To the people and families
that inspire us throughout the year -
we feel privileged to have the continued
opportunity to grow together!
To our dedicated employees - we thank you for your commitment to making a difference
in the lives of the people and families that we support.
From the Advocates family to your family,
we wish you a safe,
happy, and healthy holiday season!
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Now more than ever, we appreciate our families, donors, community partners, and employees that have celebrated and supported Advocates throughout the years.
If you are grateful for
the supports and services Advocates provides, please consider making a gift to this year’s Annual Appeal. Your gift will make a profound impact on people with disabilities.
On behalf of Advocates' families whose lives will be touched by your generosity, we sincerely thank you. Please know how much we appreciate your support!
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Did you know?
Advocates partners with several businesses and organizations in our local community. These relationships are intended to form lasting bonds while supporting the missions of both parties.
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We are happy to say that one of these partnerships is with the Syracuse Crunch! The Crunch provides discount tickets for the families we support, hosts recruitment opportunities at home games, and even lends the services of their mascot, Crunchman, to Advocates events such as our Holiday Party and Family Picnic.
Advocates is proud to partner with the Syracuse Crunch, and we look forward to being able promote Advocates Nights with the Crunch again in 2022.
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To learn more about the Syracuse Crunch and the various ways they benefit our community,
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"Gratitude Challenge Wednesdays" |
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Advocates' 2nd Annual "Gratitude Challenge Wednesdays" campaign was a big success, thanks to you!
Each Wednesday in November, we spotlighted a topic that people are grateful for, and looked for feedback from our followers on Facebook.
Anyone who shared something they're thankful for was eligible to win one of four randomly drawn VISA gift cards. Congratulations to Ame Steele LaShomb, Amy Young, Hilary Burlarley, and James Welch on being our lucky winners!
We thank everyone for having taken the time to share their thoughts on the people and things they're grateful for!
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Advocates' 2nd Annual
Virtual Holiday Showcase
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Advocates would like to take the opportunity to spotlight things that bring joy to people during the holiday season. We are excited to announce a return of our Virtual Holiday Showcase!
Individuals receiving services from Advocates are invited to share pictures of their holiday artwork, decorations, or a video singing a holiday song. Submissions will be displayed on Advocates' Facebook page, along with a link on Advocates' website for everyone to view starting on 12/20/2021.
• Individuals that would like to participate in the Holiday Showcase must have a signed photo release form on file with Advocates. If you do not have one on file, one will be provided electronically.
• Please send submissions to: recreation@advocatesincorporated.org by Friday, December 17th.
• Please be sure all submissions are "family friendly".
with any questions.
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Give the Gift of Advocates Gear
with Spreadshop!
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Looking for the perfect gift for that special someone? Want to give a unique gift while representing Advocates at the same time? Trying to avoid the hassle of the stores while having your items delivered right to your doorstep? You can do all of the above by shopping on Spreadshop!
Our extensive catalog includes items such as clothing, totes, travel mugs, plush toys, and much more - all featuring the Advocates logo!
Happy shopping!
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Plan on doing your holiday shopping online this year? If so, simply shop on smile.amazon.com as you normally would, and designate Advocates as your charity of choice by searching for Advocates Inc
With every eligible purchase, AmazonSmile will donate 5% to Advocates. It's that easy! Thank you for your support!
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Michael Knight turned 72 this year, but you’d never guess it based on his quick wit and newfound zest for life. He has only been with Advocates since March, but since that time, he describes himself as being a new man.
Michael was born at a time when people with disabilities were viewed negatively. He can recall many examples of being treated unfairly throughout his life. In grade school, he was indiscriminately grouped into a large class of students with disabilities. As a student, he was not challenged intellectually or provided with the ability to think critically. He missed the opportunity to learn vital life skills such as managing money.
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Fortunately for him, his parents were very forward-thinking at the time, and they fostered a typical life for him which focused on his potential and not on his disability. The work ethic his father instilled in Michael at an early age while working on the family’s farm set him up for a meaningful career later in life. After more than 30 years of dedicated service on the job, Michael retired from Comprehensive Technologies in 2004 as one of their head custodians.
With Michael’s personal and professional achievements came a good number of challenges as well. Having never learned essential life skills early in life caught up to him when he lived independently. For years, he relied heavily on a community access program in his current hometown of Auburn, New York. Michael’s world was turned upside-down when the program was shut down unexpectedly. Thankfully, he still had the support of those closest to him. His sisters, Margie, Betty, and Kathy, and his brother-in-law, Al, were instrumental in maintaining a sense of normalcy and finding a new provider in the wake of his losing something that had become all too familiar to him.
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“Michael lived a frustrating life prior to joining Advocates,” said Alexas Yorio, Michael’s Community Habilitation Coordinator at Advocates.
“I didn’t have a choice with what I could do or where I could go; I was stuck,” Michael said. After years of feeling “stuck”, his problems were heavily compounded when he turned to alcohol as a vice. Constant repression, tension, and his drinking habit led him down a dark and isolated path.
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“I woke up one morning and literally thought, Do I want to continue this? Do I want to live or die?” Michael recollected. It was at that moment that he knew he had to take drastic steps to turn his life around. With the encouragement and support of his girlfriend, Diana (pictured right), Michael stopped drinking cold turkey that day, and rightfully considers it to be one of his greatest accomplishments. Another great accomplishment, he said, was choosing Advocates as his new service provider. Fate intervened when he joined the Advocates family and began searching for the right Mentor.
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Michael met Jane Skowron (pictured left) in 1986, when Jane worked with him as a Vocational Trainer. Jane, who had learned about Advocates through a former employer, stumbled upon Michael’s online advertisement for a Mentor. While the advertisement sparked Jane’s interest, she had no idea it was for the affable gentleman she had known for decades. Michael’s search for a Mentor ended the moment he learned that Jane had applied to work with him. With Jane’s support, a life devoid of the toxins that had once consumed him, and his newly developed positive outlook, Michael began opening doors that had once been closed on him. As if someone had flipped a light switch, Michael began seeing the value in his life again.
“Advocates lets me live my life the way I want to,” Michael said with elation, as he considered the ownership he now has of his life. “They give me freedom to do things I wasn’t able to do before.” In addition to planning his week the way he wants, he has also assumed other responsibilities such as scheduling appointments and managing his finances. His growth in this area has meant obtaining his own debit cards and overseeing most of his expenditures. He takes pride in completing large tasks independently, such as maintaining a clean and organized home and cooking his own meals. Because he is humble by nature, Michael’s focus isn’t solely on his accomplishments.
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“I’m an ongoing project, and if you never try, you’ll never know,” he said, thinking about his goals and a recent memorable moment. Michael has always enjoyed singing but had never had the courage to do so in front of people. When the opportunity arose recently to sing alongside national singer-songwriter, Kay Miracle, Michael jumped at the opportunity. For the first time in his life, Michael sang tunes by Hank Williams to a large group of people. “I was able to do that because of Jane,” he said sheepishly. “She makes me want to try new things and it’s made an impact.” That impact is clearly a mutual one.
“I’ve learned more about my career through Michael than in my previous 26 years in the field,” Jane said. “The biggest piece of this job is listening to the person you’re working for. Really listening to Michael and getting to know him better has helped me enhance his life.” To say the pair has a great working relationship would be an understatement.
“I’ve worked for a few agencies and have never seen anything like this before,” Alexas said. “It’s great knowing that we’ve found a match made in heaven.”
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With Michael’s positive outlook on life, a fortified courage to experience new things, and a wonderfully supportive Mentor in Jane, Michael feels as though he can achieve anything. Be sure to introduce yourself to this dynamic duo if you run into them at some of Michael’s favorite events and activities, such as concerts, festivals, car shows, or various restaurants and shops around town. One can’t help but marvel at and appreciate their exuberance about life and all it has to offer. |
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If you have a caring family member or friend who is looking for meaningful work and the opportunity to support someone as inspirational as Michael, please encourage them to apply on our website. We look forward to meeting them!
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ADVANCING INCLUSION | EMPOWERING LIVES | CREATING COMMUNITY |
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