Via was overflowing with holiday spirit all week as employees and participants celebrated the season with themed days.

On Monday, December 18, participants enjoyed a fun afternoon that included pizza, a hot chocolate bar, bingo, and worksheet games. President/CEO of Via, Lisa Walkiewicz, used her head for the reindeer antler ring toss game, too!

Throughout the week, everyone was encouraged to show off their holiday socks, headgear, and favorite holiday sweater. On Wednesday, employees voted on their favorite ugly holiday sweater and the winner was given a special prize.

Via wishes you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season!

Click below to watch our annual holiday video.

In November, Via participants Christopher, Vicky, and Sara sold Spruce Street Products at Northampton Community College's annual holiday craft fair.

As part of alternative programming in the Prevocational Workshop, participants make candles, soaps, wax melts, body sprays and wash, bath soaks, and other items. The wares are sold at several craft fairs throughout the year, as well as in the lobby of Via's Spruce Street location.

The products also are sold around the Lehigh Valley at Attic Mice 2 at the South Mall, D&S Florist in Northampton, and Verde in Bethlehem. Proceeds from the sales support our participants' entrepreneurial activities.

Are you celebrating an important life event and looking for unique gifts for your guests? We take special orders for our Spruce Street Products that can be individualized to meet your needs. Contact Megan Tegyi for more information at M.Tegyi@ViaNet.org.

Top, Via participants Sara, Vicky, and Christopher at the NCC craft fair. Other photos feature the Spruce Street Products.

Julie Scheck has been named Director of Development and Communications for Via of the Lehigh Valley. Scheck has more than 30 years of experience in development, communications, marketing, and community relations.

Michele Grasso, Via's Vice President of Development and Communications, is retiring at the end of December. Scheck has been working with Grasso to transition to leading Via's Development and Communications Department.

Scheck began her career working in the advertising and public relations departments at Hess's Department Store. She held sales and marketing positions for 13 years at The Morning Call. In 2008, she started working in development serving as Senior Director of The American Heart Association's Lehigh Valley division, where she was responsible for bringing the first Go Red For Women luncheon to the region. Most recently, she served more than eight years as Director of Advancement for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lock Haven University and was a freelance writer for various outlets in Northampton, Lehigh, and Bucks counties. She served as Vice President of Membership for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter.

Julie Scheck, Via's new Director of Development and Communications

For the second summer in a row, Gia chose to attend Camp Via.

She loves Camp Via because she feels respected by her counselors, and can make choices about what she does so she can reach personal goals while having fun.

"Having a child with a disability presents unique challenges that include worrying about their future as they transition to adult life," says Nakia, Gia's mom. "It is important to access services that will help Gia develop the skills she needs to become as independent as possible. Camp Via is one of those services.”

Your generous support helps Gia and her family, and hundreds of others in our community, reach their personal goals. Make your gift by donating here.

Please join us in wishing Michele Grasso, Vice President of Communications and Development, a happy retirement.

Michele has made a positive impact at Via during her tenure with us. Throughout her career, she has shown unwavering commitment to everyone she has served in her roles. We are grateful for her dedication to Via's mission, our participants, and their families.

Congratulations, Michele, and best wishes!

Via's Board of Directors honored Michele Grasso at her final board meeting in November. Pictured, left to right: Lisa Walkiewicz, President/CEO, Via; Nakia Flowers, Air Products; Brian Fry, Buckno Lisicky & Company; Jerry Somers, Board Chair; Lisa Somers, Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC; Michele Grasso, VP of Development & Communications, Via; Chrystal Schardt, Thermo Fisher Scientific; Sharon Geroulo, Truist; Graig Schultz, King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC.

We are grateful to the many businesses that supported Via's services this fall. We are highlighting the following who joined us for check presentations. Thank you to:

• Walgreens Distribution Centers in Easton, PA, and Linden, NJ, for raising more than $27,000 for Via throughout the last year. Our team visited both locations to meet and thank Walgreens team members. Participants Angelica, Janet, and Irina also had a great time at the Easton location thanking everyone. The Walgreens team was so happy to raise so much money for Via, that they are doing it again this fiscal year.

• Wind Creek Bethlehem for choosing Via as one of three nonprofit agencies to receive the proceeds from its quarterly voucher donation program. Visitors to the casino have the option of donating their vouchers instead of cashing them. Via received almost $5,000 from October and November voucher donations.

• People's Security Bank for providing a $3,000 donation through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (PA EITC) to help fund Via's Workplace Career Exploration Program that helps students with disabilities make the transition from school to employment.

• QNB Bank for providing a $2,500 donation for Camp Via through the PA EITC program to provide educational programming so that teens have a rewarding summer.

Thank you to all our business partners who support Via throughout the year. Our partners are listed on our website and highlighted on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. If you are a business that would like to support Via's services or want to learn more, please contact Julie Scheck, Director of Development & Communications, at J.Scheck@ViaNet.org or 484-893-5364.

Photos, clockwise from top: The Walgreens Linden, NJ team presents a $9,000 check to Via; Susan Stachowski of Wind Creek Bethlehem presents a check to Via staff and participants; The Walgreens of Easton Distribution Center management team presents a check for $18,000 to Via; The team from QNB Bank presents a check to Via leadership staff; Lisa Walkiewicz, Via's President/CEO, and Brian Cook, Via Foundation Board Chair and Senior Vice-President of Peoples Security Bank.