Our annual Friends and Family BBQ, hosted by our Developmental Disabilities Division, is a summer highlight for those living in our residences and attending our day and community habilitation programs. The people we support look forward to the opportunity to come together and connect with friends and family, while enjoying food, games, music, and more.

While the event was on hiatus due to the pandemic, it returned this year in full force! Last month, the event took place at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle, NY. Around 1,110 attendees came out for a joy-filled day!

Attendees, their families, and  Foundling staff members enjoyed a variety of food – burgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese, chicken sandwiches, fish, cornbread, and more – and had the opportunity to dance to music provided by a DJ. Other activities included balloon making, face painting, corn hole, and flag football.

As a testament to the presence The Foundling has in the community, two Assembly Members were also in attendance – Amy Paulin and Thomas Abinanti – and had the opportunity to meet the people in our programs!

And amidst all the fun, it was also a bittersweet time for our Foundling staff.

It was the last BBQ for Jill Gentile, Senior Vice President of our Developmental Disabilities Division, who will be retiring this fall. Her retirement was celebrated at the event, from custom t-shirts to a moving speech by our Board Chair Bob King honoring her leadership over the past 9 years.

At The Foundling, we are committed to ensuring that each person in our care is able to live their best lives. For those with developmental disabilities, this is what that looks like – providing a supportive space to connect with peers, maintain and bolster family relationships, participate in meaningful activities, and feel appreciated and valued. We look forward to an even bigger and better BBQ event next year!

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View more photos from the event below:

         

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Thank you to Grassy Sprain Pharmacy for sponsoring the 2022 Annual Friends and Family BBQ.

For years, Lowell dreamed of having a job. The Foundling was there every step of the way as he made this dream a reality.

Lowell, who lives in one of our Bronx residences for people with developmental disabilities, knew he wanted to work. However, people with disabilities have some of the lowest employment rates in the country, and it was difficult for him to achieve this goal. Years passed without any progress – until he enrolled in The Foundling’s Employment Services in 2018. The program was exactly what he was looking for.

Matched with a supportive coach, he began to learn the basics of being in the workforce. He embarked on dedicated skills training, and received expert guidance as he identified jobs that fit with his interests and aptitudes. Through several volunteer positions in the community, he learned how to follow directions and conduct himself in the workplace. While some skills took some time to master, and the COVID-19 pandemic posed further disruptions, Lowell continued to have hope. He never gave up on his goal – and neither did his Foundling job coach. This summer, those efforts paid off as he accepted his first job as a team member with Shake Shack, working at a location in the Bronx!

Now, he starts his days with purpose, and enjoys doing meaningful paid work in the community. Thanks to supporters like you, Lowell has a bright future ahead.

This is what our programs do each day: provide children, adults, and families with the guidance and resources to transform their lives. And with the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic creating further obstacles for our neighbors to obtain employment and self-sufficiency, these vital programs are needed more than ever.

As a nonprofit organization, we can only do this important work with the support of our donors. Your gift can help adults like Lowell find independence, and provide stability, strength, and hope to the 30,000 children, adults, and families we serve each year. All donations are tax-deductible and will directly benefit our shared community.

Donate today – every dollar gives our neighbors the support to move forward as they pursue their dreams.

Entering the workforce is hard for all of us: the interview process can be daunting, and learning new tasks and adapting to new environments is often stressful. For people with developmental disabilities, it can be even more challenging.

“People with disabilities want to work, because working is the way that people are involved in their communities. They have more meaningful relationships, they have a better sense of personal freedom, and they’re more independent,” says Mia Joshi, The Foundling’s Education and Employment Services Coordinator. But while the general employment rate is 70%, only 30% of adults with developmental disabilities are actively employed.

People with disabilities make up the largest minority group in the nation, yet they are underemployed because of barriers beyond their control. This community often lacks access to targeted and specialized job resources and training, making it difficult to learn the ‘soft’ skills that are often overlooked by traditional employment programs. It can also be difficult to find accommodating employers, placing them at a disadvantage in the job hunt. Additionally, nearly 25% of adults with developmental disabilities report not having anyone in their life to talk to about their goals, and this lack of mentorship and guidance can further impede long-term success.

In The Foundling’s Employment Services program, our dedicated staff address these challenges head-on.  Participants are matched with a Job Coach who trains them in workplace skills and abilities– this often includes broader instruction in communicating, following directions, and more. The Foundling partners with a number of organizations and employers to place participants in meaningful volunteer work to gain experience, and to ultimately match them with fulfilling and competitively-paid job opportunities. Once they start working, participants receive long-term support to ensure that they continue to be successful.

Sophia, who is working on pre-vocational skills training with Employment Services, has made great strides in her path toward independence as a result of the program. The Foundling has set her up with volunteer opportunities, such as working at the New York Botanical Garden, that have given her the chance to grow.

“I learned to listen to instructions to do things the right way…They are helping us to learn and gain employment. I used to get more frustrated but now I can communicate with people better,” she says.

Now, Sophia is learning to type and is finessing her communication skills, all in preparation for paid employment – and is excited about her professional future ahead.

Lowell, another one of our Employment Services participants, recently took his first step into the working world. Since 2018, he has worked hard with our team to learn skills and prepare for employment. This summer, those efforts paid off!

Through The Foundling’s partnership with the Consortium for Customized Employment, which works to create a network of organizations and employers to expand work options for people with developmental disabilities, Lowell was able to find a job that fit with his skillset and aspirations.  He is now a Shake Shack team member, and is enjoying the autonomy, responsibility, and purpose that being part of the workforce brings.

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This National Disability Employment Awareness Month, learn more about our Employment Services program in the video below: