Community Options Holiday Party

On Thursday, December 17th, Community Options held our annual holiday party at the Hilton Hotel in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Once again, the event was a great success, with over 600 guests attending this festive celebration.

Unlike most other organization’s holiday festivities, Community Options’ party was for our New Jersey staff and the people we support (along with their families and friends), making it a truly special celebration of our organization and its mission. President/CEO Robert Stack spoke to the crowd before dinner, thanking everyone for taking the time to celebrate together in this busy holiday season. He told the staff that we should be proud of our achievements this year, as Community Options expanded in this tough economy and escaped the threat of layoffs that have plagued many other organizations. Mr. Stack recognized our hard working and passionate staff before making sure to bring attention to the people who are the center of our organization: those who we support. More than anything, this party was a celebration of their accomplishments over the past year.

Dinner, served buffet style, was delicious and included an array of selections, such as a make your own Caesar salad station and carving station. Crowd favorites included the vegetarian lasagna and chicken parmigiana (along with the mini cheeseburger hor'dourves served during the cocktail hour), but guests raved about all of the dishes.

After dinner came the most anticipated part of the evening: the dancing. The people we support, many coming from our group homes, were the life of the party! As usual, the dance floor was packed, especially after the DJ played the crowd favorite “Cha Cha Slide” and many of our staff decided to join in as well. With a mix of holiday, pop, and oldies, there was music for everyone to enjoy during the evening.

Thanks to everyone who made the night a success. Their hard work and dedication really paid off, making the holiday party once again one of the highlights of the year!

Bloomingdale’s Mayor Steenstra welcomes Community Options, Inc.

Community Options, Inc. a national nonprofit organization that develops homes and employment supports for people with disabilities has moved one of their most prominent day support programs for people with disabilities to Bloomingdale, New Jersey.

Journeys, a day program that provides vocational skills training, recreational and community inclusion as well as volunteer opportunities to people with disabilities, has relocated to a beautiful new location in downtown Bloomingdale.

“We are ecstatic to be a part of the Bloomingdale community and are so appreciative of the warm welcome we have received,” says, Jessica Guberman, Ph.D. Executive Director of Community Options.

“When you have an opportunity to diversify your town and include a program that does such tremendous good, it is always a pleasure to do so,” said, Mayor Steenstra of Bloomingdale.

Community Options has been developing homes and day programming and employment supports for people with disabilities for over twenty years. The organization has operations throughout all of New Jersey as well as 8 other states.

To become involved with the Journeys program please contact Megan Lamphear, Program Manager at 973-492-1745. To learn more about Community Options, please visit them on the web at www.comop.org or call 609-951-9900.

NJ CEO Wins Nonprofit Innovation Award for Leadership Excellence

Today, Community Options, Inc. is celebrating the achievement and award of their President and CEO, Robert Stack. Robert has been awarded with the New Jersey Business Journal’s Nonprofit Innovation Award for Leadership Excellence.

In 1989, Robert founded Community Options around his kitchen table in Bordentown, NJ. What started as small growth in Mercer County developing group homes for people with disabilities moving from state developmental centers, quickly turned into statewide and national growth. Today, Robert has grown Community Options into 32 offices across 9 states each charged with developing homes and innovative employment supports for people with disabilities.

“I am so excited to have been chosen for this prestigious award by the New Jersey Business Journal,” says, Stack. “Working in the nonprofit sector of business is like no other; its business with a social purpose and I feel incredibly honored,” added, Stack.

Stack will be honored with his award on February 9, 2010, which happens to be the day that Community Options is celebrating its 21st year anniversary of developing homes and employment supports for people with disabilities.

Local CEO appointed to Governor-Elect Chris Christie’s Transition Committee for Human Services & Children and Families

Robert Stack, President and CEO of Community Options, Inc. has recently been appointed to Governor-Elect Chris Christie’s Transition Subcommittee of Human Services and Children and Families.

Community Options is a national nonprofit organization based in Princeton that develops community-based homes and employment supports for people with developmental disabilities. For twenty years, Robert has moved people with disabilities from institutions into their own homes, advocated for consolidation and closure of state developmental centers and has committed to supporting not only adults; but children with disabilities in need of homes and youth with disabilities in need of transition services from school to work.

“I am thrilled to be a part of Governor-Elect Chris Christie’s Transition Subcommittee for Human Services and Children and Families,” says, Stack. “The change and progress that is to come for all New Jerseyians and especially those with developmental disabilities is prudent and greatly needed,” added, Stack.

Robert founded Community Options around his kitchen table in 1989 and has grown the organization into a multi-state operation with 24 offices throughout 9 states. Robert is an expert in national disability policy and will serve as a relevant member of this subcommittee.

Wall Street Journal - Employee Retention

Please find our article in the Wall Street Journal entitled, "Businesses Mount Efforts to Retain Valued Employees," by Sarah Needleman:







http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703811604574534142561139588.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

ABLE Act

Hi COI Friends/Fans,

Today, we wanted to draw your attention to an important issue that affects many people with disabilities. As many of you know, asset-building is a difficult task for many people with disabilities, and these individuals are much more likely to be living in poverty, or be “asset poor,” which is when one doesn’t have enough resources to meet his or her expenses if there is no outside income for a period of three months. For example, although it’s estimated that 20% of the population has a disability, nearly half of the people living below the poverty line (47%) have one. This huge disparity speaks to the barriers people with disabilities face when it comes to asset-building or financial security.

Although these statistics are upsetting, the good news is that something is being done about it. On February 26, 2009, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2009 was introduced in Congress. This legislation was sponsored by Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) and Representative Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), and is designed to allow people with disabilities build assets. That is, it would allow for tax-exempt federal savings accounts for people with disabilities (similar to a 529 college savings plan). Every SSI beneficiary would qualify for one account that has a contribution limit of $500,000, and contributions up to $2,000 per year per individual would be tax deductible. This would also apply to potential beneficiaries, so if individuals becomes disabled as adults, they aren’t forced into poverty before qualifying. The account wouldn’t affect any other federal assistance the individual may be receiving.

This plan is seen as an improvement over the Special Needs Trusts that are offered in many states. It’s not as paternalistic as special needs trusts, which assume that people with disabilities aren’t able to control their own money. In the ABLE Accounts, a beneficiary can be a trustee (along with family members, financial institutions, and other qualified third parties as needed), which empowers the individuals and allows them to decide how to spend their money.

Furthermore, the accounts can be used for a wide range of needs, which include (but aren’t limited to): education and education services, training and employment supports, personal assistance support, respite care, community support, clothing, assistive technology, home or vehicle modifications, out of pocket medical expenses, habilitation and rehab services, and funeral and burial expenses.

We’ll admit that the act isn’t perfect – the account needs to be set up through an attorney, which can be seen as a drawback. It may be difficult for low-income populations to have the money to set up the account in the first place. However, this act is an improvement over our current system.

Now for the bad news: the ABLE Act hasn’t passed yet, and we are going to need your help if we want to get it through this session of Congress. We ask that you write your local representative to show your support for this important piece of legislation. To send the letter with the help of AutismVotes (which makes the process incredibly simple, you just need to fill out a form), go to:
http://www.autismvotes.org/c.frKNI3PCImE/b.3978771/k.11F3/Take_Action_on_the_ABLE_Accounts_Act_of_2009/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx

You may also find this site helpful to learn more about the act: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1205/show


As always, feel free to contact the COI office with any questions or comments you may have!

Judy Woodruff of the Newshour to Keynote National Nonprofit Conference

Community Options, a national nonprofit organization that develops homes and employment supports for people with disabilities will be hosting its 5th Annual National Conference on September 27-29th of 2010 at The W Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

The organization is announcing that Judy Woodruff has committed to delivering the opening keynote on the morning of September 27, 2010 at 9:30am at the hotel.

Broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff has covered politics and other news for more than three decades at CNN, NBC and PBS. Most recently, she signed on as a senior correspondent for the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

For 12 years, Woodruff served as anchor and senior correspondent for CNN, anchoring the weekday political program, "Inside Politics." Woodruff also played a central role in the network's political coverage and other major news stories. In addition, she anchors a monthly program for Bloomberg Television, “Conversations with Judy Woodruff.” Through fall 2006, Judy was a visiting professor at Duke University’s Terry Sanford Institute of
Public Policy, teaching a weekly seminar course on media and politics.

In the fall of 2005, she was a visiting fellow at Harvard University's Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, where she led a study group for students on contemporary issues in journalism.

At NBC News, Woodruff served as White House correspondent from 1977 to 1982. For one year after that she served as NBC's Today Show chief Washington correspondent. She wrote the book, This is Judy Woodruff at the White House, published in 1982 by ddison-

Wesley. Woodruff is a founding co-chair of the International Women's Media Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting and encouraging women in communication industries worldwide. She serves on the boards of trustee of the Freedom Forum, the Newseum, and Global Rights: Partners for Justice. She also serves as a member of The Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and the board of the National Museum of American History. Woodruff is a graduate of Duke University, where she is a trustee emerita.

For more information about Community Options, please visit www.comop.org. For more information about their 5th Annual Conference, please contact 609.951.9900.

Local Leader to Chair a Committee to Champion a Cause

On February 13, 2010, Community Options, a national nonprofit organization that develops homes and employment supports for people with developmental disabilities, will hold its widely attended Cupid’s Chase 5k Run in Princeton.

Audrey Chen, a Community Options Enterprises Board Member and in charge of Marketing and Business Development for Princeton Design Guild, will be leading the organization as they gear up for their second annual Cupid’s Chase 5K taking place at the Princeton Shopping Center on February 13, 2010.

Audrey Chen, Cupid’s Chase 5K Run Chair

"I'm very excited to be doing anything to support the mission of Community Options, but this Cupid's Chase is particularly rewarding. Not only is this a great physical activity, but we also see it as a fantastic social event,” say Chen. “It is a chance to participate in something meaningful and healthy while meeting some wonderful people at the same time," she added.

Last year, the organization held the Cupid’s Chase at Princeton University and had over 600 participants. “This year, we anticipate having over 1,000 participants at the new location in the Princeton Shopping Center to come out and enjoy this event and learn more about our organization,” says, Robert Stack, President and CEO of Community Options.

For more information about Cupid's Chase, please visit www.comop.org/cupidschase

Contours -WNTI 91.9

Please click on the link below to listen to Robert Stack's interview on the Contours Radio Program on WNTI 91.9 FM:

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wnti/arts.mediaplayer?STATION_NAME=national&MEDIA_ID=867354&MEDIA_EXTENSION=wma&MODULE=arts&ext=.wma

Transition or Ground Hog Day

Please read an opinion editorial written by Robert Stack, President and CEO entitled, "Transition or Ground Hog Day"

http://blog.nj.com/njv_publicblog/2009/10/transition_or_ground_hog_day.html#_logout

Meet the Leaders - Robert Stack

Please click on the following link to watch Robert Stack, President and CEO of Community Options on Cablevision's Meet the Leaders Program:

http://www.comop.org/movies/movie_MeetLeaders.html

Star Ledger - Just Add Water

Please read our article in print on October 13, 2009 in the Star Ledger about our newest business, Just Add Water!

http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2009/10/just_add_water_in_hillsborough.html

Vaseful Flowers and Gifts on NJ Wedding

Vaseful Flowers and Gifts is an entrepreneurial business that it is owned and operated by Community Options. Please read our most recent write up of the shop from NJ Wedding by clicking on the link below:

http://www.njwedding.com/bridalnews/pr_non_profit_flower_shop_nj.cfm

New Jersey Business Journal - Inclusion

Community Options was included in the New Jersey Business Journal's 2009 Inclusion Magazine. You can read by clicking on the link below:


http://www.comop.org/presskit/pdf/Inclusion%20-%20NJBIZ.pdf

Teen Trend Magazine

Please read our article that came out in the national Teen Trend Magazine regarding our STEP (School to Employment Program)

Teen Trend serves a special niche defined by its positive and uncompromising voice to and for teenagers. Presenting today’s lifestyle trends in a fun yet realistic and useful way, Teen Trend is editorially responsible and devoid of mixed messages and contradictory advice.

Enjoy the article!

http://issuu.com/teentrendmagazine/docs/teen_trend_fall?mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Flight%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true

Just Add Water Ceremony

Community Options "broke the wall" to their latest entrepreneurial business today, Just Add Water. Just Add Water will be a cafe style tea shop with onsite catering and corporate training facility located in Hillsborough, NJ. Just Add Water will employ and train people with disabilities so they may learn how to run their own businesses.

With established entrepreneurial businesses in New Brunswick, Flanders, Princeton, Moorestown and Morristown, Community Options is thrilled to be breaking ground on this new and innovative business. Just Add Water will be a café style tea shop with a conference training facility attached that will also offer catering for personal or business needs. Just Add Water will be another business that will positively employ and train people with disabilities.

“Partnering with the Department of Labor to open this entrepreneurial business is ostensible proof of the vision and leadership of Commissioner David Socolow and his team,” said, Robert Stack, President and CEO of Community Options. “This will prove to be one of the greatest achievements for improving the lives of New Jerseyians with disabilities in the next decade,” added, Stack.

Community Options has enlisted the assistance of Kevin Wilkes of the Princeton Design Guild to aid in the development and design of Just Add Water. “"This was labor of love. It represents the culmination of over 10 years of planning and I am delighted that Kevin Wilkes has stepped up to do this project,” said, Stack.

Christopher Dixon, Executive Director of Community Options says, “The beauty of Just Add Water is that it demonstrates that the American dream of entrepreneurship, owning ones own business, and making a positive impact on ones community is without barrier. Anyone, with hard work and the right innovation, can live this dream.”

Attending the ceremony was Commissioner David Socolow of the Department of Labor, Mark McDevitt of the Department of Labor, Vito Palo of the Department of Labor, Shawn McInerney of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, Patricia Feitweis of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, Kevin Wilkes of the Princeton Design Guild and Martin Melilli of The Bank of Princeton.

Breaking Ground on our 7th Entrepreneurial Business

This entrepreneurial business will be called, "Just Add Water" and will be a cafe style tea shop with personal and business catering as well as conference training site attached.

“Partnering with the Department of Labor to open this entrepreneurial business is ostensible proof of the vision and leadership of Commissioner David Socolow and his team,” said, Robert Stack, President and CEO of Community Options. “This will prove to be one of the greatest achievements for improving the lives of New Jerseyians with disabilities in the next decade,” added, Stack.

Community Options has enlisted the assistance of Kevin Wilkes of the Princeton Design Guild to aid in the development and design of Just Add Water. “"This was labor of love. It represents the culmination of over 10 years of planning and I am delighted that Kevin Wilkes has stepped up to do this project,” said, Stack.

Christopher Dixon, Executive Director of Community Options says, “The beauty of Just Add Water is that it demonstrates that the American dream of entrepreneurship, owning ones own business, and making a positive impact on ones community is without barrier. Anyone, with hard work and the right innovation, can live this dream.”


http://communityoptions.createsend.com/T/ViewEmail/r/52BDFFCB3C029251/F991538FE8DA734DC67FD2F38AC4859C

Bike Run and Barbeque Fundraiser

Please visit the following link to learn more about our Bike Run and Barbeque Fundraiser coming up on October 3, 2009:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122570782548

Life After the Corpus Christi State School - Channel 10

Please view our news coverage from Tuesday, August 24, 2009 entitled "Life After the Corpus Christi State School"

http://www.kztv10.com/news/video.asp?video=082509+state+school+resident%2Ewmv%2EFLV&zone=News

NBC Channel 3 Syracuse

Please watch the news segment from NBC3 (Syracuse) regarding the opposition of a group home opening and what we are doing to challenge it:

http://www.cnycentral.com/news/video.aspx?id=338727

Southampton and East Hampton Press

Please read the article about the iMatter Surf Camp for Children with ASD by clicking the link below:

http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=227742&town=Westhampton&n=In%20third%20year%2C%20surf%20camp%20providing%20opportunities%20for%20autistic%20children

3rd Annual iMatter Surf Camp

Click on the link below to view the 2009 iMatter Surf Camp Video:

http://gallery.me.com/steveguberman#100046

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Please read Robert Stack's Editorial printed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Sunday, August 16, 2009.


http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09228/990947-109.stm

COI Joins President Obama's United We Serve Initiative

Community Options, Inc. is taking part in United We Serve, a national effort launched by President Obama to engage more Americans in serving their communities this summer.

Community Options will be recruiting volunteers and hosting an upcoming volunteer project relative to Disability Awareness Month in October 2009, as part of the summer service initiative, which President Obama announced in a video message today.

“In these tough economic times, we need volunteers more than ever,” said Robert Stack, President and CEO. “Community Options, Inc. is facing increasing demands for services, and volunteers can help us fill this growing need. We are pleased to join this national effort and thank the President for making this call to service.”

United We Serve kicks off on June 22 and runs through September 11, which will be marked for the first time as a national day of service and remembrance. The initiative is being led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that improves lives and strengthens communities though volunteering and service.

“This summer, I'm calling on all of you to make volunteerism and community service part of your daily life and the life of this nation,” said President Obama in the video. “Economic recovery is as much about what you're doing in your communities as what we're doing in Washington – and it’s going to take all of us, working together.”

United We Serve focuses on five key areas where everyone can have a real impact in their community: education, health, energy and the environment; community renewal, and safety and security.

To make it easy for individuals to get involved, the Corporation created Serve.gov, a website that allows visitors to type in their zip code to find local volunteer opportunities, recruit volunteers by posting their organization’s projects, or get ideas for creating their own projects with friends, families, and neighbors. All of Community Options volunteer opportunities are listed on Serve.gov and can be found by searching volunteer opportunities.

“Everyone has something to give, and summer is a great time to get involved,” said Robert Stack, President and CEO. “By serving this summer, we hope more citizens will make an ongoing commitment to volunteering throughout the year,” added, Stack.