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.