Dear Friends,
We are finishing out 2018 with much success and happiness at our program locations. Our staff have done a wonderful job keeping our participants safe and engaged with a variety of activities at our three program facilities this year. There have been ups and downs this year but our staff and programs remain robust and productive.
This year’s program highlights:
- Celebrating Amanda Nieves as employee of the year.
- We acquired funding from DDS to purchase a wheelchair accessible van.
- We have several new board members join this year.
- Our 4th Annual 5k Cider Run was highly profitable.
- Riverside & Valley Educational have formed a collaboration with Stop n Shop.
- We have opened an art gallery of works for sale by the program participants.
- Our financial audit was successful and $0.81 of every dollar goes back into the programs.
I am humbled by the generosity and support by our donors and sponsors this year for the 5k Cider Run. PeoplesBank, OMG, and Greenfield Savings Bank were our Silver & Custom sponsors for the 5k Cider Run, followed by five other fantastic companies. We had twelve in-kind donors who made our raffle prizes, swag bags items, and food possible. Their support made it possible for us to exceed our goal this year and hit $18,483 in gross revenue. Our program facilities have a long wish list of items we are excited to acquiesce. Please consider Valley Educational Associates in your gift giving or sponsorship planning for next year.
Riverside Industries & Valley Educational Associates have formed a collaboration with Stop and Shop to provide soft skill and job shadowing worksite training. The goal is to effectively prepare work-ready participants for real life job settings. The first half of the program, soft skills, concluded in November and the shadowing aspect will start in January. Our agencies are very excited to embark upon this project. Be sure to support Stop and Shop as they continue to offer opportunities for workplace diversity.
We have been working to tailor our staff composition to meet the needs of our participants. Two new clinicians were added, as well as, a clinical intern through Springfield College. This high level of support offers extra value to our participants. Clinical support has always been our specialty and our team has a dedicated clinician present each day.
In efforts to gain more exposure for the population we serve, we have started an art store on our webpage (www.ValleyEducational.org/online-store/). The art is available for purchase with 75% of the proceeds going directly to the artist. The other 25% will be recycled back into the art fund for the program sites. Please consider purchasing some art to support our participant’s creativity.
Our financial audit was complete by Whittlesey during September and our agency was without errors. Our biennial audit by the Office of Quality Enhancement took place in September as well and our license was renewed. They positively noted our high level of clinical support.
This year closes out with several new board of director members to join our organization. We welcomed Carol Rowe, President of Zeltone; Donna Walden who works at the United Arc; and Leslie DesRoberts, Service Navigator at the Multicultural Community Services. We look forward to their support and involvement at Valley Educational Associates.
Are you or a friend looking to become more involved with our mission? We have volunteer roles on our Human Rights Committee and board of directors. The Human Rights Committee that meets every other month in Chicopee. The responsibility of the Committee is to promote, safeguard, and protect the human dignity and the legal rights and liberties of the participants. Our board of directors ensures agency goals and objectives are being met, such as funding, our annual 5k Cider Run assistance, and creative strategizing, as well as broadcasting our mission to our communities through networks. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to join our team of volunteers.
Our program sites are winding down the year with fun holiday craft projects, tasty parties with food, games, and trips. May the New Year bring abundance of success and joy to you and your loved ones,
Kate DaSilva, MS
Executive Director