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Upcoming
Bancroft Events
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Innovations
in Individualized Supports: Making Community
Connections Happen for People with Developmental
Disabilities, by Hanns Meissner, Ph.D., sponsored
by The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center for Developmental
Disabilities Lecture Series
May 7,
2010
9:30AM-12:30PM
Doubletree Guest
Suites in Mt. Laurel, NJ
(732) 235-9307
Adult Special Olympics:
Softball Game
May 8,
2010
Blues
Bruins
Mercer
County Park
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult
Special Olympics: Area Track Meet
May 8,
2010
Highland Regional
HS,
Blackwood
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult
Special Olympics: Swim Practice
May 10,
2010
6:30PM-7:30PM
Jacob
Schaefer
Center
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Bocce
May 11,
2010
6PM-7PM
Flicker
Center
jbozicek@comcast.net
Clarence York Lecture
Series- Beyond Diagnosis: Documenting Functioning
and Disability with the ICF-CY with speaker Rune
J. Simeonsson, Ph. D., MSPH
May 12,
2010
9AM-12PM
Cherry
Hill Library
scrouse@bnh.org
Adult Special
Olympics: Softball Practice
May 12,
2010
Blues:
5PM-6PM
Bruins:
6PM-7PM
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Bocce
May 12,
2010
6PM-7PM
Challenge
Grove
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Track and Field Practice
May 12,
2010
6PM-7PM
Haddonfield
Memorial High
School
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Tennis
Practice
May 13,
2010
7PM-8PM
Haddonfield
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult
Special Olympics: Softball Game
May 15,
2010
Blues
Bruins
Mercer
County Park
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Swim Practice
May 17,
2010
6:30PM-7:30PM
Jacob
Schaefer
Center
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Bocce
May 18,
2010
6PM-7PM
Flicker
Center
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Softball Practice
May 19,
2010
Blues: 5PM-6PM
Bruins:
6PM-7PM
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Bocce
May 19,
2010
6PM-7PM
Challenge
Grove
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Track and Field Practice
May 19,
2010
6PM-7PM
Haddonfield
Memorial High
School
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Tennis Practice
May 20,
2010
7PM-8PM
Haddonfield
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult
Special Olympics: Softball Game
May 22,
2010
Blues
Bruins
Mercer
County Park
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Swim Practice
May 24,
2010
6:30PM-7:30PM
Jacob
Schaefer
Center
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Bocce
May 25,
2010
6PM-7PM
Flicker
Center
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Softball Practice
May 26,
2010
Blues:
5PM-6PM
Bruins:
6PM-7PM
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Bocce
May 26,
2010
6PM-7PM
Challenge
Grove
jbozicek@comcast.net
Adult Special Olympics:
Track and Field Practice
May 26,
2010
6PM-7PM
Haddonfield
Memorial High
School
jbozicek@comcast.net
NJCDD Public
Meeting
May 27,
2010
10AM-3PM
Lafayette
Yard Marriott Conference Center, 1 West Lafayette
Street, Trenton, NJ
(609)
292-3745
Adult Special Olympics:
Tennis Practice
May 27,
2010
7PM-8PM
Haddonfield
jbozicek@comcast.net
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Phillies
player Greg Dobbs joins Bancroft
Board!
After
being charmed by our students at sports
"skills-n-drills" activities at our Haddonfield
school the last two years, Greg Dobbs,
Philadelphia Phillies infielder, has agreed to
join our Board of Trustees for a three-year term.
In fact, he not only agreed, but he's honored.
Dobbs recently told Bancroft President Toni
Pergolin, "...my only hope is that I help Bancroft
further its purpose and great cause by being a
part of your board."
The photo above shows
Dobbs and our students during his visit to The
Bancroft School last year. We're pretty sure this
means we'll be seeing lots more of him in the
future!
Go
Phillies!!
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Bancroft
Schools get their own website
Families of
students served in our schools have a new way of
getting school-related information, with the
launch of our school-specific website this week.
The site contains a wealth of school-related
information: announcements, contact information
for teachers, menus and upcoming events - all of
which are easily accessible from the site's
homepage.
You can visit the site either
from Bancroft's main homepage at bancroft.org
(select "Visit our school site" from the Quick
Links menu) or you can go directly to the school
site at bancroftnj.org
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New services to help
welcome our new
families
Bancroft is launching
two services to better welcome families to the
organization. Beginning this month, all new
families will receive a Welcome Packet within the
first three months of their family member's
admission to a Bancroft program. The packet will
include information about family resources, our
clinical philosophy, volunteer and advocacy
opportunities, and other ways for families to
actively participate in the organization. Families
will also be invited to a New Family Orientation
at which Bancroft program, administrative, and
support staff will be present to answer any
questions. These meetings will be held quarterly.
If your family member was admitted after
January 1, 2009, you will receive the Welcome
Packet and invitation to the first Family
Orientation in the mail soon. If your family
member was admitted prior to January 1, 2009, and
you would like to receive the Welcome Packet
and/or attend the first New Family Orientation,
please contact Kathy Nazarok at (856) 524-7366 or
Sue Crouse at (856) 524-7479.
The
first New Family Orientation will be held
Thursday, May 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Cooley Hall
auditorium on the Haddonfield
Campus.
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We love our
volunteers!
In
honor of National Volunteer Appreciation Week,
Bancroft hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation
Dinner Tuesday night to thank the many volunteers
who give their precious time to Bancroft and those
we serve. Many individuals provide their time and
talents to Bancroft - everything from managing our
school library and reading to the students, to
doing activities with those we serve in their
homes, to serving as Special Olympics coaches,
office helpers, members of the Friends of
Bancroft, Family Council, and even our Board of
Trustees.
We were pleased to show them how
grateful we all are for their support through a
special dinner (provided by "the best Food
Services team ever," note organizers!).
Deb Conner, manager of volunteer services,
expressed her personal appreciation to all the
attendees. And she honored Colleen Gross as
Volunteer of the Year for her help in the
Development and Advancement Office, where she
supports our fund-raising efforts. In addition,
May Moore was recognized for volunteering at
Bancroft for 25 years!
A special
thank you to all our GREAT volunteers, and those
who make them feel welcome here at Bancroft every
day.
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Debbie Brown,
on left, receiving Bancroft's Maggie Award
last year from Bet Kinney (right), Flicker Center
Program Director and Clair Rohrer, Senior
Director.
Staff
shows commitment -- in cash
Bancroft
staffers show their dedication to our mission
every day through their work and commitment to
those we serve. Now, many employees are stepping
up their support even further - by donating money
to the organization.
Over the last few
months, we've launched an Employee Impact
Campaign, which offers staffers opportunities to
support our mission through monetary donations and
other means. And many are saying "Sign me up!"
After all, lots of employees already support the
organization by volunteering at events, using
GoodSearch and GoodShop, purchasing raffle
tickets, buying supplies, or donating items from
home that are useful in our programs. Through this
campaign, our staff will now get "credit" for
these contributions.
Staff
donations are critical for a number of reasons.
For instance, corporations, foundations and
private donors often consider the amount of
support from those closest to an organization,
when deciding whether to provide gifts or grants.
Families also look at this information when
choosing where their loved one should be served.
This is why we are committed to encouraging a
culture of giving among staff, and why we also
give our families and volunteers multiple
opportunities to support our mission throughout
the year.
As of
today, 542 staff members have started
supporting the Employee Impact Campaign since we
introduced it in
January.
For instance, Debbie Brown, a
program associate in the Flicker Program and a
Maggie Award winner last year, is well-known
around the organization for all the great things
she does. She volunteers at events such as
Bancroft Day and the Bancroft Idol, and even
supports special trips and activities for those
served at Flicker.
Now, Debbie is
demonstrating her dedication through her own
pocketbook: she recently began donating to
Bancroft through automatic payroll
deductions.
According to Debbie, "I have worked
in a number of different facilities, and I have
never worked in a place that not only talks the
talk, but walks the walk, like Bancroft does. If I
am going to send my money to some place, I want it
to be here.
Special thanks to Debbie
Brown, and 541 other Bancroft staffers who
are supporting our mission in every way
possible. |
Pictured
above from left to right: Michael Webb, an
Employment Specialist in the Brick Day
Program, Carol Connelly, holding Amy the cat and
Jen Merkh.
Speaking
of volunteerism...
Passion for pets pays off
for persons served, animal shelter
By
Francine Menken, Toms River Animal Facility
The
following piece has been edited for space and
clarity.
There are many things in this
world that wouldn't be possible without
volunteers. They have a special way of caring,
helping and dedication to really make a
difference. With a small staff for such a large
town, and a volunteer roster of about 30, the Toms
River Animal Facility (TRAF) relies heavily on
their volunteers. Jen and Carol are among these
volunteers -- and are also persons served by
Bancroft's Brick, New Jersey, program.
For
the last two years, Carol and Jen have been
volunteering an hour each Friday from spring
through fall. The staff and volunteers work
closely with Carol and Jen, who agree it's one of
the best parts of their day program and why they
love coming to TRAF.
While Carol and Jen
both love animals, they have different
preferences. "I like dogs, but I love cats," Carol
says, as she unzips her jacket to reveal her cat
sweater. "I'm Catwoman."
"I love the
dogs because they are playful," says Jen,
representing the other end of the spectrum.
Cats or dogs, TRAF accommodates both
interests. Carol spends her time inside, working
with longtime TRAF volunteers Marilyn Love and
Carol Riccardi, playing and giving the cats lots
of affection.
"We always have to check
Carol's bag as a joke to make sure there are no
animals," says Riccardi. Carol is just as happy
taking pictures with her camera phone and sharing
her photos with her peers when she returns from
TRAF.
On the other hand, Jen spends
her time playing with the dogs and working closely
with Riccardi. She and the dogs play in a large
fenced area in the back of the TRAF property. Jen
also helps clean out the always-overflowing dog
toy box.
Bancroft employment
specialist Michael Webb brings Jen and Carol to
TRAF and observes their activities. "My personal
reward is seeing their happiness, enjoyment, and
contribution to the community," says Webb, who
arranged the volunteer positions, even though
Carol and Jen were denied at other shelters. He
had thought their passion for animals would be an
ideal fit for volunteering at TRAF.
In
fact, such activities tie in with Bancroft's
mission to provide "opportunities for lifelong
learning and fulfillment," and to support people
with disabilities in being "valued and respected
members of our world."
"I believe this
opportunity has had a powerful impact for both
Carol and Jen," says Webb. "Both look forward to
each Friday."
If Jen and Carol's
trip is cancelled due to inclement weather, they
return asking about the animals -- by name -- and
which have been adopted. Now that spring is here,
Carol and Jen will be coming back to volunteer.
"It's really great that we can offer them
this opportunity," says volunteer Marilyn Love.
"They love it and we love working with them. We
share a lot of laughs and have good talks. They
really care and understand the dedication it takes
to take care of animals."
Carol and Jen
have the wonderful opportunity of getting hands-on
experience with the animals as part of their day
program. They care so deeply for the animals and
give members of TRAF so much more. "We look
forward to their return and we would love them to
continue volunteering as long as they like," says
Jim Bowen, division manager at TRAF.
Click here to view the TRAF
slideshow
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Bancroft
to walk for autism research - please join us!
"TEAM Bancroft" is coming together again
this year to support Autism Speaks in its goal
"to change the future for all who struggle with
autism spectrum disorders." Our hope is that
staff, family members and persons served from
across the organization will gather for this
event, and take a walk together to raise public
awareness about autism and its effects on
individuals, families and society. Will you join
us?
Here are the
details:
When:
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Where:
Bishops Gate Corporate Center
3000 Leadenhall
Road
Mt. Laurel, New
Jersey 08054
Time:
8 a.m. Registration
10 a.m. Walk
Start
9:30 a.m. Team
Bancroft Photo!
To register, visit:
walknowforautism.org/southernnewjersey
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Photos
of the library before, during and after the
renovations. Volunteers brushed on a new coat of
paint as well as installed new carpeting.
Volunteers spruce up
school library
Thanks
to the enthusiasm and generosity of one volunteer,
in particular (who prefers to remain anonymous),
the Bancroft School library has a nice new "look"
these days!
According staff member Deb
Conner, who works closely with the volunteer, "She
wanted the children to have a clean, healthy
environment for their library time. It's always a
goal of our librarian volunteers to offer the
children a nice library experience so they can
practice library etiquette - come in, be seated,
listen quietly -- instilling a respect and love
for books and the adventure they offer us.
"For some, it gives them preparation for
going to a community library, and for others, it
opens up the world of books in an environment
designed to offer extra support."
While
the students were on spring break, the room was
cleaned out, walls were spackled and windows and
blinds were washed. Then our friends from Columbia
Bank in Voorhees brushed on a couple of fresh
coats of paint, carpeting was installed, and
volunteers came back in to put books on shelves
and return everything to its place.
Thanks
to a generous donor and a team of volunteers...
What a wonderful surprise for everyone when they
came back to
school!
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