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Empower to Honor Five at Annual Luncheon

For additional information, contact:
Elizabeth Cardamone, Director of Communication and Development
Office: (716) 297-0798, ext. 173, Cell: (773) 430-9499
E-mail: ecardamone@empower-wny.org

Empower to Honor Five at Annual Luncheon

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y., Oct. 16, 2017 – Empower, the not-for-profit organization formerly known as Niagara Cerebral Palsy, will hold its second annual Living the Values Awards Luncheon at noon on Friday, October 27 at DoubleTree by Hilton, 401 Buffalo Ave. Tickets are $35, and may be reserved at (716) 297-0798, x120 or kdaloise@empower-wny.org.

Awardees include:

Marshaun Walton will receive the Inspiring Individual Award because of the strides he has made by participating in Empower’s programs.

Attorney John R. Drexelius will receive the Dr. Salvatore M. Passanese Leadership Award because of his advocacy for people with disabilities as government affairs counsel to the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York.

KeyBank and KeyBank Foundation will receive the Faithful Funder Award for their consistent financial support of Empower and its programs.

Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls USA will receive the Priceless Partner Award in recognition of the facility’s support of Empower’s bottle and can redemption center.

Wegmans will receive the Exceptional Employer Award because of its track record in employing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through Empower.

With 300 employees and a $14 million budget, Empower is one of Western New York’s 60 largest nonprofit organizations. The administrative offices, preschool, community clinic and service coordination program are located on Lockport Road in the Town of Niagara. The job training and day programs division is based in Niagara Falls, while residential facilities are located throughout Niagara County. Licensed by the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the New York State Education Department, Empower is an affiliate of the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State.

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Empower to Honor Five at Annual Luncheon

Empower Names Building After Joseph O. Mineo, Empower CEO for 45 Years

TOWN OF NIAGARA, N.Y., October 4, 2017 – Empower, the not-for-profit organization formerly known as Niagara Cerebral Palsy, honored former Chief Executive Officer Joseph O. Mineo by renaming its Day Habilitation building as the Joseph O. Mineo Day Center.

Mineo worked at Empower for 47 years, 45 of which were as the agency’s chief executive officer.  Under his leadership, Empower established most of the programs and services that exist today.  The Joseph O. Mineo Day Center is where people with intellectual or developmental disabilities can participate in daytime recreation activities and socialize with others.  It is located at 7425 Buffalo Ave. in the City of Niagara Falls.

On Wednesday, October 3, Empower staff, board members, New York State Assemblymember Angelo Morinello and members of Mr. Mineo’s family gathered to honor him and to celebrate the new name.

“Our five service divisions, our administrative functions, the physical locations where we provide services – these are all part of Joe’s legacy,” said current Empower Chief Executive Officer Jeff Paterson. “Thousands and thousands of lives have been transformed, and countless people have been able to imagine a different and better life for themselves, because of Joe’s work.”.

With 300 employees and a $14 million budget, Empower is one of Western New York’s 60 largest nonprofit organizations. The administrative offices, preschool, community clinic and service coordination program are located on Lockport Road in the Town of Niagara. The job training and day programs division is based in Niagara Falls, while residential facilities are located throughout Niagara County. Licensed by the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the New York State Education Department, Empower is an affiliate of the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State.

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TOP STORIES

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE FOLLOWING EMPOWER EVENTS AND PROGRAM START DATES

Friday, September 8: Empower for Elders Ribbon Cutting, 1 pm

Monday, September 5: Empower for Elders Start Date

Tuesday, September 6: First Day of Empower Children’s Academy

Tuesday, September 19: Kids’ Music Round classes begin, 8962 Porter Rd., Niagara Falls, 6-7 pm children birth through 6, 7-8 pm 5 and 6 year olds

Tuesday, September 19: First Spectrum Theater Program class, 5-7 pm, Empower Children’s Academy

Saturday, September 23: Kids’ Music Round classes begin, 8962 Porter Rd., Niagara Falls, both class options for children birth through age 6, 9-9:45 am OR 10:15-11 am

Friday. October 27: Living the Values Awards Luncheon, Doubletree by Hilton, 401 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls, 11:30 am registration, noon lunch

PATERSON RECEIVES REV. MARTIN J. BLAKE C.M. AWARD

Jeff and family

Left to right: Jeff’s parents: Joan and Bill Paterson, Jeff and his wife, Michele

Congratulations to Empower CEO Jeff Paterson for being recognized by Our Lady of Angels Association for his philanthropic involvement and leadership at its annual the Vincentian Charities Dinner in May.

EXPANDED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Empower has a rich history of responding to unmet community needs.  In fact, in 1954, it was the lack of nearby services for children with cerebral palsy that led to the agency’s creation.  That tradition will continue on September 5 with the opening of a new program for older adults called Empower for Elders.

Located at 8962 Porter Rd. in the Town of Niagara, Empower for Elders will provide socialization and individualized care to older adults and respite for their caregivers.  According to Empower CEO Jeff Paterson: “Niagara County is a graying community and needs more services to help frail elders live as independently as possible.  Empower for Elders will help to fill the gap.”

Another good example of community engagement is the restructuring that has taken place in the Job Training and Day Program division.  Services were moved from 30th Street and MacKenna to more integrated settings like the redemption center.  Staff, led by Kim Kiely, had to learn how to run a redemption center, serve customers and train workers in marketable job skills.  This venture has been so successful that Empower is opening a second redemption center and adding another valuable service requested by customers, document scanning and shredding.

According to Empower Director of Job Training and Day Programs Kim Kiely: “the most unexpected and rewarding outcome of the redemption center has been the interactions between workers with disabilities and customers.  Customers tell us all the time that they love the excellent customer service they receive.  Some of them even say that they never before had direct interaction with people with disabilities, and the experience has made them more open minded and accepting.  It is because of this outcome that we are creating more opportunities.”

Empower will continue to adjust and expand programming to ensure the people it serves and the broader Niagara community live their best lives.

 

 

Open house will showcase new day program for elders

For additional information, contact:

Elizabeth Cardamone, Director of Communication and Development

Office: (716) 297-0798, ext. 173, Cell: (773) 430-9499

E-mail: ecardamone@empower-wny.org

Open house will showcase new day program for elders

TOWN OF NIAGARA, N.Y., August 9, 2017 – Empower, the not-for-profit organization formerly known as Niagara Cerebral Palsy, will hold an open house for its new adult day program for older adults on Aug. 23 from 1 to 6 p.m. at 8962 Porter Rd.

Beginning Sept. 5, Empower for Elders will serve older adults who live with adult children or spouses, and who need assistance with personal care and daily activities. Participants will receive individualized care, light exercise, assistance with personal care, socialization, activities that promote independence and feelings of self-worth, and breakfast and lunch. The program offers respite to family caregivers, allowing them to work, run errands or take a break from caregiving duties. In addition, a new caregiver support group will enable family caregivers to meet, share experiences, ask questions and receive support.

“Niagara County is a graying community and needs more services to help frail elders live as independently as possible,” said Empower Chief Executive Officer Jeff Paterson. “Empower for Elders will help to fill the gap. Increasingly, adult children are caring for their aging parents without a lot of support, resulting in stress and lost wages. This program provides meaningful daytime programming for older adults and peace of mind for their caregivers.”

For more information or to enroll, contact Karen Smith, director of community health services, at (716) 297-0798, extension 163, or ksmith@empower-wny.org. Additional information is available at www.empower-wny.org.

With 300 employees and a $14 million budget, Empower is one of Western New York’s 60 largest nonprofit organizations. The administrative offices, preschool, community clinic and service coordination program are located on Lockport Road in the Town of Niagara. The job training and day programs division is based in Niagara Falls, while residential facilities are located throughout Niagara County. Licensed by the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the New York State Education Department, Empower is an affiliate of the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State.

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Open house will showcase new day program for elders

 

COMMUNITY HEALTH NEWS

Coming This Summer: Empower for Elders

Empower for Elders is a new program for adults age 60 and over, including those who are physically frail, persons with dementia and/or memory loss of the Alzheimer’s type or related disorders.  It is a structured group activity program that will provide socialization and supportive services in a caring environment.  At the same time, Empower for Elders offers caregivers respite from their caregiving responsibilities.

The program is based on the philosophy that each individual has a need and capacity for socialization which does not diminish with age; that socialization helps prevent depression, loneliness, and premature institutionalization; and that supportive services in a caring environment can enable people with functional impairments to live their lives more fully.

Our goal is to provide a welcoming, home-like setting with warm, friendly, well-trained staff and volunteers who support the functioning, safety, and dignity of each participant.

Hours of operation:

  • Monday through Friday, during the hours of 8:00am – 5:00pm

We will also be accepting gently used or new board games, card games and craft supplies for this new initiative.

For more information, please contact Karen Smith, Director of Community Health Programs at 716-297-0798 ext 163 or ksmith@empower-wny.org.

TOP STORIES

The Butterfly Effect

Butterflies were the inspiration for art made by some students for the second annual art show.  Students got to watch the process of metamorphosis as live caterpillars changed to chrysalides and finally to beautiful butterflies, learning science and art simultaneously.   But, the experience had an unexpected, additional benefit we are calling the butterfly effect: a student with autism who previously did not talk a lot began spontaneously speaking to the butterflies, encouraging them to fly!

Ms. Shaila, the student’s teacher, expressed her surprise at this unexpected benefit:  “I never imagined that the experience of making art and interacting with live creatures would help a student become more verbal.  It goes to show that every effort makes a difference.”

Preparations for the art show, which took place May 18, began with classes reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.  In Ms. Shaila’s class, the caterpillar in the story came to life, fascinating students as they transformed from chrysalides to butterflies.  Every morning, students gathered at the netted enclosure and asked “are the butterflies here yet?”  When the butterflies finally came out, the students’ were very excited to see them.

Ms. Shaila’s class made many craft activities based on The Very Hungry Caterpillar which also taught them facts about butterflies.  For example, children learned that butterflies have upper and lower wings while making butterflies out of coffee filters and bingo markers.  In another craft, the lesson that butterfly wings consist of soft and hard textures was taught while making butterfly collages with dried eggshells, soft tissue and dry colored rice and glue.

The art displayed at the art show on May 18 is representative of hours of fun and learning made meaningful by being tied to real life experiences and through the use of multiple subjects and activities.  Progress made by students, such as the one who began to spontaneously speak, shows the butterfly effect that occurs when this method of teaching is used.  It is this standard of excellence that makes the Children’s Academy the best pre-k in town!

A Big Win For #bfair2directcare, More Work Needed

After a 12-month advocacy initiative led by Cerebral Palsy Association of New York State and its affiliates, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Congress approved the 2017-18 state budget that included $45 million to raise salaries of direct care professionals who work directly with people with developmental disabilities.

While this commitment is good news, #bfair2directcare will continue as $45 million is needed in each of the next six year’s budgets to ensure a living wage for these workers.

Empower would like to thank Senator Robert Ortt and Assemblymember Angelo Morinello for their unwavering support of this effort.

Free Theater Camp Offered by Empower to Kids with Autism

For additional information, contact:
Elizabeth Cardamone, Director of Communication and Development
Office: (716) 297-0798, ext. 173, Cell: (773) 430-9499
E-mail: ecardamone@empower-wny.org

Free Theater Camp Offered by Empower to Kids with Autism

TOWN OF NIAGARA, N.Y., April 10, 2017 – Empower, the not-for-profit organization formerly known as Niagara Cerebral Palsy, will offer a free theater camp to children with autism, beginning June 6, 2017.  Up to 40 students who are between the ages of 7 and 15 and who have autism spectrum disorder, will be accepted.  To register, please contact Krystle D’Aloise at (716) 297-0798, ext. 120 or kdaloise@empower-wny.org.

Called Spectrum Theater Program, the camp will meet twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Empower Children’s Academy, located at 9812 Lockport Road in the Town of Niagara. Theater instructors will lead students through group and individual acting exercises that build confidence, problem solving skills and social abilities.  Students will focus on gestures, eye contact, voice projection, listening to each other’s perspectives and improvisational skills. They will develop a play out of their own imaginations, memorize lines and perform in front of a live audience on Saturday, July 8, 2017.

According to Empower CEO, Jeff Paterson: “We held the camp twice in 2016, and both times, students showed marked improvement in their social skills as a result of participating.  Thanks to our two grantors, Arts Services Initiative of Western New York Inc. and The Children’s Guild Foundation, Empower is able to continue the Spectrum Theater Program in 2017, add a second theater instructor and expand enrollment from 20 to 40 students.”

With 300 employees and a $14 million budget, Empower is one of Western New York’s 50 largest nonprofit organizations. The administrative offices, preschool, community clinic and service coordination program are located on Lockport Road in the Town of Niagara. The job training and day programs division is based in Niagara Falls, while residential facilities are located throughout Niagara County. Licensed by the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the New York State Education Department, Empower is an affiliate of the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State.

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Free Theater Camp Offered by Empower to Kids with Autism

Fran and Gary Hall To Be Honored by Empower For Work on Behalf of People with Developmental Disabilities

For additional information, contact: Elizabeth Cardamone, Director of Communication and Development Office: (716) 297-0798, ext. 173, Cell: (773) 430-9499 E-mail: ecardamone@empower-wny.org

Fran and Gary Hall To Be Honored by Empower For Work on Behalf of People with Developmental Disabilities

TOWN OF NIAGARA, N.Y., May 9, 2017 – Empower, the not-for-profit organization formerly known as Niagara Cerebral Palsy, will award Fran and Gary Hall the Chairman’s Award at its annual golf tournament.

The golf tournament will take place on Monday, June 19 at the Niagara Frontier Country Club, 1058 Lake Rd., Youngstown, N.Y. 14174.  The award will be presented at the post-tournament dinner, which will be held at 6:30 p.m.  Dinner tickets are $60 per person,and may be purchased by phone at (716) 297-0798, ext. 120 or online at http://empower-wny.org.  Space is still available for golfers as well.

Fran and Gary Hall, longtime Niagara County residents and generous philanthropists, will receive this year’s Chairman’s Award for their generous support of Empower and numerous other community organizations.  A gift from the Halls enabled Empower to add new flooring, furniture and recreational items to its day program in Niagara Falls. They also played a lead role in opening the new Niagara Community Center on 66th Street, which they have generously opened for weekly visits from individuals supported by Empower.

“Fran and Gary’s fingerprints are all over this community, and their contributions have transformed lives,” said Empower Chief Executive Officer Jeff Paterson. “Yet they avoid the spotlight and seek no credit. Their humility and genuine goodness are what we admire most in them.”

With 300 employees and a $14 million budget, Empower is one of Western New York’s 60 largest nonprofit organizations. The administrative offices, preschool, community clinic and service coordination program are located on Lockport Road in the Town of Niagara. The job training and day programs division is based in Niagara Falls, while residential facilities are located throughout Niagara County. Licensed by the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the New York State Education Department, Empower is an affiliate of the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State.

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Fran and Gary Hall Honored at Empower Golf Tournament

SERVICE COORDINATION NEWS

Giving Tree

Right after Thanksgiving, the Medicaid Service Coordination team put up a tree by the front door.  On the tree were ornaments with gift requests from families served by this division who cannot afford to make these wishes come true for their children.  Thanks to the generosity of Empower staff and a $700 grant from the United Way of Greater Niagara Student Fund, the tree was bare well before the holiday and an abundance of gifts were donated. Thanks to everyone who participated.

bikes Empower giving tree gifts 12.15.16