Dear Friends,
We finished the second quarter with much success and positive results. It felt like this quarter whizzed by so quickly. Here are the notable events I would like to report.
Quarter Two Highlights:
- Chicopee expansion will begin next month
- The Annual 5k Cider Run is on Saturday, November 2, 2019
- Stop & Shop internship program has finished its first pilot with much success
- Fundraising Dining Day was a huge success
- Leslie DesRoberts is our newest board president
- National Guide Dog Day
- Scott Barden joined our team as the Human Resources Manager
Our board of directors has decided and voted on expanding the Chicopee program facility. The back portion of the space has been unusable, warehouse area measuring about 2200 square feet. The renovation will allow for four generously sized classrooms and a new entry point. We plan to have an autism/ sensory space to attract more individuals on the spectrum. The construction will take about 45-60 days. The participants and staff in Chicopee are ecstatic to have access and use of the new space. We are appreciative to work with Development Associates on creating a new and functional space.
The Annual 5k Cider Run will take place again, at Ashley Reservoir with post-run festivities at the Elks Lodge on Saturday, November 2nd. We already have several wonderful Silver & Custom Sponsors: PeoplesBank, Peerless Precision, and Greenfield Savings Bank. The race committee is developing what will go in the swag bags and working on the budget. We are grateful for the local businesses that have partnered with us to help set this fundraising race off to a good start. Sponsorships start as low as $250. Registration for runners will open on July 1st on our website with early bird pricing at $25. https://valleyeducational.org/annual-5k-cider-run/
The Stop & Shop internship and job shadowing has concluded the full session with great success. Participants from both Riverside Industries and Valley Educational Associates learned about customer services skills, stocking of items, how businesses work, and many other themes. Stop & Shop has been very enthusiastic about the collaboration and hopes to see even more participants take advantage of the training. We are planning to offer another two-part session later this year.
Pete Tilden, our longstanding board president, has decided to retire after many years of dedicated service. The board of directors has voted in Leslie DesRoberts as the succeeding president. She is a Service Navigator and First Aid/CPR Instructor at the Multicultural Community Services of the Pioneer Valley. Under her leadership, the board is excited about taking a more active role in the organization.
On April 24, we celebrated National Guide Dog Day. Helen, one of our staff clinicians, brought her trained dog, Ozzie, to the West Hatfield facility to interact with the participants. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed walking Ozzie around and learning how to be gentle and communicative with him.
We could still use a few more volunteers for our Human Rights Committee that meets every other month at our Chicopee facility. Please contact Human Resources at humanrights@ValleyEducational.org if you or a friend might be interested in joining our Human Rights Committee. Thank you to all those who attended our Fundraising Dining Day at On the Border. We received a check for $163 which is fantastic. This will help offset some of the supply costs for our Community Based Day programs.
Scott Barden recently joined our team as the Human Resources Manager. We have been without an HR Manager since March and are very excited to have someone in that role. Scott will be helping with the Morale Program, hiring, benefits, employee needs, and much more.
I hope you have a sunny and safe summer this year. I look forward to telling you of our happenings in the next Letter from the Executive Director.
Best Regards,
Kate DaSilva, MS
Executive Director