If you have an opportunity to visit the Advocates Liverpool office,
be sure to check out our art gallery, which is located in the main hallway! Six talented artists who are part of the Advocates family will be featured each quarter, each displaying two works of art and a short bio on the artist.
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Mark Cappoletti
Mark Cappoletti is a talented artist who favors working with acrylics on canvas. He also enjoys using glass for a medium to create art. Mark is a train enthusiast and often rides the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. These interests
are where much of the inspiration for his work comes from.
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He also enjoys painting scenes from his favorite photographs. Mark has been painting since high school and currently participates in a weekly art studio class.
We thank Mark for sharing his talents and beautiful artwork to display in our Art Gallery!
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Halli Wadsworth
Halli Wadsworth is a gifted artist who prefers working with chalk, pastels, and water. She has been able to create some beautiful artwork using these mediums. Halli’s love of crafts developed in elementary school, but her passion for art really began when she took an art class as an elective in high school. Her art teacher was able to unlock creativity by breaking down large projects into small intervals which showed progress and success.
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This is how she created the "Self-Portrait" and "Bones" pieces with chalk and water. Throughout her art journey, Halli has learned that art is a personal expression, and that “If you like what you’ve done, it makes your heart smile.”
We thank Halli for her participation in our Art Gallery!
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Advocates Community Meetings |
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Dreamnight at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo |
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Dreamnight 2022 was a huge success! On June 10th, Advocates partnered with other local service providers and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo to host an evening of entertainment, food, and fun with family and friends, and of course, the animals! |
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Originating in the Netherlands at the Rotterdam Zoo in 1996, Dreamnight is an inclusive and educational cost-free evening for children with special health care needs and disabilities to enjoy the zoo. Every year, more than 100,000 participants and their families and friends celebrate Dreamnight on six continents and in 23 countries around the world. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is the only zoo in New York to have taken part in this annual global celebration. |
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We send our sincere thanks to all our families and friends who attended, as well as to our employees. Your selfless dedication of your time and energy led to the enjoyment of hundreds of people! We thank you!
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Advocates Partners with American Red Cross |
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Advocates and the American Red Cross held a blood drive on June 28th at Advocates' office in Liverpool.
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Thanks to those who donated,
- 18 units of blood were collected
- 4 first-time donors participated
- 54 potential lives were saved
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We send our sincere thanks to everyone who supported this critical mission! If you missed this drive and would like to donate at an upcoming event near you, please click here.
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Advocates would like to congratulate Dylan Scholz for having graduated top of his class at the Oasis Academy! Not only did he receive numerous Certificates of Excellence for his performance this year, but he was also named class salutatorian! |
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Here is Dylan on the day of his graduation, pictured with his mother (left) and Advocates Mentor, Amber Dileonardo (right).
We are proud of
your many accomplishments, Dylan!
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Seth and his Mentor, Matt Abulencia, have amassed quite the following recently because of their musical talents. On Tuesdays, they practice a number of songs that they will play in the community later in the week. Each Friday afternoon, this dynamic duo visits a local park where they participate in this shared hobby, display their talents for all to hear, and bring joy to the patrons in attendance.
Be on the lookout for "The Matt and Seth Show - Park Tour 2022" coming to a park near you!
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Advocates Virtual Trainings |
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What Went Well For You Today?:
A Presentation on Gratitude and Learning to be Positive
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Presented by: Dr. Christina Michaelson, Ph.D |
Le Moyne College Positive Psychology Professor
September 20th @ 6pm
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Typically, we spend a lot of our attention on problems, challenges, and what is not right in our lives and in the world. That certainly benefits us in many ways as we solve problems, meet challenges, and even prevent some difficulties. However, in that process, we tend to neglect to notice some of the positive experiences in our lives and to appreciate them, and research has demonstrated that an increased focus on gratitude can add to our happiness and quality of life. In this presentation, we will talk about some specific strategies for shifting our focus to the positive, developing appreciation for our experiences, and thus adding to our life satisfaction. |
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To register for Advocates trainings,
Please include in your email:
Name of person receiving services
Name/s of person attending
Name of Care Manager
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Transforming Challenges Into Strengths |
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Some of the skills Heath Shaffer possesses today have required time, practice, and work in order to achieve. It’s his skills and traits that can’t be learned, taught, or worked on that make them the most enviable of all.
At a young age, Heath was told that he would never read or write because of his disability. This was disheartening to him because he had dreamt of reading the same way his peers did. Another challenge presented by his disability is a tendency to talk to strangers. With the support of his Mentors through Advocates and an innate ability to comfort others, Heath has transformed these two challenges into two of his greatest assets today.
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“What’s great is that he’s used his ability to talk with others as a mechanism to show he cares about them," said Lisa Finucane, Heath’s Mentor of eight years.
Heath’s good-natured and helpful ways can be traced back to when his great-grandmother was staying at Van Duyn Nursing Home. Heath’s regular visits brought her encouragement and joy, and before long, other residents took quite a liking to him because of how uplifting he was. What began as Heath solely supporting a family member eventually blossomed into much more. For four years, he spent quality time with the residents, listening to their stories and sharing stories of his own. Heath was a welcome sight to those who knew him and as valuable a resource as the establishment had to offer its residents.
“He's always very positive and cheerful,” Lisa said. “Those are the things I hear people say about him, and I’m fortunate to see them myself every time we work together.”
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Sadly, with the pandemic came an indefinite pause on visitors at nursing homes. With one of his favorite activities on hold, Heath then decided to focus on another of his volunteer initiatives – working for ECHO Meals on Wheels. There, Heath has a variety of responsibilities each day, including retrieving all of the meals from the coolers, verifying a logbook of whom to deliver to, and helping to identify the person’s residence as he and his Mentor approach it. “His clients are always happy to see him because he spends time chatting with them,” Lisa said. “He’s a good listener and just has a knack for putting people in a better mood.”
“Advocates is great because it gives him access to more opportunities like volunteering,” Heath’s mother, Jean, chimed in. "He’s always out and about trying something new and meeting new people.”
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Though he already has an impressive resume when it comes to his volunteer experiences, he is always looking for new ways to give back. One way he does this is at holiday time, when he sends handwritten greeting cards to his Meals on Wheels clients, which he is able to do thanks to some persistence and the support from Jean and his Mentors. He has also participated in a Christmas caroling group that visits area nursing homes in hopes of spreading holiday cheer. And, just this past May, Heath was a major help to the county when he took the lead on placing flags on each of the graves at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Syracuse.
With the progress he has made in several areas, the continued support of those who care about him, and the special attributes he possesses, Heaths goals are to keep doing the things he loves while doing good for others each and every day. That includes helping his mother around the house and working on his independent living skills by maintaining his living space, assisting with the laundry, and tidying the house.
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In his leisurely time, Heath enjoys participating in cooking groups, arts and crafts, bowling, going for walks, playing miniature golf and billiards, and playing the drums. Another of Heath’s favorite interests is one that Lisa introduced to him – birdwatching. He and Lisa enjoy spotting and identifying birds in the Shaffers’ yard, as well as when they’re out in the community. Heath’s field guide is usually nearby, and he has become quite knowledgeable about the birds he sees in his daily travels.
Heath’s helpful ways and ever-evolving skill set make him a true asset to the several organizations he lends his time to. To those closest to him, he brings even more. “He has this distinctive kindness about him, and it’s brought a lot to my life,” Lisa said. We’re positive Lisa isn’t the only one who can say this. “He has this distinctive kindness about him, and it’s brought a lot to my life,” Lisa said. We’re positive Lisa isn’t the only one who can say this.
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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 Heath, please encourage them to
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ADVANCING INCLUSION | EMPOWERING FAMILIES | CREATING COMMUNITY |
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