Foundation of the Year Awarded to Kessler Foundation
2012-05-11 14:32:13 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEST ORANGE, N.J.—Pathways for Exceptional Children, a NJ organization in Montville, named Kessler Foundation its Foundation of the Year for its support of Project Win-Win, a career mentoring program that promotes community integration for young people with disabilities. Elaine Katz, vice president of Grants and Special Initiatives at Kessler Foundation, will accept the award at Pathways’ Include ME 10th Anniversary Celebration on May 22, 2012.
“The grants given to us by Kessler Foundation have never been about the money,” said Melinda Jennis, president of Pathways. “They are about giving children the ability to dream and opening doors many never thought possible. Kessler Foundation has made a huge differences in the lives of so many of our children.”
Kessler Foundation, which distributes grants to disability employment initiatives, awarded Pathways its first grant in 2008 and continued to help fund the program for the next two consecutive years. Project Win-Win is an afterschool career preparation program for students aged 12-21 years who have a disability. Students spend six weeks in each work setting, receiving training and hands-on experience. They learn about jobs in computer technology, bakery and food service, landscaping and masonry, pet care and grooming, accounting, house painting and woodworking and disc jockeying and entertainment. Participants are coached by fellow students with or without disabilities. Community businesses host students with disabilities so they can gain practical work experience. “Project Win-Win has been a shining example for inclusion,” said Jennis.
Katz commented, "We're honored to be one of the select few foundations chosen as Foundation of the Year. Witnessing the evolution of Pathways has been amazing. Its innovative thinking has helped to teach even the coaches valuable life lessons. They build relationships with these students and realize that disability doesn't define character. Businesses are also realizing that people with disabilities can add value to the workplace and contribute to the bottom line."
Pathways 10th Year Anniversary Celebration will be held at the outdoor amphitheater behind Montville Township High School at 5 p.m. Pathways’ Rock Band will perform live. To enter, a minimum purchase of a $5 “Include ME” wristband is required. The purchase of an “Include ME” t-shirt for $10 includes the entrance wristband. Download the purchase form at http://www.pathwayskids.org/.
About Kessler Foundation
Kessler Foundation, the largest public charity in the field of disability, conducts rehabilitation research in mobility and cognition that advances the care of people with multiple sclerosis, brain injury, stroke and spinal cord injury. Kessler Foundation is one of six centers in the U.S. to have NIDRR-funded model systems for traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. Kessler Foundation Program Center fosters new approaches to the persistently high rates of unemployment among people disabled by injury or disease. Find us at KesslerFoundation.org and on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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Contacts:
Lauren Scrivo, 973.324.8384, 973.768.6583 - c, [email protected]
Carolann Murphy, 973.324.8382, [email protected]
