Advocates Thanksgiving Meal Program | | Thanksgiving Meal Requests – Please sign up by 11/18/26 | | |
To ensure that everyone receiving support from Advocates and their families can enjoy a holiday meal this season, we invite anyone who could use a little extra support to sign up for our free Thanksgiving Meal Program by November 18, 2026.
Please click the link below to request a complete Thanksgiving meal for up to 5 people. If your household includes more than 5 people, please submit 2 forms to receive 2 meal boxes. For questions or assistance, please contact development@advocatesincorporated.org.
After submitting your request, we will reach out by phone within 2 business days to arrange a delivery date.
This program is available to people receiving support from Advocates who live in Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, or Cayuga County.
We are here for you and your family!
| | Finding a Voice, Helping Others Find Theirs | | |
At 52 years old, Jennifer Borrowman has never been one to let limitations define her. In fact, if you ask the people who know her best, they will tell you that Jennifer is a go-getter—someone who believes she can do just about anything, and then sets out to prove it.
Jennifer moved out on her own at 21, first into an apartment before eventually finding a duplex that gave her something especially important: independence and the security of knowing her parents are nearby if she needs them. Her mother, Sue, admits that supporting Jennifer’s decision to leave home was difficult. But Jennifer knew what she wanted, and her parents knew they had to trust their daughter who had spent her entire life showing them what she was capable of.
Jennifer was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy as a young child. She has always been nonverbal, communicates through a device, uses a power wheelchair, and only has control of her right hand. Her diagnosis came as a shock to Sue, who remembers that Jennifer's pediatrician had assured the family that she was doing fine despite not meeting developmental milestones. At Jennifer's one-year checkup with a new pediatrician, everything changed. The family was connected with ENABLE (now AccessCNY), and Jennifer began physical, occupational, and speech therapy through early intervention.
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School brought another challenge: making sure Jennifer was seen for who she was, rather than simply for her disability. After beginning her education in inclusive classrooms, she was placed in a segregated classroom in middle school with students with intellectual disabilities. Her family quickly realized that the setting was not right for her. They advocated for a return to inclusive education, where Jennifer received the resources and support she needed without being separated from her peers. She remained in inclusive classrooms throughout high school and ultimately graduated with a Regents diploma. But Jennifer didn’t stop there.
She went on to earn an associate degree in Human Services from Onondaga Community College and then a Bachelor of Science degree from Empire State College. “I’m so proud of her achievements because they fully demonstrate her hard work and determination,” Sue told us. These achievements say something even more profound about Jennifer – not because her disability made education impossible, but because other people's assumptions could have made it impossible. Jennifer refused to accept those assumptions. “It took hard work, determination, and perseverance, but I never let the way I communicate stop me from reaching my goals,” she said.
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Today, she is putting her education and life experience to work to achieve her goal of helping others. Through the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS), Jennifer volunteers as a self-advocate and helps train new OPWDD employees. Every several weeks, she and other self-advocates share their personal stories with new employees, particularly those who will be supporting people in group homes. Jennifer helps them understand that the people they support have dreams, preferences, opinions, personalities, and voices of their own.
“I started my career supporting Jen, and she taught me one of the most important lessons I've carried throughout my life: always presume competence,” said Amy Dugliss, Executive Director of Advocates.
And Jennifer doesn't just tell her story…she helps others learn how to tell theirs.
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She is especially proud of helping her friend Tina Fitzgerald (pictured left with Jennifer and Amy Dugliss) with storytelling. Together, they teach self-advocates how to share their experiences with new employees. Jennifer has even created picture books that guide people through the process, using images and simple prompts to help them feel more comfortable and confident.
“I want to support other people with disabilities and help them find their voice,” Jennifer said. “I want to help them feel more comfortable and less nervous when telling their stories.”
There is something beautifully fitting about that goal. Jennifer has spent her life insisting that people listen to her, not just to the words coming through her communication device, but to the person behind them. She knows the frustration of having staff speak to her mother instead of speaking directly to her. She knows what it feels like when someone underestimates what she understands or what she can do. And she wants to make sure others don't have to experience that alone.
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"She showed me that communication is about much more than spoken words and that everyone deserves to be given the time and patience that it takes to be fully heard and understood,” Amy said. “The lessons I learned from Jen and her family continue to shape how I think about support, self-direction, and advocacy today.”
When Jennifer needs encouragement, she turns to her best friend, Tina. Her close circle of friends is incredibly important to her, as are the simple things that make life fun: listening to country music, spending time with family and friends, going to the mall, watching her favorite television shows, and joining weekly Zoom conversations with friends about one of her biggest passions—professional wrestling.
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Jennifer's story is ultimately not about overcoming a disability. It is about overcoming expectations. It is about a young girl whose family refused to let a system put her in a box, a young woman who insisted on building a life of her own, and today, a staunch advocate who helps others believe in themselves.
“That’s honestly what I’m most proud of with Jennifer,” Sue said. “She’s never given up on a single thing.”
Perhaps that is Jennifer's greatest lesson. She doesn't see a world full of reasons why she can't. She sees possibilities, and then goes after them. She recognizes her many gifts, and then utilizes them to the benefit of others. “Seeing how she is using her gifts and experiences to empower others and help people find their own voices is so inspiring," Amy told us. Today, she is using the voice she fought so hard to have heard to make sure others are heard, too. Jennifer has found her voice. And now, she is helping others find theirs.
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Do you have a friend or family member who
would make a great Mentor?
If so, please encourage them to apply on our website.
We look forward to meeting them!
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Join us on Thursday, October 22nd for our next Dine For Dollar$ event at Blaze Pizza, located at 5743 Widewaters Plaza in Dewitt.
Stop in anytime between 5-8 PM to build your own pizza from over 35 toppings and ingredients! Take a night off from cooking and enjoy an evening out while making a difference for the people we support.
Blaze Pizza will generously donate 20% of all pre-tax sales back to Advocates. Sales generated on October 22nd through online ordering and in the restaurant dining room will be credited to Advocates. If you are dining in the restaurant, please let the staff know you are with Advocates and provide the promo code: FUNDA or show them the flyer below.
We look forward to seeing you there,
and we appreciate your support!
| | Advocates' Trunk or Treat | | |
Join us for one of our favorite fall traditions!
Advocates is excited to welcome people receiving services and their family members/Mentors to our Trunk or Treat event on Tuesday, October 27th from 1:30-4 PM at our Liverpool office (7710 Maltlage Drive, Liverpool, NY 13090).
Enjoy an afternoon filled with costumes, candy, and decorated vehicles with your friends at Advocates! Whether you come dressed up or just come ready for fun, we hope you'll spend the afternoon celebrating with us! No registration is required for this event.
We hope to see you there!
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Along with our friends at David's Refuge, Advocates is proud to co-host a Halloween Celebration later in the month!
We hope you'll join us for spooky fun and games at the East Area Family YMCA (200 Towne Drive, Fayetteville, NY 13066) on Saturday, Oct. 31st from 11am-1pm. Wear your favorite costume and enjoy indoor trick-or-treating, music and activities, a costume contest, and more!
We hope to see you there!
| | Together, we are building a more compassionate future | | |
With the holiday season approaching, Advocates is working hard to meet the most urgent needs of the individuals and families we support. Your contribution to our Annual Appeal helps us fund vital efforts - like our 2026 holiday meal program - to fight food insecurity and bring comfort to those who need it most.
Thank you for considering making a gift to Advocates' Annual Appeal. Your support reflects the generosity that makes our community a more caring and inclusive place for children and adults with disabilities and their families.
Thank you for bringing comfort to those facing hardship this season. Wishing you and those closest to you a joyful holiday season filled with good health, peace, and meaningful moments.
| | We are deeply grateful to our generous Annual Appeal donors, whose support is helping Advocates meet the growing needs of families who are counting on us. | | Advocates' Annual Family Picnic | | |
We didn't let a little rain dampen our spirits at this year's Family Picnic on Wednesday, September 9th! Despite the wet weather, around 300 people receiving services from Advocates, along with their family members and mentors, came together for an afternoon filled with food, entertainment, friendship, and fun.
It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces enjoying time together and making memories. We would like to thank our food and entertainment vendors for helping make the day special. As always, this event would not have been possible without the many Advocates staff members who generously gave their time, energy, and enthusiasm. Your dedication helped make the day a success, rain or shine. Thank you for making this year's Family Picnic such a memorable event!
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Advocates would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Sheriff Toby Shelley and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office for being a valued partner and continued supporter of our mission. For more than a decade, members of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office have joined us at our Annual Family Picnic, helping make the day a memorable celebration for the people and families we support.
| | Their continued presence and commitment to our community mean so much to us. We are grateful for the relationship we have built and sincerely appreciate the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office for its support over the years! | | |
Advocates' 21st Annual
Charity Golf Tournament
| | | | What a day! Advocates’ 21st Annual Golf Tournament was a fantastic success, and we couldn’t have done it without the incredible support of our community. A very special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Off-Peak Ministries, for their selfless commitment to Advocates and the people we support. We are truly grateful for your partnership! | | |
A huge thank you to all of our sponsors, donors, golfers, volunteers, and employees for helping make the day so memorable. And, of course, our appreciation goes to Timber Banks Golf Club and its wonderful staff for hosting us once again. We are grateful for each and every one of you who continues to make this event — and our mission — possible. Thank you!
| | We Thank This Year's Sponsors! | | | |  | Lunch & Refreshment Sponsor | | |
Program Sponsors
Caruso McLean Investments
J.W. Burns & Company
Morgan Stanley
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Website Sponsor
RxBenefits
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Birdie Sponsors
Bonadio
James St. Dental Arts
Lawley Insurance Agency
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AAA Polymer
Barclay Damon LLP
Ryder
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Schupan
Syracuse Haulers
UBCR
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Scorecard Sponsor
TPM General Contractors
| | Special Thanks to our Generous Golfers, Supporters, & Donors | | |
Diversified Wealth Strategies
Dom Cambareri
Ellen Weinstein, Esq.
Gerald O'Neill
Grech-Cumbo Family Foundation
Grossman St. Armour CPAs
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Hunter Probst
KeyBank
MA Sales
Mary Gauthier
Matt Joslin
Mike Borek
Paradigm Consulting, Inc.
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Patrick & George Nee
Reagan Insurance Agency
Scott Mellen
State Farm -
Andrew Cambria
Team Crestwood
Wladis Law Firm
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Challenger Baseball
CNY Family Sports Centre
Dreissig Apparel
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Dunk & Bright Furniture
Driver's Village
Tap Root Fields
| | ADVANCING INCLUSION | EMPOWERING FAMILIES | CREATING COMMUNITY | | | | |
