AbilityFirst Summer 2016 Newsletter

SUMMER 2016 NEWSLETTER

Stroll & Roll 2016 see photos page 3

New Programs see stories page 6

1300 East Green Street Pasadena, CA

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A B I L I T Y F I R S T. O R G | 626.396.1010 ABILITYFIRST NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2016

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Letter from the CEO As I write this letter, we are half way through our 90th anniversary year here at AbilityFirst. Ninety years of providing life-changing programs and services for children and adults with disabilities is not only a milestone achievement, but it is an opportunity to look back at where we’ve been, how far we’ve come, and to take time to plan the best ways to set ourselves up for another century of successes.

Board of Directors Executive Committee John Kelly, Chair Stuart Hemphill, Vice-Chair Mike Dokmanovich, Secretary Jay R. Henneberry, Treasurer Mark Fedde, Member-at-Large

Lori with Jimmy Tam, a participant at our Pasadena One of those ways is to assess our program Business and Employment Services Center. offerings to be certain they match the needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities. I’m thrilled to announce that we’ve recently launched three exciting new programs which we hope to grow and expand over the next few years. Read about our College to Career program in Pasadena, our Community Integration program in Inglewood and our Employment Facilitation Training Service program in the San Gabriel Valley on page 6.

Members Rick M. Arcaro Steve Brockmeyer Ray C. Cherry Diane Danis Tom Fenchel Berlinda Fontenot-Jamerson Richard R. Frank Maria French Robert Hsu

Joanne Kim Wendy Lees Carol Llewellyn Mordena Moore Randall Repp Arthur F. Rothberg David Saeta Harlan Thompson Patricia Vick

Another way we set ourselves up for success is to keep advocating to elected officials on behalf of the organization and in partnership with the families we serve. AbilityFirst was part of a larger coalition of nonprofit organizations advocating for the restoration of funding for disability services and we scored a policy victory in March of this year that you can read more about on page 7.

Honorary Board Members Russel Burkett Marshal Chuang Jim Douglass William A. Hawkins Jon Kmett Ralph Laster

Andrew Peterson Angela J. Reddock-Wright David M. Seastrom Sanford L. Smith Jonathan Y. Thomas

Our signature fundraising event, the AbilityFirst Stroll & Roll, was a huge success, raising a record setting $840,000 through the generosity of individuals and corporate sponsors. The money raised immediately goes to supporting AbilityFirst programs and services throughout Greater Los Angeles. Check out Stroll & Roll photos on page 3.

We’re celebrating some big numbers here at AbilityFirst – our organization’s 90th anniversary, our Long Beach Center’s 50th anniversary, the Festival of Fall gourmet food and wine event is coming up on its 42nd year, Camp Paivika will be celebrating 70 years in 2017, and Stroll & Roll is on track to hit $1 million within the next two years – and we couldn’t do any of this without you! On behalf of the thousands of children and adults with disabilities and their families who benefit from AbilityFirst programs, thank you for your ongoing support.

Honorary Chairpersons Jane Kaczmarek Lee Meriwether Jaclyn Smith Corporate Officers Lori Gangemi, President & CEO Kevin Schaffels, CFO Keri Castañeda, CPO AbilityFirst Newsletter

Lori Gangemi President & CEO On the Cover: NBC4’s Whit Johnson, Honorary Chairs Jane Kaczmarek and Lee Meriwether, Long Beach center participant Marcellus Smith-Holieway.

Executive Editor Sheri A. Lunn Sr. Director of Communications & PR Editor Nolan Scott Marketing & Creative Services Coordinator Contributors Lori Gangemi, Sheri A. Lunn, Chris Otero, Nolan Scott, Nicole Weaver-Goller Photographers Whit Johnson, Sheri Lunn, Nicole Madau, Jessica Morrison, Bob Paz, Nolan Scott

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SUMMER 2016

Stroll & Roll 2016 Photos Center Event Photos Annual Report Special Insert New Program Launches Discover a Star Park/Advocacy Update

Subscriptions: The AbilityFirst newsletter is published biannually by AbilityFirst, a nonprofit organization, 1300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91106, 626.396.1010. Copyright © 2016, AbilityFirst. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Moving, getting duplicate mailings, or wish to be removed from the AbilityFirst mailing list? Please call the number above and ask for the Development Department. AbilityFirst has locations throughout Greater Los Angeles including Claremont, Crestline, Downtown Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, Glendale, Inglewood, Long Beach and Pasadena.

STROLL & ROLL 2016

Hosted by the NBC4 Morning News Team with appearances from actors and Honorary Chairs Lee Meriwether and Jane Kaczmarek, the AbilityFirst Stroll & Roll fundraising event was a huge success this year, drawing more than 2,000 people and coming in $15,000 above the budgeted goal of $825,000. This puts the event on track to break the $1 million dollar mark within two years!

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AbilityFirst Photos 2016 AbilityFirst East Los Angeles Center (1-2) Supported by VELA, Rotary Club of East Los Angeles, and Art Builds and conceptualized by artist Wenceslao Quiroz to represent AbilityFirst participants, community volunteers and AbilityFirst East LA families completed a stunning mural on the back wall of our Center.

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AbilityFirst Joan & Harry A. Mier Center (5-6) First Tee Los Angeles DRIVE Program volunteered to present a golf clinic and then donated a full set of golf clubs to the AbilityFirst Joan and Harry A. Mier Center. The program introduces elementary school-aged students to the game of golf using modified specialty golf equipment that can be used safely in both indoor and outdoor settings. AbilityFirst is the first organization they’ve partnered with that has programs for children with disabilities.

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4 AbilityFirst Long Beach Center (3-4) Participants from our AbilityFirst Long Beach Center spent the night at Camp Paivika in February, then headed to the United States Adaptive Ski Center for a day of sun, fun, and snow!

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AbilityFirst Claremont Center (9-11) The California Agricultural Leadership Class made their annual visit to our AbilityFirst Claremont Center and provided snacks along with assisting our participants in the creation of colorful potted plants that they were able to take home to their families.

8 AbilityFirst Lawrence L. Frank Center (7-8) Participants and staff from our AbilityFirst Lawrence L. Frank Center in Pasadena rehearsed for months to perform their Dance Revolution routines to an appreciative sold-out crowd of more than 200 audience members at First Church of the Nazarene!

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AbilityFirst Photos 2016 AbilityFirst Pasadena Business & Employment Services Center

AbilityFirst Camp Paivika (12-14) Summer Sessions are in full swing up at

(15-17) Photographer and professional LinkedIn Blogger Leah Lau visited our Business and Employment Services Center for a feature story about philanthropy and nonprofit organizations. In need of shredding, packaging or fulfillment services with a charitable angle?

E-mail BusinessServices@abilityfirst.org.

Camp Paivika!

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15 AbilityFirst Glendale Center (18) AbilityFirst CEO Lori Gangemi and Board Chair John Kelly visited our new Glendale Center location across from Glendale Community College to chat with participants and their families.

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19 Development: Southern California Organizations Support AbilityFirst (19-21) Huge thanks to (L-R) the Pasadena Rotary Club, Rotary Club of San Marino, and the Pasadena Community Foundation for your recent donations in support of children and adults with disabilities.

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ABILITYFIRST LAUNCHES NEW PROGRAMS IN 2016 College to Career Program Implemented at Pasadena City College The AbilityFirst College to Career Program provides supports that empower young adults who are enrolled in Pasadena City College to succeed in their post-secondary education and career goals. Students must be able to safely navigate in a community-based program with an average ratio of one educational specialist to every two students. Both in-class and outside of classroom support is provided.

The program curriculum consists of four tracks: Community Navigation; Career Path Development; Self-Advocacy and Support System Development; and Workplace Excellence.

Each phase includes meaningful community service, curriculum development/completion, and a rich array of opportunities in the community for social-interpersonal and community utilization skills training.

The College to Career program is currently supported only at Pasadena City College. AbilityFirst hopes to expand this program to more locations in the future. The vendor number for the AbilityFirst College to Career Program is PD3394; service code is 55. For more information, contact CtoC@abilityfirst.org or call 626.396.1010.

Employment Facilitation Training Service Program AbilityFirst is fully committed to the goal of competitive integrated employment for individuals with developmental disabilities, and has offered supported employment services to this population for more than 70 years. The new AbilityFirst Employment Facilitation Training Service (EFTS) program focuses on serving individuals with developmental disabilities who live in the San Gabriel Valley, and who have demonstrated an interest in entering into the workforce. The program will assist up to 30 individuals per year, with the goal of community employment as a final outcome.

“AbilityFirst and the Regional Center believe that providing the proper support and positive environment for individuals with disabilities will result in gainful community employment,” said AbilityFirst CEO Lori Gangemi. “Services will be tailored and individualized to meet each participant’s needs and interests, and our staff-to-client ratio is 1:1, ensuring the best experience possible for both the prospective employee and employer.”

The EFTS model is a flexible blend of strategies, services, and supports designed to increase employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. The vendor number for the program is PP6326; service code is 102. For more information on the Employment Facilitation Training Services program, email BusinessServices@abilityfirst.org

Adult Community Integration Program at the Joan & Harry A. Mier Center in Inglewood The AbilityFirst Community Integration Program is up and running at our Joan & Harry A. Mier Center in Inglewood.

The program is designed to help adult participants gain competencies and skills they need to access and participate in the community in work, independent living and leisure. Our program fosters community integration, respects individual choice, builds self-esteem and independence and helps our participants lead richer, fuller lives as active members of their communities. Programming occurs in community settings and utilizes the AbilityFirst Center to begin and end the day, plan activities, and participate in instructional activities. For more information, contact the Center at inglewood@abilityfirst.org or call 323.753.3101.

Participants and staff volunteer at South LA Animal Shelter.

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Discover a Star Park Helps Participants Reach for the Stars!

AbilityFirst Lawrence L. Frank Center AbilityFirst supporters - including the Universal Studios Hollywood’s Discover A Star Foundation, DPR Construction, the Ahmanson Foundation, Pasadena Recreation and Parks Foundation and numerous individuals - contributed generously to help transform the AbilityFirst Lawrence L. Frank Center Discover A Star Park into a revitalized and well-loved activity area.

The park had become increasingly difficult to use because of aging facilities and overgrown landscaping. Prominent tree roots, bumpy terrain, and lack of walkways made the space difficult to navigate for all of our participants – especially those with mobility issues and in wheelchairs.

Following a successful rehabilitation – which included the construction of accessible walkways, patios, functional lawn space, a gardening area, landscaping and lighting – the park is once more fully accessible to our participants, their families and the community! Join us at Festival of Fall and be among the first to enjoy the park.

This valuable resource is used daily for a wide range of targeted and effective programs and activities. It will also allow for evening and weekend use, including Friday Night Socials and special events. All of our AbilityFirst program participants will be able to play games and sports, work on projects, garden, and so much more…together.

Advocacy Victory for Disability Service Providers Thanks to the power of our collective voices on behalf of people with developmental disabilities, we scored an advocacy victory in March of this year! AbilityFirst was part of a coalition of nonprofit service providers advocating for the passage of both the Developmental Disabilities Services Funding package and the Managed Care Organization reform bill. Both bills passed and were signed by Governor Brown. They went ALTHOUGH WE ARE VERY into effect on July 1.

GRATEFUL FOR FUNDING

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INCREASES, RATES STILL LAG BEHIND THE ACTUAL COST OF PROVIDING PROGRAMS.

These pieces of legislation address funding and system reform needs for developmental disabilities services. Programs will see an increase, state reimbursement rates are far behind meeting the cost of providing those programs. Minimum wage increases also begin in many municipalities this year at a rate that exceeds the scheduled increase set by the State of California, and that will dramatically affect our program costs. We’ll continue to keep you updated on future developments on the rate study and other legislation regarding funding.

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1300 East Green St. Pasadena, CA 91106