June-2015-newsletter.. - Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse
Transcription
June-2015-newsletter.. - Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse
News on the Side Label Summer 2015 Celebrating Side-by-Side (770) 469-9385 fax Inside this issue, you’ll find: (770) 469-9355 sidebysideclubhouse.org pg.2 We Celebrate our 15th Anniversary Stone Mountain, GA 30083 pg.3 Notes from the Executive Director pg.4 Member Introductions pg.5 Current Events pg.6-8 Jawbones vs. Sawbones Event Summary pg.9 Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse advances the long-term well-being of people with brain injury-related disability and their families through skills development, support and advocacy. Side by Side Supporters pg.10 Celebration of 15 Years Past & 15 More to Come Our Vision pg.11 Volunteer Appreciation Return Service Requested 1001 Main St. Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse Same 15 Year Mission, NEW Mission Statement! Our Mission Connect to Side by Side Like us on Facebook. Sign up for our e-newsletter. Donate. Volunteer. Visit www.sidebysideclub house.org. $100 pays for a day. People with brain injury-related disability have access to services that assist them in managing health and well-being so they can contribute interdependently and safely at home, work and in the community for the best possible quality of life. If you wish to be removed from this mailing list, please contact Chris at [email protected] or 770-469-9355. Thank you. 2015 Georgia Senate Resolution Commending Deputy Sheriff Cynthia Hall for her bravery and commitment to serving Georgians (L-R: Loyal friend Holly Badger, Senator Henson, Cindi Johnson, Senator Fort, son Joshua Hall, son Delonté Hall, Senator Ramsey, Deputy Sheriff Cynthia Hall, Lt Governor Cagle, and Senator James We Celebrate our 15th Anniversary with 15 Everyday Gifts! Celebrating Technology Thanks to the generosity of First Data, Side by Side will receive Technology Upgrades in partnership with TechBridge®, a nonprofit that drives community impact by bringing affordable technology & business expertise to other nonprofits. This grant along with First Data staff contributions of time and talent will allow us to catch up to the 21st century with both our volunteer and donor management software as well as our electronic health record system. Thank you for including Side by Side in your Adopt-A-Nonprofit Program! Thanks to Our Everyday Volunteers Y’all are Amazing! Volunteers & Interns Alexa Johnson Ann Owen Benitra Hale Brent Wilks Clemence Bradley David Decker Elliott Morris Keisha Robinson Leanne Gotvald Lori Wong Martha Morris Ralph Woestemeyer Sandra Clements Scott McEvoy Shelby King Tayla Dockins Walter Vaughan 15 volunteers work side-by-side with Clubhouse members every week 15 members and staff in Friday’s Business Unit make it the week’s busiest unit 15 caregivers attended our inaugural caregiver retreat 15 ! is what our family photo spells out (above)- can you see it now? Jawbones vs Sawbones Steering Committee Don Wells, Chair Terry Ingwersen, Vice Chair Barb Hess Cindi Johnson Elizabeth Wells Greta Ann Hurst Jack Sartain Jim Long Julie Adkins Lori Harrison LuRae Ahrendt Kim Garcia Martha Decker Marian Dickson Robert Glass Pat Sartain Wanda Staebell Board of Directors Mark Gannon, Chair Jim Long, Past Chair LuRae Ahrendt,Vice Chair Catherine Mickle, Treasurer John Cleveland, Secretary Dave Burke Debbie Berens Humberto Izquierdo Jennifer Broom Kathryn Waybright Ron Seel 2 11 Celebrate 15 Years– Side by Side! Notes from the Corner Office Yippee and Yikes are my favorite phrases these Thanks for supporting us through both the Yippee days. Yippee because we’ve made it through 15 and Yikes stages of development. We couldn’t years of providing much needed support to peo- do it without YOU. Cindi Johnson ple living their lives with brain injury-related disability AND we’re on the home stretch of creating a strategic plan for the next 5 years- positioning Side by Side for success as healthcare and community-based service landscapes change drastically. Check out our new mission and vision statements on the back cover and join us in reaching our Vision for 2020: The support you have generously gifted has created more awareness, educated families, strengthened communities, and most of all provided a safe haven for persons with Traumatic Brain Injury. With your contribution, Side by Side Clubhouse will continue to answer the questions, How can I realize my NEW po- tential? How can I feel connected? Please consider a monthly contribution of $15 over the next year in celebration of the 15 years Side by Side has been the only program in Georgia helping people with brain injuries help themselves and help each other - long after medical treatment has ended. Your $180 gift goes directly toward Clubhouse members achieving goals like re-learning everyday life skills, and gives a day of respite for a caregiver. A $15 monthly donation or a one-time gift can be made by check; via credit card or Paypal on our website, www.sidebysideclubhouse.org; or via automatic bank draft. Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse is: Consumer driven, innovative and flexible A provider of highly valued services A leader in policy and advocacy for Brain Injury Financially and organizationally sustainable Sounds ambitious, right? Sounds crucial for ensuring a life with quality and fulfillment for each one of the millions of Americans living with brain injury, right? Now, onward and upward to the action steps that help us attain this vision. But wait…. YIKES! What do you mean, there’s a new requirement that Side by Side become licensed as an Adult Day Center? What do you mean we must install a $100,000-$200,000 sprinkler system throughout our 1920’s bungalow attached to a 1999 2-story addition? What do you mean we have to (pay to) dig up the road and install pumps and more alarm systems than our existing piercing shrills and strobes (which, BTW, bring on seizures- double YIKES)? Say it ain’t so! Triple yikes- alas, it is. So, while encouraged by the oversight of hundreds of centers across Georgia supporting adults who are elderly or compromised in various ways, dang, who has a couple hundred thousand lying around for a sudden game-changing demand? And just when we were loving the new fit of Yippee! 10 Speaking of Advocacy...how many dedicated brain injury and disability advocates do you see here pow-wowing at JvS 2015? Where would we be without the decades of leadership of Mark and Susan Johnson, Dan Miears, and LuRae Ahrendt? Hats off to y’all on the 25th Anniversary of the ADA! Welcome Chris Pearson, Side by Side’s new Resource Development Director. Chris replaces Marian who moved on to The Carter Center but not before orienting Chris -”I feel like I’m drinking through the fire hose.” Chris brings his humorous, cando spirit and 7 years of nonprofit experience as director for supportive services for homeless families in Georgia and as a district executive for the Boy Scouts of America. “Side By Side is a place that feels like family...it always feels good to be around family.” 3 Thanks to our Rebuilders Celebrating Our Members Supporters of Side by Side from January 1 to May 15 Marquise joined the Clubhouse in early 2015 thanks to support from the Wounded Warrior Project. Marquise served on a nuclear submarine as a Quarter Master working in navigation and communication until he sustained a brain infection. His favorite memory of active duty is being on base in Japan with his friends and wife. Here, he enjoys the camaraderie of the maintenance unit and working with colleagues alongside Air Force veteran and staff member, Ken. Marquise credits Side by Side staffer Bill, who coaches him in life skills at home, for helping him learn to be a good father to his 4year old son. “That’s why it’s called Side by Side because of the great advice staff gives us, everyone works together, and the staff works next to us.” When he is not at Clubhouse, Marquise enjoys writing poetry, watching the news, and learning about science history. Suzee’s contagious joy has ignited Side by Side since 2014 where she works in both the business and kitchen units. Suzee is proud to be approaching her 40 year post-injury anniversary– after a car crash in 1975 she was unconscious for several weeks, and remembers feeling pleased that she was discharged from the hospital on her father’s birthday. She has 7 siblings, 4 of them local, and she lives in a group home. I love coming to Clubhouse. Everyone here is much nicer …. Coming here keeps my mind functioning...and I really love that.” She enjoys swimming at the neighborhood YMCA, cooking at home, and playing cards with her housemates but says she feels closer to Side by Side members almost more than anyone else. Suzee wishes she could join all Side by Side social happenings outside of the regular workday but Medicaid-sponsored transport isn’t available and she lives outside of MARTA’s service area. Dan joined Side by Side back in October 2013. His days in the Navy led him to naturally gravitate to the kitchen and maintenance units...he loves kitchen unit the most. Dan comes two days a week and wishes he could come more days. Being that Dan lives in Lawrenceville it is difficult on occasions for him to get to the Clubhouse. Dan’s favorite time is eating lunch with colleagues and chatting about each other’s days and weekend plans. When not at the Clubhouse he takes great pleasure in traveling with his wife. His favorite places to travel involve water bringing him right back to his days in the Navy. When he can’t sail, scuba dive, or race sailboats he is fine tending his 90-gallon salt water aquarium. “I love my aquarium. It has a star fish, two puffer fish, two flat fish, snails, and one big shrimp...for some reason no animal in the aquarium messes with the shrimp.” In-Kind Donors Agnes Scott Cheerleading Club Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders Alumni Bobby Cookson Brannon & Black Bryan Durio Chick-fil-A of Decatur Concepts, Inc. Dora Jackson Elite Sporting Goods Fred Kalil Fried Rogers Goldberg LLC Gloria Garner GFWC Dunwoody Woman’s Club GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club GFWC Stone MountainWoman’s Club Jacquelyn Saylor Ken Cook Kroger of Mountain Park LTS – Legal Technology Services Lynne Dundon PRG – Production Resource Group The Imperial OPA Circus Tina Chang Tom Holder Game Night Sponsorship Gotvald Family King & Spalding Discovery Center Lee Family Omega Phi Alpha Sorority Kennesaw State Univ 4 Memorials & Those Who Honor Them Laura Powell Pat Steph Lauren Buckland Andy & Ann Owen Miriam Kiser Howell & Betsy Kiser Suzanne Hugueley Andy & Ann Owen Jo W. Koch Joan Everett Pargen & Lauralee Robertson Tanya Boyd Marvin Beasley Virginia Vaughan Bill &Willa Cleveland Honorees & Those Who Honor Them Ann Owen Jane McAbee Cynthia Hall Pam Lovallo Heddi Silon Dick Ingwersen Kimberly Zell Emma Kiser John & Stephanie Kiser Jr Laura Alexander Jennifer Broom Mo and Jane Thrash Jim & Connie Broom Andy & Beejee Dickson Ken & Anne Robichaux Individuals Brenda Horne Butch & Teresa Little Candler & Colline Broom Catherine Mickle Danny & Lois Yates Darwin & Mary Womack David Schuster Debbie Berens Donald & Betty Lockett Douglas & Amanda Penn Gail Larsen Gary & Martha Sledge George & Janice Watson Humberto Izquierdo James & Bonita Mueller Jeff & Helen Lewis Jennifer Broom Jim Long Joan Chapman Joe & Lia Zelazny John & Janet Porubsky Katherine Dunlap Kathyrn Waybright Kendall Henderson Leila Hartley LuRae Ahrendt Marian Dickson Mark Gannon Martha Morris Mike & Jane Kokoska Nancee Horton Peter Melo & Judy Parker-Melo Rita Case Robert Angstadt Robert Ingwersen Roger & Zora Herr Ron Seel Steven Cywilko Steven & Leigh-Ann Spokane Vaughn & Juli Burton William Shortridge William & Sara Turnipseed Foundations, Corporations, & Charitable Organizations AmazonSmiles Community Health Charities The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation The Kroger Company DeKalb County King & Spalding LLP Shepherd Center Stone Mtn Woman’s Club and JvS Steering Committee member Martha Decker and grandson, Michael, make volunteering a family affair 9 Side By Side Salutes the Celebrating Health Jawbones vs. Sawbones Sponsors! Full Court Press $2500 Fried Rogers Goldberg LLC Glass & Robson, LLC Huff, Powell & Bailey, LLC MobilityWorks Morgan & Morgan Atlanta, PLLC Restore Health Group Shepherd Center Slam Dunk $1000 Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP Ingwersen & Taylor, LLP Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr. Mark & Kathie Gannon R & R Mobility Side by Side Board of Directors The Comprehensive Care Group, Inc. The Mulholland Law Firm, LLP The Saylor Law Firm Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP Buzzer Beater $500 Accord Services Albert M. Pearson, LLC Anonymous BAY Mediation & Arbitration Services Bexley & Osofsky, PC BJ Pak Castan & Lecca, PC Craig & Cindy Belisle / GV Financial Advisors George & Dot Hillegass GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club GFWC Stone Mountain Woman’s Club Hasner Law, PC Hoffspiegel & Associates J. Franklin Burns, PC Jason Schultz John Drummond, MD Kathryn Waybright Michael Moebes Parsons Law Group Perales & Fernandez, LLP Randall Newberry & Brent Garcia Rick DeMedeiros, PC Robert & Nancy Hawkins Rogers & Hardin, LLP Rogers, Hofrichter & Karrh, LLC Savell & Williams, LLP Slater & Wilensky LLC from January 1 to May 15 (continued Buzzer Beater) Stephen Andrews Stephen Goldman, Attorney at Law Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP Thomas C. Holcomb PRESENTERS Emory University School of Medicine Department of Rehabilitation Medicine $10,000 Cash, Krugler and Fredericks, LLC Long & Holder, LLP $5000 each Assist $250 Adamson & Cleveland, LLC Amalgamated Transit Union Local 732 Ashenden Law Bader Law Firm Benzine Law Group, LLC Ellene Welsh, Attorney at Law Gary Kazin, Attorney at Law Goodman & Goodman, LLP Hill, Kertscher & Wharton, LLP Julie Adkins Kalka & Baer, LLC Kim Garcia Lance A. Cooper, Trial Lawyer Lanham & McGehee, PC Marvin L. Price, Attorney at Law Michael R. Eddings, PC Nathaniel F. Hansford, LLC Perkins Law Firm Randy & Meredith Lord Scott & Lisa Kennedy Slappey & Sadd, LLC Susan J. Sadow, PC (continued Assist) The Law Offices of Andrew E. Goldner The Mabra Firm, LLC Zachary & Segraves, PA Thanks to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life grants program, Side by Side was awarded funds to start a Healthy Lifestyles Program. The grant has allowed us to add a part-time staff to head up this new program. Please welcome Natalie Stone-King, who jumped right in, literally with 2 fists– teaching us an easy way to measure food portion size. Natalie is an Occupational Therapy student at Brenau University and is also involved in a Diabetes Self-Management Education Program at the University of Florida in hopes of becoming a Certified Diabetes Educator by the end of 2015. For the next 6 months, she will be teaching members and staff strategies to make healthier food choices. “Everyone is very friendly and family oriented here. Similar to my family growing up, my mother taught me healthy recipes. Now I’m teaching those same recipes to members and staff. I love teaching others how to adapt their Cheerleader <$250 Andy & Beejee Dickson Anna Gibson Anonymous Bart & Liz Smith Berens Frozen Custard Brenda Horne Brian Sumrall Candise Durnwald Carroll Putzel Cathy Gragg-Smith Dan & Ellen Hillegass Dave & Brenda Morris Elnora C. Houston Foy S. Horne, Jr., PC Greta Ann Hurst James & Debra Freeze Jeff Zachman John Despriet John Kiser, Sr. John & Stephanie Kiser John & Janet Porubsky Kathy Willard Kimberly Zell Laura Alexander Law Office of D. Lee Biola, LLC LuRae Ahrendt Mark Hand Mike McCord Patrick & Gail Zernick Ragland & Jones, LLP Richard Shivers Robert Godsall Roy & Barbara Clanton Sami Khan Sheryl Swain Stottlemyer & Associates Sue Gena & Gordon Lurie The Law Offices of Robert Benfield, Jr. Tony & Leanne Gotvald Valerie Martin Walter Vaughan Warren R. Hinds, PC Wayne & Nira Stephens Will Johnson & Dian Parsley William & Libba Shortridge daily activities so they can accomplish things they want and need to do.” A fond memory she has thus far is developing a plan to create new and healthier Clubhouse snack options. “Everyone here loves Snickers...I will find a healthy and tasty alternative to Snickers before I leave.” You have your work cut out for you, Natalie. (Shh, don’t tell anyone, but this week’s mashed potatoes were a Natalie creation of cauliflower and instant potatoes. “I’ll wean everybody off the potatoes and they won’t even know it.”) Current Events Our neighbor, Lynne Dundon, went into sudden cardiac arrest while working at Stone Mountain Park in 2013. For Lynne, quick action of a bystander doing CPR and the Stone Mountain Park Fire Rescue unit arriving with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) saved her life. Now she wants to increase someone else’s chance of survival. Life is Sweet is a soon to be nonprofit organization with the mission to provide AED units for organizations that otherwise wouldn't be able to afford, and to increase sudden cardiac arrest awareness. www.lifeissweet.org Side by Side is SOOOO GRATEFUL to be a recent AED recipient! 8 In April, Jaye Watson of 11Alive News presented Side by Side with a Presidential Community Service Volunteer Appreciation Award at an Atlanta Community Food Bank Event. The award was achieved at the Bronze level which indicates 200+ volunteer service hours by our members. Side by Side prides ourselves on giving back to our community through volunteerism with many organizations. (left to right) Antonio (member), Jaye Watson, Denise (Jack's assistant), Judy (Side by Side Vocational Specialist), and Jack (member). 5 Jawbones vs Sawbones 2015 Atlanta icon Ken Cook reviews his master of ceremony script with stage mgr and board vice-chair, LuRae Ahrendt Longtime member, Cynthia Hall was honored for her commitment to public service. Cynthia celebrated her 10th post-injury anniversary in March. She was injured in the line of duty during the Fulton County courthouse shootings of 2005. Senator Steve Henson, Side by Side Director Cindi Johnson and Fulton County Sheriff Ted Jackson commended Cynthia for her tenacity, compassion and service before the crowd serenaded with her favorite song, Country Roads, Take Me Home. Staffer Melissa recruits her family to keep up with record breaking raffle ticket sales Impact Exciting pregame show compliments of Cyr Wheel Champion Bobby Cookson, Imperial Opa Circus, and Fulton Cty Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard accompanied by volunteer Jack Sartain (after his Falcons Cheerleaders photo op of course) 53% increase in number of individual donors and organizational sponsors Proceeds fund 800+ Clubhouse days filled with activities to rebuild cognitive, vocational and social skills JvS Grows Year by Year A repeat performance by a dedicated volunteer planning committee raised $91,000, and held event costs low— netting $82,000 for Side by Side’s scholarship fund. $75,000 $12,000 $44,000 $10,000 $14,000 $40,000 $19,000 2012 2013 Sponsorships At least 8 families will experience wrap-around support for new members and for themselves as caregivers Lucky winners of one of over 140 silent auction items $16,000 The doctors (Sawbones) fight hard to a 79-73 win and evened the series 2-2 against the lawyers (Jawbones). Practice sessions at Shepherd’s gym obviously paid off. Jawbones sponsor, attorney Jim Long, vows it won’t happen again. Next year gentlemen... Berens Frozen Custard is always a delicious hit 6 2014 2015 Tickets, Sales & Silent Auction The Backbone of JvS: GFWC Stone Mountain and Lilburn Women’s Clubs partner for the 4th consecutive year to organize and execute an operational feat. Thanks to all these energetic ladies and their families for countless volunteer hours over the whole year! 7