The Growing Tree News
A Publication of the E. John Gavras Center
Operated by U.C.P.A. of Cayuga County, Inc.
Geno DeCondo, Chief Executive Officer
182 North Street Auburn, NY 13021
A United Way Agency April 2015
www.gavrascenter.com
Spring 2015
I want to thank you for the warm welcome to the Gavras
Center! In my first few months I have been very impressed
by the strength of the team, the quality of the services
provided, and the passion and dedication you have for the
people we serve.
I believe we have built a strong foundation for the
opportunities and challenges that are ahead. New York
OPWDD continues to be in transition as they look to service
providers in communities across the state to serve more
individuals in need and do it with fewer resources. This will
require us to continue our efforts to think in different ways,
all while assuring we maintain the outcomes we desire for
everyone we serve.
The Gavras Center reached a significant milestone on its
path to program innovation at the end of March. We
introduced the “Supported Living “program and our first
young lady moved into an apartment, living independently
for the first time with supporting services provided to her in
her home. This exciting new program allows individuals an
opportunity to live in the least restrictive environment, while
assuring there is a circle of supports available to help them
meet new and different challenges.
As we continue to navigate the change taking place in New
York State regarding the provision of services for people
with differing abilities, the needs also seem to be growing
exponentially. In fact, according to the Center for Disease
Control (CDC), 1 in 68 will be born with autism. This
number is alarming, and there currently aren’t enough
resources to meet the need. As you are aware, our 3 rd Annual
Walk for Autism Awareness is Saturday April 25th. The
walk planning committee has worked hard to enhance the
walk this year for families. WNYR-98.5 is doing a live
broadcast, Krazy-Q Pork sandwiches will be available for
eat in or take out, the registration and post walk area will be
inside in Herman Ave Gym( just in case “Old Man Winter”
blows back into town). Come out and support the many
people in our community touched by Autism and raise some
much needed funds for local services. I hope to see you
there!
Geno
A BIG Thank you to
D E French Metcalf Foundations
The preschool children in the Blue Team are thrilled; their
teachers are able to use the latest technology in the
classroom due to a generous grant from DE French and the
Stanley W Metcalf Foundations.
Staying ahead of the curve is important in today’s
technologically advanced world. Our classrooms have
always offered a multitude of options to inspire learning for
all ages and abilities. The newest addition of the smart
boards is valuable tools which complement the various
strategies our teams use. We wouldn’t be able to transform
learning and lives without the support from our friends
throughout the community.
The newest branch of Empower Federal Credit Union is now
open in downtown Auburn as of February 2, 2015.
Empower moved operations from their previous location to a
newly renovated branch at 65 State Street in Auburn, NY.
To kickoff the new location and celebrate an exuberant new
beginning, Empower generously donated $500 to the E John
Gavras Center and five other non for profit agencies in the
community!
The new branch operates as a modern, full-service financial
institution, while acknowledging and respecting the City’s
historic past. The new design incorporates an architectural
design that reflects the character of the original Osborne
Hotel that once stood on this site many years ago. The
branch includes a “welcome area” with a coffee bar for adult
members and a “Kids Zone” specially designed for younger
members to enjoy during their visit. In addition to traditional
teller windows, this branch offers multiple drive-thru lanes,
24-hour ATM access, a coin counting machine, expanded
hours, and access to the full array of saving and lending
services.
Pictured below in the check presentation photo are Danielle
Ambrose, Associate Executive Director EJG, Melissa Flask,
Empower Federal Credit Union and Kyle Quick, Human
Resources, EJG.
Please join us at the 3rd Walk for Autism Awareness in
Cayuga County. The walk’s mission is to promote
understanding and knowledge of autism and to raise
necessary funds for autism related services. The E John
Gavras Center is a key provider of services for autism in
Cayuga County and all funds raised by the walk will stay in
Cayuga County.
When: Saturday, April 25, 2015
Where: Walk begins at Herman Ave School, walk through
to Hoopes Park and return to Herman Ave Gym.
________________________________________________
The E John Gavras Center lit its two main buildings up with
blue outer lights on April 2, 2015 for World Autism
Awareness Day. As part of the Light It Up BLUE
Campaign the teams wore blue to the center that day and
below is a great photo of the Crane Brook site teams.
--
Time: 10:15am registration; 11:00 am start
Specifics: Join us as we walk the outer loop at beautiful
Hoopes Park to raise awareness during National Autism
Awareness Month! Registration, refreshments, activities
will be indoors at the Herman Ave School gymnasium.
Auburn Fire Truck will be outside for some fun exposure to
fire fighters. No Registration Fee* raise $25 in paid pledges
per person and you will receive the newly designed 2015
Walk for Autism Awareness Cayuga County T shirt! Send
in paid pledges by 4/17 to be guaranteed a T shirt on walk
day. Please register all participants including those in
strollers or wagons. Join us for Zumba at 10:00 AM for a
walk warmup, $5 fee, out in front of Herman Ave School.
Go to www.gavrascenter.com for more information or
call 255-2746 ext 2113
Live broadcast from the walk!!!
Register for the walk early at the pre walk registration
event on Thursday, 4/23 at the E John Gavras Center from
4:00-5:30 pm. This will be at the 182 North St. location.
You can register for the walk, drop off pledges, pick up tshirts, buy select autism awareness items and purchase raffle
tickets! You can do all of these things on the morning of the
walk as well.
This activity kicked off Autism Awareness month which
will lead into our 3rd Walk for Autism Awareness Cayuga
County on April 25th. This year's walk is going to be great.
www.gavrascenter.com
Krazy Q BBQ-New this year! Authentic pulled pork
sandwiches. Pre order by calling Pam at 255-2746. Or
take your chance whilethe supply lasts on the day of the
walk. Eat in or take out. Proceeds will go to the E John
Gavras Center.
Gavras Team 2015
Consider joining this year’s team. It’s fun; it’s local and it
supports our community!
Beardsley Architects+Engineers are very excited to revive
the Cayuga County Corporate Challenge 2015. It’s a
friendly and competitive event to benefit the YMCA,
Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and Cayuga County
Habitat for Humanity.
Organize a team of 6, two team members per event and
teams must participate in one event per category. The
categories are Athletic, Brian Teasers, Odd Ones, and Team
Events. If you like the Frisbee Throws & Home Run Derby,
Puzzles & Local Trivia, Three Legged Race & Water
Balloon Carry or Tug of War and Egg on a Spoon to name a
few then this year’s Corporate Challenge may be for you!
Decorated tents, team shirts, a Spirit Award?!!
Pictured are Lenny Kalechitz, Becky Reese, Nancy Tehan, Shelly
Lawrence and Barb Gray, the winners
Prepping for Masters Weekend
The date is June 11, 2015 from 5:00-8:30 PM
The place: Auburn High School, Auburn NY
Early Registration date May1, 2015
Registration dates May 2- May 26th
We definitely want to have the Gavras Center represented.
Talk with your supervisor if you are interested.
The 1st E John Gavras Center Chili
Cook off!
The cold and snowy winter month of February created the
perfect setting for our first Chili Cook Off. Barb Gray did
an outstanding job organizing this event. She thought of
everything from recruiting the most talented chefs to
providing cleansing palate items for the judges to prizes for
all of the winners.
The Center smelled heavenly! Judges; Michael Barrigar,
Sarah Kelly and Mark Querns were given instructions to
consider the aroma, consistency, color, taste and after taste
of each chili sample when they selected the winner. The
photo of the winners is located below.
Geno DeCondo, Danielle Ambrose, Cathy Barrigar and
Dave Sperduti were one of two Gavras Teams who played in
the United Way Mini Golf Tournament on March 26 at the
Holiday Inn. A good time was had by all.
This year the Gavras Center was partnered with long time
friends Jacob’s Press at the 9th hole. We had an awesome
hole. Jacobs Press is celebrating their 100th year anniversary!
They added an original press machine as an obstacle to the
golf hole which made it pretty difficult to get a hole in one.
Congratulations to Jacob’ Press on their 100 th anniversary
and thanks for all of the great work you do in the
community!
Good Bye and Good Luck:
Aaron Clark – PT
Kelly Green – OT
Brian Donato –IRA
Laura Barnard - H
Maura Barron- QA
________________________________________
ABC Cayuga~Update
ABC Cayuga will begin a Born Learning Academy in Casey
Park School beginning in the fall of 2015. This is a 6
session program for parents and children under the age of 5.
The group will meet together in the school. A meal and
childcare is provided as parents learn how their child’s brain
is developing, activities to do at home to boost brain power
and build relationships with other parents and the
community school team.
Other communities’ have found great success with this
program and we look forward to sharing in that as well.
For more information contact Nancy Tehan ext 2113.
Congratulations
Welcome to
Ben and Megan Gable‘s daughter Shayla Mae
Katie Seneca& Rob Whittaker son Skylar
Jennifer St. Mire-Zammett daughter Leigha
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday Evenings –Fun Fridays Group
April 25, 2015- Walk for Autism Awareness, begins
at 11:00AM, Herman Ave. School
June 11, Cayuga Corporate Challenge At the
Auburn High School.
~Quote~
―I‘ve learned that every human being, with or
without disabilities, needs to strive to do their
best, and by striving for happiness you will
arrive at happiness. For us, you see, having
autism is normal—so we can‘t know for sure
what your ‗normal‘ is even like. But so long as
we can learn to love ourselves, I‘m not sure
how much it matters whether we‘re normal or
autistic.‖
—Naoki Higashida, author of
The Reason I Jump
This book is at Seymour Library
Welcome:
Katie Nolin- IRA***
Brittany Saroodis- IRA***
Kim Janes-IRA***
Samantha Fenton- DH***
Erin Northrup - CH
Brett Gannetti -DH ***
Donna Zahn- DH***
Erica Laird Burgos- PS***
Jane Stebbins – IRA***
Cody Green – IRA***
Alicia Hadcock – DH***
Margaret Hartman – OT***
Katlynn Kadinski – PS***