News
Congratulations to everyone at SARAH Recycles and its contribution to SARAH Inc.'s recognition as "Non Profit Agency of the Year" by the Guilford Chamber of Commerce. Our thanks and congratulations also to John Peccerillo, Ed, Jake and all the other participants and staff at SARAH in Action – Branford for the outstanding centerpiece they created to celebrate SARAH, Inc. and SARAH Recycles. It was proudly displayed and greatly appreciated.
Please click for photos and article.
Click on the slideshow for other pictures of the event including our centerpiece! Please read this article from the CT Mirror which focuses on the critical issue of funding & sustainability of nonprofit services that support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in CT. The article also highlights the opportunity policy makers have to make choices that allow for desperately needed financial support to address waiting lists and increasing community based services.
www.ctmirror.org/story/15232/social-service-providers-wary-cuts Commissioner Terry Macy at the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress
Click to download letter from The Family Empowerment Task Force. SARAH Keeps its 'Roots' Clean
By Kim Scroggins Courier Staff Writer
Shore Publishing
The relationship between the First Congregational Church and SARAH goes back many years. Now SARAH, the community service provider that serves both adults and children with disabilities, is once again a presence at the church by helping clean the rooms where the organization got its start. "I had sent out [a] flyer to local churches in the area and the church responded because they were not happy with their current service," said Jim Lamb, manager of business development and employee services for SARAH. The flyer was released in an effort to find partners that could possibly benefit from SARAH's unique work force. Because the church was in need of help in cleaning the building, Ken Medvetz of the First Church's Business Committee contacted SARAH for help. "In addition, they know SARAH well and were very open to talking to us," Lamb noted.
SARAH was established in 1957 as a school for children in the donated multi-purpose room in the First Church basement. As the needs of the children grew, the group began providing vocational training and supported employment opportunities such as The Apple Doll Tea House; the nation's first food service training program for people with disabilities.
Today more than 100 workers trained through SARAH Supported Employment Services are employed in retail, manufacturing, and service jobs in more than 30 shoreline businesses. By partnering with SARAH, the supported employees are also benefitting by gaining self-esteem while earning a little extra money. "It is clear that this wonderful group of workers from SARAH cleaning is superior to the last two cleaning companies that we used," said First Congregational Church Rev. Kendrick Norris. "They are engaged, proud of their work, and committed to the church's wellbeing. We are happy to have them on board." "I am very confident that this will be a long term relationship," Lamb said.
They Work Hard For The Money
By Fay Abrahamsson
Morris, Charlie, Bill, Tom, Nancy and others work at Tower Labs in Clinton counting out the company's product in lots of 15 pieces. After the count, they place those pieces in a small box. Then they count again.
Click to read the full story SARAH, Inc Golf Skills Clinic
The Clinton Country Club professional golf staff, lead by Sean Busca, Head Golf Professional and Neal Nyland from Madison Country Club conducted a two hour skills clinic for the SARAH, Inc. golf team at Clinton Country Club on Monday, June 20, 2011. This program was enthusiastically supported by the Clinton Country Club Golf Committee and Board of Directors.
SARAH, Inc. provides programs and services for individuals with intellectual and other disabilities along the Connecticut Shoreline.
There were 10 SARAH athletes who make up the SARAH Special Olympics golf team who participated. This was an exciting and unique experience for the SARAH Golfers.
Sean Busca and his staff as well as several Clinton Country Club members assisted in the skills clinic. They did a fantastic job and provided the same professional quality instruction that would be provided to any member. All of the professional golf staff volunteered their time and Clinton CC donated the use of the golf course and practice facility.
The Connecticut PGA Section has supported the SARAH golf team for the last few years with grant support. This is extremely important since all the funds that support the team must be raised through contributions and grant support.
This collaboration is a great example of how Clinton Country Club and the CT PGA Section are supporting the community and special needs athletes.
The Success By 6 Birthday Celebration
On May 19, 2011, over 300 friends of United Way came together to celebrate the many accomplishments of Success By 6 since its formation six years ago. Success By 6 was born out of a community-wide needs assessment, known as COMPASS, that identified education disparity as a critical issue in our region.
Success By 6 is United Way’s initiative to ensure that children enter school developmentally on track in terms of health, literacy, social, emotional and intellectual skills regardless of race or socioeconomic status. It is a key element of United Way’s Education work, and one of the primary ways United Way is working to address the achievement gap.
Elisabeth Teller, Director of SARAH, Inc. KIDSTEPS Children’s Services, serves on the Success By 6 Advisory Council. Door-to-Door Service from the Blackstone Library and SARAH, Inc.
Do you know someone who recently had a joint replacement and can’t get up and about for awhile? Do you know anyone who is permanently homebound and unable to come to the library? Would they like to take advantage of our Homebound Services? The library averages around 10 households a week who receive this service. We supply books, movies and magazines for Branford residents who are unable to come to the library and have no other support system in place to obtain library materials. Some residents have specific titles that they would like; others ask our librarians to pick materials for them based on what genres they enjoy. We partner with S.A.R.A.H. Inc. for deliveries. Their driver comes to the library every week with usually five of the men in their residency program and pick up the bundles of materials that we have put together. This partnership has helped us tremendously because the S.A.R.A.H. group is very consistent. There was a time when we used volunteers to make deliveries for this program. The volunteers, even though good, were not consistently available to make deliveries and often deliveries fell on staff to do after work hours. The patrons in this program appreciate it immensely and thoroughly enjoy the S.A.R.A.H. group that pays them a weekly visit. As a bonus to S.A.R.A.H., the staff collects empty bottles and cans to give to the workers for recycling! Everyone wins in this distinctive library service!
Click to Download Blackstone Newsletter SARAH Workers Help to Build Turbine Jet Engines
By Nicole Ball
The tough economy has affected job stability for everyone and SARAH, Inc. is building partnerships for a new era of job creation for clients with special needs.
Click to read the full story
Legislative Forum
The SARAH Family of Agencies hosted a Legislative Forum at the Guilford Library on Wednesday, March 10, 2011 to learn about the Governor’s proposed budget and its impact on people with intellectual disabilities. Senator Ed Meyer, Representative Pat Widlitz, and the area’s newest elected official, Representative Noreen Kokoruda spoke to an audience of advocates and family members about the need for a shared sacrifice to close the state’s budget deficit while understanding the importance of preserving the “social safety net” that SARAH and other agencies provide to Connecticut’s most vulnerable citizens.
Legislators were reminded that, in addition to providing needed services and supports, SARAH and other non-profit providers are also a business generating hundreds of jobs and pumping millions of dollars into our local economies. March Is Our Month
Thanks to the advocacy efforts of The Arc in the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan officially declared March to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in 1987. For nearly a quarter of a century, SARAH, Inc. and The Arc have fostered respect and access for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). We have made tremendous progress in promoting and protecting the rights of people with I/DD and creating opportunities for them to live, learn and work as valued members of their communities.
However, it’s time more people became aware of the challenges faced by more than 7 million Americans and their families as they strive to be fully included in society. Join us during March to help raise awareness. Volunteer. Donate. Hire a supported worker. Or simply speak up and help enlighten those around you. 2-22-2011 — WESTBROOK - Connecticut’s newest Lt. Governor, Nancy Wyman, spoke at the February 22, 2011 Westbrook Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Captain Stannard House Country Inn. She reported on the process of passing the proposed budget. She reiterated Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s suggestion that shared sacrifice is needed among the businesses and residents of Connecticut to close a more than $3 billion shortfall in revenue. The Governor’s budget proposes a reduction in services and increased taxes among other measures.
During the question period, Pat Bourne, SARAH, Inc. Executive Director, spoke on behalf of the non-profit provider community thanking the Governor for preserving the social service safety net by maintaining flat funding for most social services in his budget. She reminded Wyman that the non-profit community provider network is the safety net offering a high quality, more cost effective solution to the state for essential services, especially when compared to institutions including DDS’s Southbury Training School and DCF’s Riverview Hospital.
SARAH, Inc. Goes to the Capitol
Self advocacy means standing up for your rights as a person and that’s just what SARAH participants did on a cold January 19, 2011 in Hartford. A group of self-advocates bundled up for an old fashioned rally on the Capitol steps. Holding signs and listening to speakers, SARAH self-advocates also roamed the halls of the Legislative Office Building searching for state legislators to meet and share their story.
Three participants from Westbrook said that this was their first time speaking directly to their legislators and engaging in the political process.
Derek Demio, who described with ease how SARAH, Inc. assists him in his daily work, said “I loved having my picture taken with Senator Meyer. He was willing to have his picture taken with us.”
Demio and the others also met with Senator Edith Prague of Columbia and Representative Michael Lawlor of East Haven. “My favorite thing was shaking hands with so many legislators and telling them about SARAH,” added Demio.
Donna Woods said that she loved talking to Senator Meyer. “He was so nice,” she said and quickly added that she also enjoyed discovering the Capitol and the LOB. “It was a big building and there were so many people walking around.”
Even though Sean Kilbride was clearly most comfortable introducing himself and the others to anyone who appeared official, he said that his favorite activity was having lunch in the Capitol’s cafeteria surrounded by legislators, lobbyists and activists. “The best part was having chocolate chip cookies after lunch,” he said. But I also liked greeting everyone and introducing myself.”
While the group of three consumers and three staff went to Hartford determined to gain the attention of the new Governor and legislators, the most important part of the day was in helping to create a new generation of self advocates capable of speaking up for their own rights. Aluminum Association Partners With Sarah Inc. To Provide Jobs For Special Needs Individuals While Helping Environment
Arlington, Virginia, January 20, 2011— The Aluminum Association’s Cans for Causes Program is pleased to assist SARAH Inc. in Guilford, Connecticut with their recycling efforts.
SARAH Inc. has started a recycling program to keep more than 500,000 aluminum cans and bottle out of landfills, while providing jobs for special needs individuals. SARAH’s mission is to provide advocacy, services and support for people with intellectual and other disabilities and to promote opportunities for full inclusion in their communities.
“SARAH means the world to me because it has given me a job where I am with people and I am helping out the environment at the same time,” says Anthony, member of SARAH Inc.’s Recycling crew.
SARAH has taken a “green” approach in the community by recycling five cent bottles and cans.
“We turn every nickel into jobs,” says Pat Bourne, Executive Director, SARAH, Inc. “Our teams collect cans and bottles from recycling bins that are strategically placed in communities throughout the Connecticut shoreline. And 100% of the proceeds from these donated containers directly support our jobs programs.”
CANS for CAUSES is a domestic program sponsored by the Aluminum Association to support organizations in their recycle efforts by providing free bin and bin liners. For more information www.aluminum.org. SILVER AND GOLD FOR THE HOLIDAYS
SARAH’s teams are golden! SARAH’s unified teams participated in the Special Olympics of Connecticut state games Holiday Sports Classic held November 20 and 21 – and brought home the goods!
Quinnipiac University hosted the basketball competition. The SARAH Big Blue basketball team took gold for the second year in a row.
Coach Cindy Mones, SARAH’s Recreation Coordinator said, “Through hard work, they pulled through some of the toughest competition. It gets very physical and competitive and our team proved they could pass, block and score. Our defense won that game.”
In the volleyball competition played at the New Haven Athletic Fieldhouse, one of the two SARAH teams took silver for their serious teamwork on the court. The SARAH Diggers, coached by Katie Davidson, was named for the defensive move where the players clasp their fists together to “dig up” the ball. The Diggers demonstrated how 12 people can work as one - even though the team’s undeniable MVP was Matt McGee.
“The Diggers definitely played as a team with everyone near the same ability level,” said Cindy. “Plus, Matt McGee is over six feet tall and can hit the ball from anywhere in the court. He’s so good, he’s been asked to practice with the team that will be going to the National Games.”
The SARAH Spikers, coached by Henry Ortiz, took its name for that awesome overhead smackdown shot. The Spikers earned a ribbon and the respect of everyone they challenged.
“Our SARAH teams have really made a name for themselves,” added Cindy. “I heard from so many people coming up to me, ‘you guys on the SARAH team are hard to beat.’ Our teams are very competitive and like to win.”
An extra “thank you” goes out to Heather Krom for being a fantastic volunteer and partner. Congratulations to all of the team members.
By Pam Johnson
Publication: Shore Publishing
Published 12/09/2010 12:00 AM
It's been about two years since "the Mayor" of Guilford-otherwise known as Larry Proctor-finished up his work as a stock clerk at a downtown store where many of his neighbors would check in and chat.
For anyone wondering what Larry's been up to in the ensuing months, the answer is: doing good works with SARAH and acting as an Alzheimer disease research volunteer and advocate with Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders (IND) of New Haven.
Click to read more
Sarah Recycling
Donate Your Deposit Bottles And Cans At Your Favorite Sarah Location. Please Remember To Include Water Bottles.
Just like every other American worker, Charles Ecklund, Nancy Gehm, and Page Vedrani all have their wishes and dreams of how they'd like to spend their hard-earned money. A mini-vacation? Day at the movies? How about a neat set of paints and brushes?
All three are employed by Tower Laboratories, at which they work filling boxes with the precise number of effervescent tablets the company manufactures. As with most medical labs, the room in which the three work is a "clean" environment. They are required to wear hair coverings, gowns, gloves, and eye wear. Click to read more > Click to Check out the NEW KIDSTPS Facebook Page Guilford Education Association raises $22,000 for the SARAH Foundation
Each year the Guilford Education (GEA), the local arm of the Connecticut Education Association, holds a read-a-thon throughout the Guilford Elementary and Middle Schools in conjunction with the “Read-Across-America Campaign.” The students read books and get sponsors for how many pages or books that they read. The GEA’s mission is “Advocating for Students, Teachers and Public Education,” To inspire their students to read, the GEA awards prizes such as school supplies and gift certificates at local book stores. Prizes are awarded for participation as well as for how many pages or books were read. The theme of the read-a-thon this year was “Be a Hero for SARAH.” The students raised over $22,000, and the GEA donated the funds to the SARAH Foundation for their award-winning programs for people with intellectual disabilities. This was nearly a 40% increase over last year, and helped carry out SARAH’s mission “that people with disabilities deserve to experience life’s joys; learn, work and accomplish all they can; and participate as valued members of the community.” SARAH is a family of agencies that provides programs and services for people with intellectual and other disabilities who live in Connecticut. For more information visit www.sarahfoundation.org.
SARAH RECYCLING IS GROWING!
Turn your unused electronics into jobs for people with disabilities. SARAH Recycling wants your old……
Call 203-458-4040, Ext 310 For More Information Spread the Word - By Nicole Ball, The Day
For weeks, the Peer Helpers from Walter C. Polson Middle School have been gluing and affixing safety pins to hundreds of orange ribbons; their message: "Spread the Word to End the Word."
These ribbons were offered on April 29 to the 605 7th- and 8th-grade students of Polson Middle School who signed the school-wide pledge to end the use of the "R word." Click to read the full story KIDSTEPS Birth-To-Three Celebrates 15th Year
SARAH Inc. KIDSTEPS Birth-to-Three program is celebrating its 15th year of operation and help to more than 2,600 families. Celebrations included a March open house at its Madison facilities, attended by both the public and state officials. Click to read full article in The Courant.
Adopt A Bin
Business Owners, Friends!
Join the SARAH Recycling partnership as we work together to keep our community green.
Your organization’s name and logo will be prominently displayed on a durable, professional grade, town approved recycling bin in a high traffic area such as an athletic field, beach, park or the center of town. Channel 30 News reporting on our Recycling Crew
Click to view video SARAH: Taking care of business - Workers get recognition
That’s the praise very often given to the many SARAH participants who hold positions at local businesses filling the gap of needed help that is happy, hard working and reliable. These employees make weekly paychecks, get the job done, and feel a sense of pride and belonging in the community.
Click to read full story in Shoreline Times News From The SARAH Foundation
Turning Nickels into Jobs: SARAH, Inc. Looks to Grow Recycling Program
By Fay Abrahamsson
Click to read the full story in the New London Day The Gift of Accessibility - Special Needs Families Receive Instantaneous Support
One young New Haven stay-at-home mom must walk her two little ones to activities
while dad uses their only car for work. Mom would like both of her children
--especially her toddler with special needs -- to have access to more educational,
developmental and recreational activities.
SARAH Employment Service provides supports that empower people to enhance the quality of their lives through job experiences. SARAH supported workers are employed in retail, manufacturing and service jobs throughout the community. SARAH may have helped Bill Handy find a job, but for the past 20 years, he has kept his job on his own.
SARAH, Inc. was proud to be included in a ceremony celebrating Bill Handy and his 20 years of employment at Beckson, Industries in Guilford. “When it works, it really works”, said Mike Brady, President of Beckson Industries, speaking of SARAH’s initial involvement and celebrating Bill’s achievement. Pat Bourne, SARAH, Inc. Executive Director, thanked Brady and Beckson, Industries for recognizing abilities through employment. Bill Handy was presented a certificate celebrating his 20 years of employment and for his example of SARAH’s mission in action – “Enhancing Skills, Enriching Lives”.
For over 50 years, SARAH, Inc. has been the premier agency providing services
and supports to people with intellectual and other disabilities throughout Connecticut.
The foundation of our quality services and the key to our success is the dedication
and commitment of our staff.
On October 29, 2009, 11 employees were recognized at a luncheon in their honor for 10 or more years of service to SARAH, Inc. The length of service ranged from 10 to 30 years and totaled over 180 years of talent and expertise!
On behalf of the entire SARAH, Inc. community, we congratulate and thank these employees for their years of service to our mission and the people we support.
The Annual “Dinner with SARAH” event was held recently at Café Allegre in Madison with Awards of Appreciation presented to Mrs. Geraldine Lesunaitis, the Guilford Education Association, NewAlliance Foundation, and The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Each honoree was thanked for their ongoing support of the SARAH family. Mrs. Geraldine Lesunaitis has been a longtime sponsor of “Dinner with SARAH” and the SARAH Gala. The Guilford Education Association has supported SARAH with an annual Read-a-thon in the Guilford Public Schools. NewAlliance Foundation and The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven have provided ongoing grant support for SARAH’s KIDSTEPS programs. SARAH is a family of agencies that provide programs and services for people with intellectual and other disabilities who live in Connecticut (www.sarahfoundation.org).
Click to view photos from the event. Sharing an IABC Silver Quill Award of Excellence for the marketing campaign, "Faces of SARAH," are the happy faces of Joe, Jon and Larry. That’s Jon holding the Silver Quill on the set right after taping of a cable show for the National Employment Disability Awareness Month. SARAH INC. Executive Director Pat Bourne is on the left in the back. New marketing materials for SARAH Inc., called The Faces of Sarah, have won an International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Heritage Region Silver Quill Award of Excellence for Special Publications. The creative work was done by Puffer Public Relations Strategies.
CT SECTION PGA FOUNDATION SUPPORTS SARAH GOLF TEAM!
SARAH Inc. Recreation and Leisure Connections program has been awarded a $500 grant to support their Special Olympics Golf Team.
An average of 16 special athletes participates in the “alternate shot and skills golf team,” where after ten weeks of practice and training, they participate in the Special Olympics Fall Festival. The Connecticut Section PGA Golf Foundation’s primary mission is to support youth golf throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. SARAH is a family of agencies that provide programs and services for children and adults with intellectual and other disabilities who live in CT.
By Barbara Puffer
submitted to the Hartford Courant
Michael, 8, has enjoyed SARAH Inc. programs through KIDSTEPS Family & Children's Center of Madison, since he was a toddler. Today, his mom, Tracy Inorio, says that the center is bridging an important gap for her son and other families.
"The Center was the missing link in Michael's life," Inorio said. "Their programs boost Michael's self confidence, social skills, and knowledge about a lot of things. He wouldn't be doing as well as he is without the center."
Thanks to a three-year, $90,000 grant from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (The Foundation), the Family & Children's Center has some stability on which to build future programs for families such as the Inorios.
"It is through generous donors that we can fund such important projects," said Tricia Caldwell, The Foundation's communications manager. "The foundation's grant to the KIDSTEPS Family & Children's Center was made possible through several endowments created by multiple donors."
"The Family and Children's Center is supported solely through donors," emphasized Elisabeth Teller, KIDSTEPS director. "With our programs growing exponentially, The Foundation grant gives us the confidence to plan longer-term -- providing us with a base of funding as we work to secure the additional support needed to continue our work." Other current grants include the NewAlliance Foundation, the Crippled Children's Aid Society Fund (at The Foundation), and other individual and community donors.
The Crippled Children's Aid Society Fund grant in 2006 "was the seed money for The Family & Children's Center," Teller said, "and five years of continuing support has helped nurture the program."
The KIDSTEPS Family & Children's Center provides supports and services for children and families. Their schedule of small low- to no-fee classes, workshops, support groups and consultations, address many topics and skills. "We work hard not to duplicate services," Teller said, "and we turn no one away. We teach and facilitate within the community."
"Multiyear grants create stability for our programs," said Patricia Bourne, Executive Director of SARAH Inc. "Such grants allow us to realize a vision and plan more than a few months out. They alleviate some of the year-to-year uncertainty of onetime grants."
Two Families' Journeys
When Michael began school at age 3, his family sought additional services that would enhance his peer relationships and more. Tracy has a long list of what a child might do at the center. For example, "Michael has taken an art class and a workshop called 'Talk to the Animals'," Tracy said. "He constantly surprises me with what he has learned."
The programs are beneficial to the rest of the family, too. Michael's sister attended workshops designed to help siblings understand the special support their brothers and sisters might need and receive. She also enjoyed an art workshop with her brother.
Like Michael, Phyllis Quinn's son Elliot enjoys center programs. Her daughter attended a sibling class she found helpful for understanding Elliot's special challenges.
Contact: Kidsteps@SARAH-inc.org. Toll free: 877-543-7837.
Please click for photos and article.
Click on the slideshow for other pictures of the event including our centerpiece! Please read this article from the CT Mirror which focuses on the critical issue of funding & sustainability of nonprofit services that support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in CT. The article also highlights the opportunity policy makers have to make choices that allow for desperately needed financial support to address waiting lists and increasing community based services.
www.ctmirror.org/story/15232/social-service-providers-wary-cuts Commissioner Terry Macy at the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress
Click to download letter from The Family Empowerment Task Force. SARAH Keeps its 'Roots' Clean
By Kim Scroggins Courier Staff Writer
Shore Publishing
The relationship between the First Congregational Church and SARAH goes back many years. Now SARAH, the community service provider that serves both adults and children with disabilities, is once again a presence at the church by helping clean the rooms where the organization got its start. "I had sent out [a] flyer to local churches in the area and the church responded because they were not happy with their current service," said Jim Lamb, manager of business development and employee services for SARAH. The flyer was released in an effort to find partners that could possibly benefit from SARAH's unique work force. Because the church was in need of help in cleaning the building, Ken Medvetz of the First Church's Business Committee contacted SARAH for help. "In addition, they know SARAH well and were very open to talking to us," Lamb noted.
SARAH was established in 1957 as a school for children in the donated multi-purpose room in the First Church basement. As the needs of the children grew, the group began providing vocational training and supported employment opportunities such as The Apple Doll Tea House; the nation's first food service training program for people with disabilities.
Today more than 100 workers trained through SARAH Supported Employment Services are employed in retail, manufacturing, and service jobs in more than 30 shoreline businesses. By partnering with SARAH, the supported employees are also benefitting by gaining self-esteem while earning a little extra money. "It is clear that this wonderful group of workers from SARAH cleaning is superior to the last two cleaning companies that we used," said First Congregational Church Rev. Kendrick Norris. "They are engaged, proud of their work, and committed to the church's wellbeing. We are happy to have them on board." "I am very confident that this will be a long term relationship," Lamb said.
By Fay Abrahamsson
Morris, Charlie, Bill, Tom, Nancy and others work at Tower Labs in Clinton counting out the company's product in lots of 15 pieces. After the count, they place those pieces in a small box. Then they count again.
Click to read the full story SARAH, Inc Golf Skills Clinic
The Clinton Country Club professional golf staff, lead by Sean Busca, Head Golf Professional and Neal Nyland from Madison Country Club conducted a two hour skills clinic for the SARAH, Inc. golf team at Clinton Country Club on Monday, June 20, 2011. This program was enthusiastically supported by the Clinton Country Club Golf Committee and Board of Directors.
SARAH, Inc. provides programs and services for individuals with intellectual and other disabilities along the Connecticut Shoreline.
There were 10 SARAH athletes who make up the SARAH Special Olympics golf team who participated. This was an exciting and unique experience for the SARAH Golfers.
Sean Busca and his staff as well as several Clinton Country Club members assisted in the skills clinic. They did a fantastic job and provided the same professional quality instruction that would be provided to any member. All of the professional golf staff volunteered their time and Clinton CC donated the use of the golf course and practice facility.
The Connecticut PGA Section has supported the SARAH golf team for the last few years with grant support. This is extremely important since all the funds that support the team must be raised through contributions and grant support.
This collaboration is a great example of how Clinton Country Club and the CT PGA Section are supporting the community and special needs athletes.
On May 19, 2011, over 300 friends of United Way came together to celebrate the many accomplishments of Success By 6 since its formation six years ago. Success By 6 was born out of a community-wide needs assessment, known as COMPASS, that identified education disparity as a critical issue in our region.
Success By 6 is United Way’s initiative to ensure that children enter school developmentally on track in terms of health, literacy, social, emotional and intellectual skills regardless of race or socioeconomic status. It is a key element of United Way’s Education work, and one of the primary ways United Way is working to address the achievement gap.
Elisabeth Teller, Director of SARAH, Inc. KIDSTEPS Children’s Services, serves on the Success By 6 Advisory Council. Door-to-Door Service from the Blackstone Library and SARAH, Inc.
Do you know someone who recently had a joint replacement and can’t get up and about for awhile? Do you know anyone who is permanently homebound and unable to come to the library? Would they like to take advantage of our Homebound Services? The library averages around 10 households a week who receive this service. We supply books, movies and magazines for Branford residents who are unable to come to the library and have no other support system in place to obtain library materials. Some residents have specific titles that they would like; others ask our librarians to pick materials for them based on what genres they enjoy. We partner with S.A.R.A.H. Inc. for deliveries. Their driver comes to the library every week with usually five of the men in their residency program and pick up the bundles of materials that we have put together. This partnership has helped us tremendously because the S.A.R.A.H. group is very consistent. There was a time when we used volunteers to make deliveries for this program. The volunteers, even though good, were not consistently available to make deliveries and often deliveries fell on staff to do after work hours. The patrons in this program appreciate it immensely and thoroughly enjoy the S.A.R.A.H. group that pays them a weekly visit. As a bonus to S.A.R.A.H., the staff collects empty bottles and cans to give to the workers for recycling! Everyone wins in this distinctive library service!
Click to Download Blackstone Newsletter SARAH Workers Help to Build Turbine Jet Engines
By Nicole Ball
The tough economy has affected job stability for everyone and SARAH, Inc. is building partnerships for a new era of job creation for clients with special needs.
Click to read the full story
The SARAH Family of Agencies hosted a Legislative Forum at the Guilford Library on Wednesday, March 10, 2011 to learn about the Governor’s proposed budget and its impact on people with intellectual disabilities. Senator Ed Meyer, Representative Pat Widlitz, and the area’s newest elected official, Representative Noreen Kokoruda spoke to an audience of advocates and family members about the need for a shared sacrifice to close the state’s budget deficit while understanding the importance of preserving the “social safety net” that SARAH and other agencies provide to Connecticut’s most vulnerable citizens.
Legislators were reminded that, in addition to providing needed services and supports, SARAH and other non-profit providers are also a business generating hundreds of jobs and pumping millions of dollars into our local economies. March Is Our Month
Thanks to the advocacy efforts of The Arc in the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan officially declared March to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in 1987. For nearly a quarter of a century, SARAH, Inc. and The Arc have fostered respect and access for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). We have made tremendous progress in promoting and protecting the rights of people with I/DD and creating opportunities for them to live, learn and work as valued members of their communities.
However, it’s time more people became aware of the challenges faced by more than 7 million Americans and their families as they strive to be fully included in society. Join us during March to help raise awareness. Volunteer. Donate. Hire a supported worker. Or simply speak up and help enlighten those around you. 2-22-2011 — WESTBROOK - Connecticut’s newest Lt. Governor, Nancy Wyman, spoke at the February 22, 2011 Westbrook Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Captain Stannard House Country Inn. She reported on the process of passing the proposed budget. She reiterated Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s suggestion that shared sacrifice is needed among the businesses and residents of Connecticut to close a more than $3 billion shortfall in revenue. The Governor’s budget proposes a reduction in services and increased taxes among other measures.
During the question period, Pat Bourne, SARAH, Inc. Executive Director, spoke on behalf of the non-profit provider community thanking the Governor for preserving the social service safety net by maintaining flat funding for most social services in his budget. She reminded Wyman that the non-profit community provider network is the safety net offering a high quality, more cost effective solution to the state for essential services, especially when compared to institutions including DDS’s Southbury Training School and DCF’s Riverview Hospital.
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Members from SARAH, Inc. pose for a photo following a meeting with Senator Edward Meyer, the Assistant Majority Leader in his Capitol office. From left, Lead Instructor Marc Iacobellis, Sean Kilbride, Sen. Meyer, Donna Woods, Director of Enrichment Services John Allen, and Derek Demio.
Three participants from Westbrook said that this was their first time speaking directly to their legislators and engaging in the political process.
Derek Demio, who described with ease how SARAH, Inc. assists him in his daily work, said “I loved having my picture taken with Senator Meyer. He was willing to have his picture taken with us.”
Demio and the others also met with Senator Edith Prague of Columbia and Representative Michael Lawlor of East Haven. “My favorite thing was shaking hands with so many legislators and telling them about SARAH,” added Demio.
Donna Woods said that she loved talking to Senator Meyer. “He was so nice,” she said and quickly added that she also enjoyed discovering the Capitol and the LOB. “It was a big building and there were so many people walking around.”
Even though Sean Kilbride was clearly most comfortable introducing himself and the others to anyone who appeared official, he said that his favorite activity was having lunch in the Capitol’s cafeteria surrounded by legislators, lobbyists and activists. “The best part was having chocolate chip cookies after lunch,” he said. But I also liked greeting everyone and introducing myself.”
While the group of three consumers and three staff went to Hartford determined to gain the attention of the new Governor and legislators, the most important part of the day was in helping to create a new generation of self advocates capable of speaking up for their own rights. Aluminum Association Partners With Sarah Inc. To Provide Jobs For Special Needs Individuals While Helping Environment
Arlington, Virginia, January 20, 2011— The Aluminum Association’s Cans for Causes Program is pleased to assist SARAH Inc. in Guilford, Connecticut with their recycling efforts.
SARAH Inc. has started a recycling program to keep more than 500,000 aluminum cans and bottle out of landfills, while providing jobs for special needs individuals. SARAH’s mission is to provide advocacy, services and support for people with intellectual and other disabilities and to promote opportunities for full inclusion in their communities.
“SARAH means the world to me because it has given me a job where I am with people and I am helping out the environment at the same time,” says Anthony, member of SARAH Inc.’s Recycling crew.
SARAH has taken a “green” approach in the community by recycling five cent bottles and cans.
“We turn every nickel into jobs,” says Pat Bourne, Executive Director, SARAH, Inc. “Our teams collect cans and bottles from recycling bins that are strategically placed in communities throughout the Connecticut shoreline. And 100% of the proceeds from these donated containers directly support our jobs programs.”
CANS for CAUSES is a domestic program sponsored by the Aluminum Association to support organizations in their recycle efforts by providing free bin and bin liners. For more information www.aluminum.org. SILVER AND GOLD FOR THE HOLIDAYS
SARAH’s teams are golden! SARAH’s unified teams participated in the Special Olympics of Connecticut state games Holiday Sports Classic held November 20 and 21 – and brought home the goods!
Quinnipiac University hosted the basketball competition. The SARAH Big Blue basketball team took gold for the second year in a row.
Coach Cindy Mones, SARAH’s Recreation Coordinator said, “Through hard work, they pulled through some of the toughest competition. It gets very physical and competitive and our team proved they could pass, block and score. Our defense won that game.”
In the volleyball competition played at the New Haven Athletic Fieldhouse, one of the two SARAH teams took silver for their serious teamwork on the court. The SARAH Diggers, coached by Katie Davidson, was named for the defensive move where the players clasp their fists together to “dig up” the ball. The Diggers demonstrated how 12 people can work as one - even though the team’s undeniable MVP was Matt McGee.
“The Diggers definitely played as a team with everyone near the same ability level,” said Cindy. “Plus, Matt McGee is over six feet tall and can hit the ball from anywhere in the court. He’s so good, he’s been asked to practice with the team that will be going to the National Games.”
The SARAH Spikers, coached by Henry Ortiz, took its name for that awesome overhead smackdown shot. The Spikers earned a ribbon and the respect of everyone they challenged.
“Our SARAH teams have really made a name for themselves,” added Cindy. “I heard from so many people coming up to me, ‘you guys on the SARAH team are hard to beat.’ Our teams are very competitive and like to win.”
An extra “thank you” goes out to Heather Krom for being a fantastic volunteer and partner. Congratulations to all of the team members.
The SARAH Spikers and the SARAH Diggers volley ball teams at the Special Olympics of Connecticut Holiday Sports Classic.
Larry Proctor Supports SARAH, Inc By Pam Johnson
Publication: Shore Publishing
Published 12/09/2010 12:00 AM
It's been about two years since "the Mayor" of Guilford-otherwise known as Larry Proctor-finished up his work as a stock clerk at a downtown store where many of his neighbors would check in and chat.
For anyone wondering what Larry's been up to in the ensuing months, the answer is: doing good works with SARAH and acting as an Alzheimer disease research volunteer and advocate with Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders (IND) of New Haven.
Click to read more
Donate Your Deposit Bottles And Cans At Your Favorite Sarah Location. Please Remember To Include Water Bottles.
- GUILFORD PUBLIC WORKS COMPLEX—Rt. 77, Guilford (Adjacent to basketball courts)
- MADISON SURF CLUB, Madison
- DUNKIN DONUTS, 112 N. Main St. (Rt. 1) Branford
- WESTBROOK LITTLE LEAGUE COMPLEX (Across from the town green)
- GUILFORD TOWN DOCK – Whitfield St., Guilford
- DAIRY QUEEN, 109 Boston Post Rd., Westbrook, CT
- WALSH SCHOOL, Damascus Road, Branford, CT
- FRIENDS AND CO. 11 Boston Post Rd., Madison, CT
- GUILFORD TRANSFER STATION, Boston Post Rd., Guilford, CT
- BISHOPS FARM MARKET, Route 1, Guilford, CT
- ST. GEORGE CHURCH, Whitfield St., Guilford, CT
By Fay Abrahamsson
Publication: Shore Publishing -8/26/2010 Just like every other American worker, Charles Ecklund, Nancy Gehm, and Page Vedrani all have their wishes and dreams of how they'd like to spend their hard-earned money. A mini-vacation? Day at the movies? How about a neat set of paints and brushes?
All three are employed by Tower Laboratories, at which they work filling boxes with the precise number of effervescent tablets the company manufactures. As with most medical labs, the room in which the three work is a "clean" environment. They are required to wear hair coverings, gowns, gloves, and eye wear. Click to read more > Click to Check out the NEW KIDSTPS Facebook Page Guilford Education Association raises $22,000 for the SARAH Foundation
Each year the Guilford Education (GEA), the local arm of the Connecticut Education Association, holds a read-a-thon throughout the Guilford Elementary and Middle Schools in conjunction with the “Read-Across-America Campaign.” The students read books and get sponsors for how many pages or books that they read. The GEA’s mission is “Advocating for Students, Teachers and Public Education,” To inspire their students to read, the GEA awards prizes such as school supplies and gift certificates at local book stores. Prizes are awarded for participation as well as for how many pages or books were read. The theme of the read-a-thon this year was “Be a Hero for SARAH.” The students raised over $22,000, and the GEA donated the funds to the SARAH Foundation for their award-winning programs for people with intellectual disabilities. This was nearly a 40% increase over last year, and helped carry out SARAH’s mission “that people with disabilities deserve to experience life’s joys; learn, work and accomplish all they can; and participate as valued members of the community.” SARAH is a family of agencies that provides programs and services for people with intellectual and other disabilities who live in Connecticut. For more information visit www.sarahfoundation.org.
Members of the GEA and the SARAH Foundation celebrate at the Maritime Grill.
Front row seated left to right: Lynn Curtis, Vice President, GEA; Denise Rose, Executive Director of the SARAH Foundation; Patty Scanlon; and Marge Cross
Second row left to right: Regina Sullivan, President of the GEA; Linda Vigorito, Board President of the SARAH Foundation; Peter Cuticelli; Anne Lombard; Debby Butler; Joanne Grace; Bette Sharpe; and Lindsay Fiorentio
Front row seated left to right: Lynn Curtis, Vice President, GEA; Denise Rose, Executive Director of the SARAH Foundation; Patty Scanlon; and Marge Cross
Second row left to right: Regina Sullivan, President of the GEA; Linda Vigorito, Board President of the SARAH Foundation; Peter Cuticelli; Anne Lombard; Debby Butler; Joanne Grace; Bette Sharpe; and Lindsay Fiorentio
Turn your unused electronics into jobs for people with disabilities. SARAH Recycling wants your old……
- Cell Phones
- IPODS
- PDA’s
- MP3 Players
- Ink Jet Cartridges
- SARAH’s Cupboard Thrift Shop, 155 Meadow St., Branford
- SARAH, Inc., 246 Goose Lane, Suite 101, Guilford
- KIDSTEPS, 51 Boston Post Rd., Unit 9, Madison
- SARAH Foundation, 246 Goose Lane, Suite 101, Guilford
- And…. All SARAH in Action Programs in Branford, Madison, Guilford, and Westbrook
Call 203-458-4040, Ext 310 For More Information Spread the Word - By Nicole Ball, The Day
For weeks, the Peer Helpers from Walter C. Polson Middle School have been gluing and affixing safety pins to hundreds of orange ribbons; their message: "Spread the Word to End the Word."
These ribbons were offered on April 29 to the 605 7th- and 8th-grade students of Polson Middle School who signed the school-wide pledge to end the use of the "R word." Click to read the full story KIDSTEPS Birth-To-Three Celebrates 15th Year
SARAH Inc. KIDSTEPS Birth-to-Three program is celebrating its 15th year of operation and help to more than 2,600 families. Celebrations included a March open house at its Madison facilities, attended by both the public and state officials. Click to read full article in The Courant.
Business Owners, Friends!
Join the SARAH Recycling partnership as we work together to keep our community green.
Your organization’s name and logo will be prominently displayed on a durable, professional grade, town approved recycling bin in a high traffic area such as an athletic field, beach, park or the center of town. Channel 30 News reporting on our Recycling Crew
Click to view video SARAH: Taking care of business - Workers get recognition
By Karena Garrity, Special to the Times
A job well done!That’s the praise very often given to the many SARAH participants who hold positions at local businesses filling the gap of needed help that is happy, hard working and reliable. These employees make weekly paychecks, get the job done, and feel a sense of pride and belonging in the community.
Click to read full story in Shoreline Times News From The SARAH Foundation
By Fay Abrahamsson
Click to read the full story in the New London Day The Gift of Accessibility - Special Needs Families Receive Instantaneous Support
KIDSTEPS Early Intervention Specialist Mackenzie Hanna (right) uses a wireless laptop to help the mom of a child with special needs quickly access internet resources for her family. The technology was provided primarily through a grant from Ronald McDonald Charities® of CT and Western MA grant.
Thanks to KIDSTEPS -- a Connecticut Birth-To-Three program that is a division of SARAH Inc. -- and a $25,000 grant from The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts (RMHC), this family, and others like them, are enjoying computer accessibility to a world of resources.
"Many of the families of young children with special needs, particularly in these economically-challenging times, feel isolated, alone and sometimes insecure in their parenting skills," said KIDSTEPS Director Elisabeth Teller. “Often due to a lack of transportation, money, education and other resources, these families negotiate through their children's special needs with undue hardship and strain.”
The grant has equipped KIDSTEPS Early Intervention professionals with nearly two dozen laptops, wireless internet access and printers that they now bring along to their weekly or monthly home visits to families. These therapists and teachers have long been teaching and assisting families of children with special needs (such as Down syndrome, Autism and Cerebral Palsy), but the technology has expedited many solutions.
“KIDSTEPS and SARAH Inc., fit like a glove with our mission,” said Daniel Ashburn, President of the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. “Our mission is to create, identify and support programs that directly improve the health, education and well being of children and families in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. This KIDSTEPS program brings solutions directly to the source, effectively improving the health and well being of children.”
Access is a gift
On the surface, some of the connections may seem so simple. Yet, access to technology and the internet is essential.
Among other solutions, the New Haven family mentioned at the outset of this story is now using internet-generated coupons to reduce costs for everything from formula and diapers to nearby family recreation.
“The technology package has been a tremendous gift to the families we serve,” said Early Intervention Specialist Mackenzie Hanna. “Not only can we help them learn about their children’s special needs, but we can facilitate timely completion of the paperwork necessary to access various community and state services.”
“We are better able to teach the families how to access information and services that uniquely and directly support the development of their children,” added Early Intervention Teacher Laura Gilbert. “We are able to bridge the barriers of transportation, money and education that many of these families face.
“Servicing some 400 families, we see a wide range of concerns. Two children with the same conditions, living in two different communities, might be facing very different challenges. Some parents tell us they just need coaching and guidance. They have computers and internet access and simply desire help interpreting and understanding the information they find,” Gilbert said. “Others are stuck with few or no technology tools to bring the outside resources into their homes. Now, we can bring all sorts of resources right into their homes.”
“Scientific and anecdotal research has shown that technology can strengthen the physical and emotional development of children with special needs, from birth to three,” said Teller. “We at KIDSTEPS Birth-to-Three see firsthand what a difference these additions have made already. Long-term, we expect to continue pioneering solutions for this population.”
About SARAH Inc. and KIDSTEPS
SARAH Inc. is a community service provider, headquartered in Guilford, serving
individuals with disabilities in more than 40 communities across the Greater
New Haven and Shoreline areas, including the Eastern Region of Connecticut,
to the Rhode Island and Massachusetts borders. KIDSTEPS, a division
of SARAH Inc. offering a State of Connecticut Birth-to-Three program in 27
towns including the large cities of New Haven and Norwich. Through
their Family and Children’s Center, they offer programs and workshops
for older children and their families. The organization’s work
enhances personal/social development, language development and physical dexterity. For
more information, visit www.sarah-inc.org/ or
call toll free: 877 KIDSTEP (543-7837.)
About Ronald McDonald Charities (RMHC)
Since 1988 RMHC of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts has provided more
than $6 million to over 400 non-profit organizations, helping thousands of
area children lead happier, healthier and more productive lives. For more
information about RMHC visit www.rmhc-ctma.org.
Pictured are: Pat Bourne, SARAH Executive Director; Mike Brady, Beckson, Ind.; Bill Handy; Jen Kostek, SARAH Supported Employment Manager
On October 29, 2009, 11 employees were recognized at a luncheon in their honor for 10 or more years of service to SARAH, Inc. The length of service ranged from 10 to 30 years and totaled over 180 years of talent and expertise!
On behalf of the entire SARAH, Inc. community, we congratulate and thank these employees for their years of service to our mission and the people we support.
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SARAH PRESENTS AWARDS AT ANNUAL DINNER WITH SARAHThe Annual “Dinner with SARAH” event was held recently at Café Allegre in Madison with Awards of Appreciation presented to Mrs. Geraldine Lesunaitis, the Guilford Education Association, NewAlliance Foundation, and The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Each honoree was thanked for their ongoing support of the SARAH family. Mrs. Geraldine Lesunaitis has been a longtime sponsor of “Dinner with SARAH” and the SARAH Gala. The Guilford Education Association has supported SARAH with an annual Read-a-thon in the Guilford Public Schools. NewAlliance Foundation and The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven have provided ongoing grant support for SARAH’s KIDSTEPS programs. SARAH is a family of agencies that provide programs and services for people with intellectual and other disabilities who live in Connecticut (www.sarahfoundation.org).
Click to view photos from the event. Sharing an IABC Silver Quill Award of Excellence for the marketing campaign, "Faces of SARAH," are the happy faces of Joe, Jon and Larry. That’s Jon holding the Silver Quill on the set right after taping of a cable show for the National Employment Disability Awareness Month. SARAH INC. Executive Director Pat Bourne is on the left in the back. New marketing materials for SARAH Inc., called The Faces of Sarah, have won an International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Heritage Region Silver Quill Award of Excellence for Special Publications. The creative work was done by Puffer Public Relations Strategies.
SARAH Inc. Recreation and Leisure Connections program has been awarded a $500 grant to support their Special Olympics Golf Team.
An average of 16 special athletes participates in the “alternate shot and skills golf team,” where after ten weeks of practice and training, they participate in the Special Olympics Fall Festival. The Connecticut Section PGA Golf Foundation’s primary mission is to support youth golf throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. SARAH is a family of agencies that provide programs and services for children and adults with intellectual and other disabilities who live in CT.
Pictured left to right: back row: Mischa Shpitalnik, Michele Waters, Phil Gullette, coach Connor Dolan, Pete Morse, Melissa Smigel, Donna Zettergren, front row: Karen Estrom, Danielle Shepard, Anders Carlson, and John Morris. Visit www.sarahfoundation.org.
Donors Sustain KIDSTEPS Family & Children's CenterBy Barbara Puffer
submitted to the Hartford Courant
Michael, 8, has enjoyed SARAH Inc. programs through KIDSTEPS Family & Children's Center of Madison, since he was a toddler. Today, his mom, Tracy Inorio, says that the center is bridging an important gap for her son and other families.
"The Center was the missing link in Michael's life," Inorio said. "Their programs boost Michael's self confidence, social skills, and knowledge about a lot of things. He wouldn't be doing as well as he is without the center."
Thanks to a three-year, $90,000 grant from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (The Foundation), the Family & Children's Center has some stability on which to build future programs for families such as the Inorios.
"It is through generous donors that we can fund such important projects," said Tricia Caldwell, The Foundation's communications manager. "The foundation's grant to the KIDSTEPS Family & Children's Center was made possible through several endowments created by multiple donors."
"The Family and Children's Center is supported solely through donors," emphasized Elisabeth Teller, KIDSTEPS director. "With our programs growing exponentially, The Foundation grant gives us the confidence to plan longer-term -- providing us with a base of funding as we work to secure the additional support needed to continue our work." Other current grants include the NewAlliance Foundation, the Crippled Children's Aid Society Fund (at The Foundation), and other individual and community donors.
The Crippled Children's Aid Society Fund grant in 2006 "was the seed money for The Family & Children's Center," Teller said, "and five years of continuing support has helped nurture the program."
The KIDSTEPS Family & Children's Center provides supports and services for children and families. Their schedule of small low- to no-fee classes, workshops, support groups and consultations, address many topics and skills. "We work hard not to duplicate services," Teller said, "and we turn no one away. We teach and facilitate within the community."
"Multiyear grants create stability for our programs," said Patricia Bourne, Executive Director of SARAH Inc. "Such grants allow us to realize a vision and plan more than a few months out. They alleviate some of the year-to-year uncertainty of onetime grants."
Two Families' Journeys
When Michael began school at age 3, his family sought additional services that would enhance his peer relationships and more. Tracy has a long list of what a child might do at the center. For example, "Michael has taken an art class and a workshop called 'Talk to the Animals'," Tracy said. "He constantly surprises me with what he has learned."
The programs are beneficial to the rest of the family, too. Michael's sister attended workshops designed to help siblings understand the special support their brothers and sisters might need and receive. She also enjoyed an art workshop with her brother.
Like Michael, Phyllis Quinn's son Elliot enjoys center programs. Her daughter attended a sibling class she found helpful for understanding Elliot's special challenges.
Contact: Kidsteps@SARAH-inc.org. Toll free: 877-543-7837.
