Timelines
Winter 2013
FROM SCHOOL
TO SUCCESS
PAGE 4
How EMARC’s School to Work Program helps students build real-world careers
2012 Tucker Gala Memorial Dinner and Auction.....
Helping Dreams Take Flight!
T U C K E R
G A L A
In this issue:
From left: EMARC participant Anne Marie Dorion speaks on
stage with actor and comic Lenny Clarke during this year’s
Tucker Gala fundraiser. Story on page three.
Program + Admin.
Services
26 Princess Street
Wakefield, MA 01880
EMARC Reading
20 Gould Street
Reading, MA 01867
1. Message from the
Executive Director
2. Tucker Gala 2012
3. EMARC’s School to Work
Transition Program
4. EMARC 101
5. 2013 Polar Plunge
6. Donor Spotlight
EMARC Burlington
2 Ray Avenue
Burlington, MA 01803
EMARC North Shore
950 Cummings Center
Suite 106X
Beverly, MA 01915
EMARC Board
of Directors
Chairperson
Lisa Gibbs
Vice-Chair
Brian McCoubrey
Treasurer
Joel Rothenberg
Clerk
Deanne Cefalo
Executive Director
Richard Royse
Directors
Susan Ciccanesi
A Message from our Executive Director
Richard Royse
The importance of people being informed, involved, and
engaged in ensuring our sons and daughters’ future is
bright and full of opportunity was never more true than
today.
2013 is a year of new challenges. Massachusetts has
entered into a demonstration project to integrate care for dual eligible individuals
(individuals who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare). Families with sons
and daughters who are dually eligible will need to make important and difficult
choices about their family members’ medical and behavioral health coverage, and
long-term services that include EMARC’s Life Choices, Adult Foster Care, and
Transportation services.
Ralph D’Amico
Joe Lanzi
Joanne Marqusee
John Mason
John Parker
Elena Previte
Yvonne Zani
Beginning in July, these families will be required to choose whether to opt out
of (not participate) the demonstration project and keep the funding plan they
have in place, or to choose from one of the various new plans. For some families,
the new plans may provide added benefits. For others, their existing plan will
be more beneficial. Either way, families will be automatically enrolled in the
demonstration project if they do not opt out of the program.
It is important to know that this is a part of a larger effort to control increasing
Medicaid and Medicare costs – so yes this is dollar driven. However, there may be
individual benefits which families will need to make a choice on.
Timelines is produced by:
Matt Tetrault
Marketing and Public Relations
Amy O’Brien
Director of Marketing and
Development
We are committed to providing you with information to assist you with choosing
a funding plan for your family member. To ensure that we are able to notify you
quickly and easily, please send us your current contact information, including
email, to [email protected]. EMARC will continue to provide information
on its website and hold family information sessions.
While we move forward, it’s important to take time and re-connect. I would like
to invite you to our 2nd Annual Family Barbecue which will be held on Saturday,
May 18th, time to be determined. More information about the barbecue, and all
EMARC events, can be found at www.theemarc.org.
In the midst of change, it’s important to take a break and refuel with friends. See
you at the barbecue.
Richard
2 EMARC Winter 2013
Helping Dreams take Flight
More than 300 pack the Boston Peabody Marriott for EMARC’s 18th Annual Tucker Gala Auction and Dinner
Ready for takeoff! : From center: EMARC participant Alfred Resteghini enjoys this
year’s Gala with his family and guests fill the ballroom at the Boston Peabody Marriott.
For more photos, “like” EMARC on Facebook or visit www.theemarc.org.
EMARC held its 18th Annual “Tucker” Gala Dinner and Auction on Monday,
November 5th at the Peabody Marriott. This is EMARC’s signature Gala which raises
funds for EMARC programs supporting more than 2,000 people in Massachusetts.
For almost 60 years, EMARC’s mission is to support adults and children with
developmental disabilities.
The event kicked off at 5:30 with auctions, tasting stations from 20 local
restaurants, and musical performances by Tunefoolery. The live auction started
at 7:30 and included celebrity auctioneers Actor and Comic Lenny Clarke, Comic
Steve Sweeney, Phantom Gourmet’s Dave Andelman, and Comic & Actor Tony V.
Radio and TV personality Hank Morse served as the evening’s emcee. Sweeney,
Andelman, Tony V, and Morse have been part of EMARC’s Tucker Gala for several
years now. Morse says it’s one of his favorite events because of the level of
support he sees it receive from the community. “What I love about EMARC, is the
selflessness of the supporters” said Emcee, Hank Morse. No matter who you are,
EMARC’s mission has an effect on everybody in this room. Once you get here, you
can’t leave.” “The love that’s in the room each year, the spirit, it makes you want to
come back. Added Morse, who along with Tony V and Lenny Clarke, have already
signed on for the 19th Annual Tucker Gala in November 2013. Tucker “Rookie”,
Lenny Clarke stated that “what everybody does at EMARC is God’s work” and he is
completely “on board”.
In addition to raising funds for the agency, the Tucker Gala also recognizes
businesses and community members who have gone above and beyond to
support EMARC. This year, EMARC’s “Community Champion” award went to the
Peabody Marriott. They were recognized for their dedication to hosting and
supporting EMARC and the Tucker Gala each year.
Director of Development and Marketing for EMARC, Amy O’Brien says that, while
the Peabody Marriott definitely deserves special recognition, that everyone
involved with this year’s gala deserves an award of their own. “We were thrilled at
how many local businesses, and individuals, came out to support this year’s Tucker
Gala,” said O’Brien. “This is our most important fundraiser of the year, and it raises
essential funding for programs that are not state funded. We couldn’t have done
that without the endless support of the businesses, volunteers, and the dedicated
EMARC staff who worked on this event. We can’t thank everyone involved enough
for their support.”
3 EMARC Winter 2013
Thank You to All Our Tucker
Gala Sponsors and Volunteers!
This year’s Tucker Gala was one of our best ever,
and set records for both turnout and funds
raised. This year’s gala would not be possible
without the extremely generous support of
both our Tucker Gala sponsors, and our Tucker
Gala volunteers. Everyone at EMARC and in the
EMARC community would like to thank:
2012 Tucker Gala Committee
Colleen Abreu, Kevin Barile, Dianne
Bonnani, Erin Calvo-Bacci, Brenda Doherty,
Chrissie Flaherty, Lisa Gibbs, Suzanne
Godziff, Caryn Hayes, Susan Kirkland,
MaryBeth Maroney, Denise Migliorini,
Lauren Mitchell, Tricia O’Brien, Margaret
O’Sullivan, Toni Russo, Michelle Sanphy,
Theresa Sciarappa, Gary Vacon
John Mitchell, Event Chairman
Dennis Drinkwater, Honorary Chairman
John Parker, Chair
Susan Ciccanesi, Co-Chair
Top Sponsors:
The Boston Peabody Marriott
The Savings Bank
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
The Scarpa Family
C&M Realty/Cliff and Susan Rucker
Prosper IT
Tobin Moving and Storage
Eagle Air Freight
Tonneson & Co.
The Alexander Peters Memorial Fund, Inc.
Leonard, Mullherin, & Green, P.C.
DiCicco, Gulman, & Company LLP
Fred C Church
Anderson and McQuaid Co, Inc.
D/B/A New Sports Huddle
Lance Cramer
People’s United Bank
East Boston Savings Bank
Crystal Motors Express, Inc
New England Coffee
D&R General Contracting
Sharon Borggaard
Privatus Care Solutions, Inc.
Ruotolo Associates, Inc.
From School to Success
EMARC’s School to Work Transition Services Program teaches students with developmental
disabilities the skills to succeed in college, the work place, and beyond
Shane Zanni has much in common with his fellow students at Reading High School.
He likes watching the New England Patriots, he enjoys hanging out with friends, and
– once he graduates – Zanni hopes to start a career.
Unlike most other students however, Zanni also has a developmental disability
which can sometimes make schoolwork a difficult challenge. But that challenge isn’t
stopping him from reaching his goals thanks to EMARC’s School to Work Transition
Services program.
EMARC’s School to Work Transition Services teaches students with developmental
disabilities life, study, and vocational skills through one on one work in both the
classroom, and the community. The program’s goal is to help students develop the
skills they need to succeed in life after high school.
Extracurricular activity: School to Work
student Shane Zanni stands alongside a
project for a local fundraiser. EMARC’s
School to Work program provides
additional supports for students with
developmental disabilities
As the name implies, the School to Work program offers vocational training as part
of their curriculum. Students in the program receive career counseling and attend
job tours to companies in the community. The program also helps students obtain a
part-time job and coaches students on the job.
Recently, the School to Work program has expanded its focus to teach more life skills
as well. Unlike students in more traditional Special Education programs, School to
Work students do most of their learning outside the classroom. They take trips to
the post office to learn how to mail a letter. They take trips to the library to practice
reading skills. They travel to EMARC’s offices on Princess St. to learn how to cook. And, when traveling on these trips, they
practice community safety skills and learn how to make their way around the community using public transportation.
John Moynagh, Lead Teacher in Reading High School’s Autism/PDD program, says the School to Work program’s focus on using
the community as a classroom and the program’s ability to work with students one-on-one makes School to Work a valuable
resource for educators.
“School to Work allows us as educators to have more flexibility and provides a great opportunity for students,” said Moynagh,
“Without the program, they’d be missing an important outlet and ultimately, I think this would lead to more behavioral
problems at home. These kids wouldn’t be out as much, they’d be much more sedentary, and overall, their quality of life would
be lacking. An important outlet emotionally and intellectually would be gone”
Moynagh recalls how the School to Work program helped one extremely introverted student become more social and how the
program opened a new world of activity this student had previously been unable to participate in.
“I remember when I first met this student how things like buttoning a shirt were such a big deal, how terrified of movement
she was. “But at the end of the program, she was going on ferry rides and cruises and taking trips out into the community. She
began to express these positive emotions in a new way. It was just an incredibly impressive thing to behold,” said Moynagh.
School to Work Transition Services also helps students make the jump from high school to college. School to work instructors
help students with the college application process, introduce students to the school’s representatives and disability officers,
and even help the student with campus orientation.
School to Success Continued on Page 6.
4 EMARC Winter 2013
“r’EMARC’able” Team supports EMARC Recreation at 2013 Special Olympics Polar Plunge
Annual event at Revere Beach supports EMARC’s Special Olympic Programs
Dozens of EMARC supporters plunged
into the icy waters at Revere Beach
this February during Special Olympics
Massachusetts’s annual Polar Plunge
Fundraiser.
Polar Plungers: EMARC’s Polar Plunge
Team took home the award for top
fundraising team for the fifth year in a row
on Saturday, February 23rd.
EMARC’s Polar Plunge team, The
“r’EMARC’ables”, took home the award
for top fundraising team once again this
year. EMARC Recreation Volunteer and
“rEMARC’able” team member Maddy
Hollenbeck was also recognized as this
year’s top fundraising youth.
The Polar Plunge is one of Special
Olympics Massachusetts’s largest
fundraisers of the year and helps fund
hundreds of Special Olympic programs
around Massachusetts - including
EMARC’s. Funds raised at the Passion
Plunge help purchase everything
from equipment and gym rentals, to
uniforms and tournament fees.
EMARC 101
EMARC’s Life Choices program
teaches disability awareness to
Reading Elementary School Students
On most days fourth grade students
in Reading Elementary Schools study
math, science, and other typical school
subjects. But for the past two months,
they’ve been studying a new subject –
disability awareness.
Participants in EMARC’s Life Choices
program recently spoke to Reading
Elementary School students about
developmental disabilities as part of
Reading’s Understanding Disabilities
program. The Understanding Disabilities
program is designed to sensitize
students to the issues and challenges
faced by people with a disability and
promote inclusion for people of all
abilities.
The speakers taught students about
EMARC and the Life Choices program,
how the Life Choices program teaches
people with developmental disabilities
to become independent members of
their communities, and how people
with developmental disabilities are
similar in many ways to people without
a disability.
“We talk to people about what we do
at EMARC, about our special abilities,
so they get to know the importance of
Class is in session: Participants in EMARC’s Life Choices program learn about theater
during a class. This past fall, Life Choices participants have done teaching of their own,
traveling to Reading Elementary Schools to teach students about disability awareness.
people with a disability and they get to hobbies just like people without a
know what it’s like,” said Sean Leary, a
diability. He shared his photos and his
Life Choices participant and speaker in interest in photography with the group.
the Understanding Disabilities program.
Ruth Cloqston, lead teacher for the
Added Matt Freedman, another speaker Understanding Disabilities program,
in the program, “Not a lot of people
says it’s stories like Trakimas’s that make
know what it’s like. We like teaching
the program’s lessons hit home for
people about who we are and what we students.
can do.”
“When these speakers talk to the
Each speaker plans his speech after
students, the students find out they’re
meeting with the other speakers in the just like anyone else,” said Cloqston.
group and discussing what they think is “They find out they have many things in
the most important information to pass common. It’s a memorable experience.”
along to the students. Greg Trakimas
wanted to show students that people
At the end of the session, the speakers
with a developmental disability have
EMARC 101 Continued on Page 6.
5 EMARC Winter 2013
School to Success Continued From Page 3.
“Our goal is to make sure our students have all the skills they
need to succeed not just at a job, but at a career,” said Mary
Albanese, Director of School to Work Transition Services, “We
want our students to succeed in all aspects of life.”
Albanese says that last year the program helped two School
to Work participants make the transition to college. She says
she’s looking forward to helping more students go to college
as the program goes on.
Zanni says he’s working hard to stay in school and possibly
make his own transition to college. He hopes to one day start
his own career working with students with developmental
disabilities.
“School to Work helps me learn,” he said “It helps a lot. I like it.”
Upcoming Dates and Events
Dine for a Cause at Ninety Nine Restaurant in Stoneham
Monday, April 8th
5 - 8 pm
Ninety Nine Restaurant, 10 Main St., Stoneham, MA
Enjoy great food for a great cause at our monthly Dine for a
cause fundraisers. April’s Dine for a Cause restaurant is the
Ninety Nine in Stoneham. Dine in anytime between 5 and
8 pm with our DFAC coupon and 15% of your check will go
directly to EMARC. To obtain your DFAC coupon, visit www.
theemarc.org
Life Choices North Shore Open House
Thursday, April 11th
12-2 pm OR 4-6 pm
800 Cummings Center, Suite 166 S, Beverly, MA
We’re having an open house to celebrate our recent move to
our new Life Choices North Site in Beverly. Stop in anytime
between 12-2 pm or between 4-6 pm and come see what
we’ve been building.
Lights, Camera, EMARC: A Spring Fundraiser at the
Stoneham Theater.
Thursday, May 9th, 2013
Pre-show reception 6-7 pm, Showtime at 7:30 pm
Stoneham Theater 395 Main St., Stoneham, MA
Save the date for a great night of food and theater! This
year’s theater night at the Stoneham Theater features the
classic Tony-Award winning musical, Thoroughly Modern
Millie! along with hors d’ouerves, cash bar art and jewelry
EMARC 101 Continued From Page 5.
take questions and hand out bookmarks they created with
the lessons they think are the most important from the day.
The bookmarks encourage students to avoid bullying, to
make new friends and to continue to educate themselves
about people with different abilities.
Cloqston says it’s one of the few pieces of homework the
students don’t have trouble taking home.
“The students love it and they really get so much out of the
lesson,” she said. “I think it’s made all of our students kinder,
gentler people.”
Now in its 28th year in Reading, Understanding Disabilities,
Inc. is a local non-profit who organizes workshops and
speaker sessions about disability awareness in Reading’s
five elementary schools each year. The program has five
units each focusing on visual, auditory, physical, and
developmental disabilities.
from EMARC’s Center for Emerging Artists, raffles, and more!.
Stay tuned to www.theemarc.org for more information as the
date approaches!
2013 EMARC Family Barbecue
Saturday, May 18 2013
Save the date for a great day of good food, reconnecting
with old friends, and making new acquaintances. Stay tuned
to www.theemarc.org for more information as the date
approaches!
FROM THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER:
Maneuvering the Maze ( a four-part series)
Wednesdays, April 3, 10, 17, and 24th
Perkins Hall, Melrose-Wakefield Hospital
When a child has special needs, locating supports can be an
overwhelming process! Presenters will provide an overview
of the available services and how to access them. Learn
about working with school systems and special education
laws, government benefits and family support. There is no
charge for these workshops. Sponsored by EMARC, The North
Suburban Child and Family Resource Network, The Medford
Family Network, Mass Families Organizing for Change, Family
Ties and Riverside Community Care. Register by calling Judy
Santa Maria, EMARC 781 942-4888 or email familysupport@
theemarc.org.
6 EMARC Winter 2013
EMARC is grateful for gifts
from the following donors:
Gifts Up to $100
Baking for Good
Barbara Cripps Belbin
Sarah Bellem
Jeffry Brand, M.D.
Margaret Burke
Sharon DeGrazia
Eileen D’Entremonnt
Linda Edwards
Marianne and Jose Estrela
First Financial Services
Virginia Freitas
Meg Gallugi
Catherine Graffeo
John Herbert
IBM Employee Services Ctr.
Raichelle Kallery
Patricia Kelly
Joyce LaBelle
Alan, Dana, Fang, and Xiaohui Liu
Marie McCarthy
Stephanie Meader
Dennis Moore
Eleanor O’Brien
Mary O’Connell
Juliann O’Donnell
Richard Tisei
Gary Baker/ Johnson & Johnson
Colleen Watrous
Wood End Elementary School
Gifts $101 – $999
Candace and George Bouris
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Fuddruckers
Give With Liberty
William Gordon
Lisa and Michael Granese
Marjorie Kozak
Ann Iafrate
John Mason, Jr.
Brian McCoubrey
Gita Muni
Marie Rej
Myrna Resteghini
Thomas Richissin
Sorenson Family Foundation / Tessa Peterson
Uno Restaurants
Gifts $1,000-$2,500
Anonymous
Beverly Guiry and Bernard Savord
Holiday toy drives keep spirits bright
Gifts Over $2,500
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
In Kind Donations
ClearChannel Outdoor
Prosper IT
Memorials
In Memory of Gail and Leonard Cripps
Barbara Cripps Mulcahy
In Memory of Donna Drago
Lianne Raso
In Memory of Carol Ann Glennon
Oleda Dady
Arthur W. Glennon, Jr.
Michelle Hook
Margaret Rooney
In Memory of Gilbert Greenburg
Jane Walker
In Memory of Eleanor Travis
Marieelizabeth C. Mathis
In Memory of Peter Rousseau
Ginetter R. Tentindo
In Memory of Valerie Simpson
Virginia Garofalo
Karen Holmes
Robert Huges, Jr.
Patricia Kelley
Priscilla Monteusco
Marleen Monto
Maria Morris
Maura O’Neil
Andrew Prefite
Sandra Santosuosso
Cathy Strong
David Valeri
In Memory of Sadie Ann Zager
Marie Fitzgerald
Irene Zager
Gifts listed from September 22nd, to January 8th
In Memory of Christopher J. Hartford
Christopher J. Hartford, a long
time participant of EMARC,
passed away suddenly at
Lawrence General Hospital on
Sunday, December 16, 2012, at
age 56.
Chris was born on June 23,
1956, in Winchester, one of
four sons of the late Charles
Hartford and Barbra (Pinkham)
Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the EMARC
community this December, all of the families in need who
use EMARC’s services were able to receive gifts this holiday
season.
This year’s gifts came courtesy of three toy drives. One drive
was organized by Toni Russo and the staff at Harvard Pilgrim
Health Care. This year, in addition to everything from a
complete Justin Beiber bedding set, to winter coats, the staff
at Harvard Pilgrim also donated several gift cards to Stop and
Shop - enough gift cards to feed every family supported by
the Family Resource Center through the winter.
Another drive was organized by Family Support Intern Taryn
Fusco, Hallmark Health employee Karen Andrews and the
staff at Hallmark Health. Karen and the Hallmark Health staff
dropped off an enormous load of toys to EMARC’s offices on
Princess Street this December. The toy drive also benefited
families in need supported by the Family Resource Center.
And finally, thanks to everyone in the EMARC community
who participated in EMARC’s Giving Tree program,
individuals in need who use EMARC’s Residential and Day
Services were able to receive gifts this holiday season as well.
EMARC would like to thank Colleen Abreu, Deanne Cefalo,
Ralph D’Amico, Beverly Mire, Maureen, O’Brien, the O’Brien
Family and Jane Reardon Owens for generously fulfilling the
wish lists of all the individuals in need in EMARC’s Residential
and Day Services Programs.
Hartford.
Chris was the caring brother of Charles F. “Chuck” Hartford,
Jr., Jonathan H. Hartford of Seattle, and Robert C. Hartford
and his wife Susan of Salem, NH. Loving uncle of Jason,
Jeffrey, Jonathan, Stephanie, and Andrea.
Chris is also survived by his girlfriend, Rachel, his longtime
friends and housemates: Debbie, Gail, Kristi, Nick, and Kathy,
and his many longtime friends from the E.M.I Work Shop in
Reading. He will be missed but always remembered by the
staff at EMARC who provided loving care and outstanding
support for Chris for over 30 years.
7 EMARC Winter 2013
EMARC
26 Princess St.
Wakefield, MA 01880
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