2022 Marks the 60th Anniversary of Abilities First
Stay tuned on more to come to revisit our history and celebrate the future!
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NYS MHREDC Invests in Abilities First Schools with $300,000 Grant
Autism Awareness Month | Peer to Peer Giving
AF Employees Spearhead “In Memory” Initiative
Those Supported by AF Give Back via Donations to FAFNY
Leadership Spotlight: Abilities First Welcomes New Board Members
Thank You's & Shout-outs
2022 Golf & Tennis Classic: Presented by DVM Industries
Commercial Vacancies
We Want to Hear Your AF Stories!
Follow Us On Social Media
We’re Hiring
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NYS MHREDC Invests in Abilities First Schools with $300,000 Grant |
The Abilities First School Expansion Project will add new, state-of-the-art classrooms and therapy space for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the LaGrange and New Windsor K-12 schools.
“We are so pleased to be granted the funds to expand the instructional and therapeutic facilities at both of our main school sites in LaGrange and New Windsor, which will add numerous job opportunities for members of our communities,” said Abilities First President & CEO Jeffery Fox, Ph.D. “The improvements will add 28 seats in the New Windsor school, create smaller, more intimate classes in the LaGrange school, and upgrade space for therapies, arts, and other essential school functions.”
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Show your support this April for
Autism Awareness Month!
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Abilities First Peer to Peer Giving is a fundraising campaign that allows YOU to be a Fundraising Champion for Abilities First. You can create your own page, share WHY you’re a Fundraising Champion, and ask your friends & family to join you in reaching your goal to help raise critical funding for programs & services for individuals with disabilities. |
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AF Employees Spearhead
“In Memory” Initiative
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The impact of the pandemic over the past two years has been a challenging time for employees, as well as those they support. The program staff often have very close family-like relationships with their peers, program individuals, and their families. When those family members come to their end of life—through the impact of the pandemic, by succumbing to their medical challenges, or through natural causes—it is never easy to say goodbye.
Driven by the deep compassion that staff have for those they support, Nicole Connolly and Donna Toth identified an interest to keep alive the memory of those who have passed. In 2021, they reached out to AF leadership asking about creating a memorial listing.
This wonderful idea sparked the development of an online In Memory page on the AF website. With prior approval from an individual's family member, each staff, board member, student, or program attendee who may have passed may be included and remembered on this memorial page.
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Those Supported by AF Give Back via Donations to FAFNY |
Annually, the Foundation seeks generosity from the community so that the needs of those its mission supports can be met. We are humbled by the many generous gifts that come in every year, at all levels, and it is moving to see each gift making a mark on the life of someone supported now, and for the future.
It is worth acknowledging that often without a request - but self-driven - we receive a personal gift from individuals who are supported by Abilities First. These gifts tend to make us pause and reflect. Perhaps it is just their way of saying “thank you” or passing it on; whatever the motivation, we always find it both touching and inspiring.
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We’re hiring in a variety of positions, including Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), Teacher Aides, and Nurses!
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Abilities First Welcomes New Board Members |
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The AFI Board has maintained a long history of community leaders guiding its progress. This month, we welcome our newest board members as well as those who have stepped into leadership roles. We thank them for their volunteer leadership to the mission!
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DEEPAK VASHISHT
Assistant Vice President of Regional Branch Management
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RICHARD KOLOSKY
Senior Vice President | Commercial
Lending
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WILLIAM JEFFRIES
Operations Officer | Compliance Officer
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DR. RACHANA TYAGI
Associate Director of Neurosurgery
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Hudson Valley Credit Union makes generous gift
Thanks to the generosity of the Hudson Valley Credit Union, three residential locations received updated furnishings for their living areas. After two long years of more-than-usual wear and tear due to COVID-19 isolation, furnishings were in need of replacement. The residents are most grateful and are enjoying having guests to their homes.
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Schools say THANK YOU for a most generous in-kind gift!
Our great appreciation to Amy Balfour for her thoughtfulness in donating a significant number of items from a preschool which is closing, to the Abilities First schools. These items are welcomed, bringing new resources and supplies to support the activities within the classrooms.
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THANK YOU to Radio Rotary for inviting Chief Advancement Officer Melissa McCoy as a guest on your radio show! |
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Barnes & Noble of Poughkeepsie gives the gift of reading
Over 100 children’s books were donated to AF schools thanks to the community outreach spearheaded by Wanda Erichsen, Business Development Specialist of Barnes & Noble of Poughkeepsie. The books were distributed through AF preschools & UPK.
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Gifts to the mission come in all forms!
A Gift-In-Kind is when an item or service is donated to the agency. Some unneeded items at home or at a business can be of great value to Abilities First, as they allow other financial resources to be directed to the mission. If you or anyone you know has office equipment, laptops, iPads, desktops, prone standers, eye trackers, wheelchairs, and ramps amongst many other items, please contact the Foundation for Abilities First NY by emailing teresawalsh@abilitiesfirstny.org.
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Tennis Sponsorships Still Available!
Our golf sponsorships may be sold out, but there are still tennis sponsorships available! Secure your participation with a sponsorship and enjoy the benefits of branding opportunities, signage, promotion on social media & MORE!
To reserve your sponsorship, contact Teresa Walsh by calling
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Commercial Vacancies Available in New Windsor, N.Y. |
Abilities First has two spaces available for rent at their 59 New Windsor Highway location in New Windsor, N.Y. For more information and/or to get a glimpse of the space, contact Don Minichino at Houlihan Lawrence.
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WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR ABILITIES FIRST STORIES!
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For the latest in pictures, agency information, and happenings, follow us on social media! |
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JOIN OUR TEAM!
We’re hiring to fill a variety of positions, including Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), Teacher Aides, and Nurses!
Find out how YOU can begin a NEW career at Abilities First by simply texting the word “APPLY” to 855-912-1334!
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Support the Foundation for Abilities First NY |
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