adventures through a fun worksheet, reflecting on their travels, sights, and favorite parks. They enjoyed playing soccer and engaged in creative activities, such as making paddles for the "floor is lava" game, which involved keeping balloons in the air. At Just Kids Waterford, children participated in the "All About My Stanley Cups!" project, personalizing their cups with their names, ages, favorite colors, foods, hobbies, and fun facts. Meanwhile, at Just Kids Dr. Albert M. Bean Elementary, Lite Brite activities returned with enthusiasm, and the kids at Just Kids, Albert Bean, enjoyed circle time, games, and exploring tabletop buckets. 

Voorhees Group Home Ladies Experience an Unforgettable Night with Cirque de Paris!

The extraordinary ladies from our Voorhees group home had an exciting and adventurous weekend early in September! On September 1st, the ladies enjoyed a spectacular performance by Cirque de Paris, which featured clowns, high-wire aerialists, and acrobats. It was a memorable night that the ladies will not soon forget! 

Medford Group Home Ladies Dive into Fun at Atlantic City Aquarium!

The adventure-seeking ladies from our Medford group home had an exciting outing to the Atlantic City Aquarium, which features a variety of exhibits showcasing marine life from the nearby Jersey Shore. The ladies loved seeing the sea turtles, sea horses, lionfish, horseshoe crabs, and more. They especially loved, after a bit of coaxing, being able to dip their hands in the water to interact with some aquatic friends. Overall, it was an exciting day out, and the ladies and staff truly enjoyed themselves!  

Medford Group Home Ladies Enjoy a Beautiful Day at Red Bank Battlefield Park

September's warm and sunny weather made for a wonderful community outing for the lovely ladies from our Medford group home. The group enjoyed an adventurous day in the park while visiting Red Bank Battlefield Park in National Park, Gloucester County. They toured the historic buildings and explored the beautiful gardens and greenhouses. After strolling along the river through the park, they enjoyed a relaxing lunch. Before heading home, the ladies took butterfly photos to commemorate their day. 

Medford Group Home Ladies Enjoy a Sunny Day at Cape May Zoo

The lovely ladies from our Medford group home took advantage of the beautiful September weather and visited the Cape May Zoo. They enjoyed strolling through the zoo, where they saw many animals, including bears, giraffes, and the furry Capybaras, before settling down for a picnic lunch. It was a wonderful way to spend a sunny afternoon together. 

Medford Group Home Ladies Enjoy Craft Show Outing

The lovely ladies from our Medford group home enjoyed a community outing to a craft show at the Memorial Sports Complex in Marlton on September 21st. The ladies enjoyed visiting the tables of the many vendors, and each found something special to purchase and take home as a memento of the day.  

Welcome to the Archway Family!

We are proud to welcome new employees to the Archway Family as our organization expands, allowing us to help more families throughout the community. Please help us give a warm welcome to the newest members of the Archway Family!

Allies Reflects on 2025 TUFH and Autism/IDD Summit

Allies, Inc. leadership was honored to attend TUFH 2025, a joint conference between The Network: Towards Unity for Health, Woods System of Care, and the Mollie Woods Hare Global Center of Excellence held at Woods Services in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. A significant part of the TUFH 2025 conference was an IDD/Autism Summit.

“Members of Allies leadership are deeply grateful to have been able to attend the 2025 TUFH conference,” Michael Haggerty, MS, President of Allies, said. “The experience was enlightening and inspiring.”

The annual conference brought together healthcare leaders from around the world for dialogues focusing on mutual learning and strategies towards improving community health services around the world with a particular focus on underserved populations and the need to enhance the delivery of integrated healthcare to complex populations including those with Intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Read More Here

“Nurturing, Patient, and Caring:” Allies Recognizes 2025 DSP Stars

Allies celebrated our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) during a luncheon and award ceremony on Wednesday, bringing some of Allies’ shining stars to Hamilton to be recognized by Allies leadership and their peers.

“The roles you fill really make up the backbone of our organization,” Mike Haggerty, MS, President of Allies, said. “I cannot overstate the impact you have not only on the individuals we serve, but on their families as well.”

There are many words that can be used to describe those who were recognized as Allies’ star DSPs, “nurturing, patient, and caring” among those.

“Without the wonderful DSPs who are in our programs taking on direct care duties, Allies would not be able to provide care to the standards we set for ourselves,” Phil Monetti, Chief Operating Officer at Allies, said. “We would not be where we are without your hard work and dedication to those we support. Thank you for everything you do every day.”

In total, eight direct support workers from throughout the Allies organization were honored.

Please join us in congratulating and honoring these folks for the amazing work they do every day.

Imani Dunbar, CISS

Yvonne Dunell, CSS

Davona Dunns, CSS

Eric Ferrer, Employment Specialist

Lesa Greene, CSS

Keyarah Searles, CISS

Bernard Shaw, CSS

Calvin Kai, CSS, Allies DSP of the Year 2025

Abilities welcomes first residents to The Village at Hawk Pointe

Abilities of Northwest Jersey Inc.’s innovative housing program at The Village at Hawk Pointe has officially welcomed its first residents. Located at 200 Limestone Boulevard, Washington, NJ, the state-of-the-art facility is designed to provide comprehensive, personalized services for up to 16 individuals with disabilities who may have a range of medical and mobility needs. With convenient access to Abilities’ day programs and lift-equipped transportation services, The Village at Hawk Pointe provides both community-based and in-home support services. 

If you have news or information you would like to see in the next issue of The Bridge, please contact Kelly by phone: 856.767.5757 ext. 242 or by email: kelly.jones@archwayprograms.org.