Send Phyllis to the Grand Canyon!
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Meet Phyllis Riley. Phyllis has been receiving services through our local disability service provider, Arc of Genesee Orleans (Arc-GO) since 1994, and has been an increasingly active and independent member of the community. Through a variety of jobs and programs through the Arc, Phyllis’s circle of relationships has grown so that many people have had the good fortune to enjoy her sincere good nature and radiant smile.
Recently, Phyllis had the courage to get in front of the Leadership Genesee Class of 2018 (LG 2018) and talk about her life and her experience with the Arc-GO. Now keep in mind that some statistics state that public speaking is the number one fear of adults – even greater than the fear of death! Well, Phyllis overcame her personal anxiety and melted our hearts!
Some of what she shared with us includes:
· She has 3 brothers and 2 sisters that she credits as being very important to her success.
· She loves to collect angels! Yes, that’s right, Phyllis collects angels.
· Over the years, through the Arc’s vocational program she has been employed in a restaurant, worked with a cleaning crew, and worked for the agency’s paper shredding business.
· Her favorite television programs are Little House on the Prairie, MASH, and the Andy Griffith Show – evidence of her great sense of humor and sound values! She told us that they remind her of “the good old days.”
Phyllis also shared some of her challenges and major life changes. Her dad passed away in 2012 and just last year she lost her mom. Her parents were the two most important people in her life and after their deaths, she and her siblings decided it was best to sell the family home. Phyllis had to make the huge change of moving into an Arc group home. But in true Phyllis style, she recognizes that in spite of the difficulties of living with others, it has helped her to grow more independent and to keep a smile on her face each day!
As our group asked Phyllis some questions, we found a few things out:
· Her favorite job was shredding paper. Why? Because she was very good at it!
· Favorite meal to cook? Spaghetti.
· Is there some place she would like to visit some day? The Grand Canyon. But she acknowledged that she would likely never get the chance…
Now meet Sandy Konfederath, the Coordinator of Community Relations at the Arc-GO (that's Sandy on the right below). While working at the Arc over the years, Sandy has gotten to know Phyllis very well. In fact, they have become good friends. Sandy has applied through the agency’s volunteer program to be authorized to plan social activities and outings with Phyllis – as a friend and not as an employee of the Arc. How great is that?
As a group, LG 2018 can’t do what the Arc does for Phyllis. But we can show her our appreciation and gratitude by ensuring that she gets to visit the Grand Canyon! We are asking for your help to send Phyllis and Sandy to the Grand Canyon this October.
They will fly to Phoenix-Sky Harbor and take a shuttle to Williams, AZ and the historic Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. The next day they travel via the scenic Grand Canyon Railway to the Grand Canyon and spend one night inside the park at the Maswik Lodge Hotel! The train will take them back to the GC Railway Hotel and the next morning it’s back to Phoenix and the flight home.
This is a partially selfish act by our LG 2018 class – we are asking that Phyllis come to our closing retreat in November and make another presentation to show us photographs and talk about her visit to the Grand Canyon!
Please help make this dream come true for Phyllis! We want to make sure that she has the trip of a lifetime!
Your impact:
Any contribution you make will go directly to expenses for the trip to the Grand Canyon. The $4,200 we hope to raise will pay for:
Roundtrip flights from ROC to PHX
$1,000
Shuttles to/from PHX to Williams, AZ
$300
Canyon Discovery Plus tours
$2400
Additional lodging, meals, and a bit of spending money
$500
Any amount that you can donate is greatly appreciated!
About Arc of Genesee Orleans
Arc of Genesee Orleans offers support, advocacy, services and opportunities for children and adults with disabilities and their families in Genesee and Orleans counties. Programs include everything from vocational training and full-time residences to day habilitation and family support. Its mission is to “Be a partner for people with disabilities, and a gateway to opportunities for each person to experience their desired potential.” www.arcgo.org
The LG Class of 2018 is comprised of 35 individuals who are committed to making Phyllis’ dream of seeing the Grand Canyon come true!
Marilyn Almeter-Milbrand, VP of Nursing, CNO, RRH United Memorial Medical Center
Kelly Anstey, Associate Executive Director of Day Service, Arc of Genesee Orleans
Candy Bezon, Principal Clerk/ Secretary to the Commissioner, Genesee County DSS
Carol Bush, Elementary Principal, Elba Central School
Lisa Casey, Confidential Secretary, City of Batavia
Meg Chilano, Secretary, City of Batavia
Tara Conrad, Assistant Registrar, Genesee Community College
Brian Cousins, Director of Accommodations, Darien Lake
Ryan Duffy, Executive Director, Holland Purchase Historical Society
Tracy Ford, Associate Director, UMMC Foundation
Rae Frank, Director, Independent Living of the Genesee Region
Steve Grice, Deputy County Clerk, Genesee County
Ashley John Grillo, Principal, Batavia Middle School
Gregory Hallock, Executive Director, Genesee Orleans Regional Arts Council, GO-Art!
Rob Kaercher, College and Career Counselor, Byron Bergen Central School District
Debbie Krenzer-Lewter, Director of Children with Special Needs, Genesee County Health Department
Krysia Mager, Assistant Vice President, Marketing Communications, Tompkins Bank of Castile
Michelle Mager, Accounting Specialist, Liberty Pumps
Kelly March, Youth Services Library Assistant, Richmond Memorial Library
Gen Mathewson, Human Resources Specialist, Genesee County
Shannon Morley, Conservation Ed. Program Director, Genesee County Parks, Recreation & Forestry
Kimberly Perl, Specialist, Aging Services, Genesee County Office for the Aging
Danielle Perry, Payroll Generalist, Western Regional OTBC
Dave Porter, Manager, Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C.
Sarah Sauka, Court Clerk, Town of Batavia
Julie Scheuerlein, Town Clerk, Town of Stafford
Scott Senf, Admin/ Budget Officer, Genesee County Health Department
Ed Smart, Architect/Owner, smartDESIGN Architecture, PLLC
MC Stokes, Assistant Director- Residence Life & Learning, GCC Foundation Housing Services, Inc.
Alison Thompson, Accounting Manager, Farm Fresh First, LLC
Maria Thompson, Preschool Director, GLOW YMCA
Amanda Valvo, Child Protective Services Caseworker, Genesee County DSS
Karyn Winters, Director, Genesee County Business Education Alliance
Debbie Zawadzki, Executive Assistant, Chapin
Val Zinni, Custodian/ Facilities Coordinator, Batavia City Schools/ CCE Genesee
Thank you!
Recently, Phyllis had the courage to get in front of the Leadership Genesee Class of 2018 (LG 2018) and talk about her life and her experience with the Arc-GO. Now keep in mind that some statistics state that public speaking is the number one fear of adults – even greater than the fear of death! Well, Phyllis overcame her personal anxiety and melted our hearts!
Some of what she shared with us includes:
· She has 3 brothers and 2 sisters that she credits as being very important to her success.
· She loves to collect angels! Yes, that’s right, Phyllis collects angels.
· Over the years, through the Arc’s vocational program she has been employed in a restaurant, worked with a cleaning crew, and worked for the agency’s paper shredding business.
· Her favorite television programs are Little House on the Prairie, MASH, and the Andy Griffith Show – evidence of her great sense of humor and sound values! She told us that they remind her of “the good old days.”
Phyllis also shared some of her challenges and major life changes. Her dad passed away in 2012 and just last year she lost her mom. Her parents were the two most important people in her life and after their deaths, she and her siblings decided it was best to sell the family home. Phyllis had to make the huge change of moving into an Arc group home. But in true Phyllis style, she recognizes that in spite of the difficulties of living with others, it has helped her to grow more independent and to keep a smile on her face each day!
As our group asked Phyllis some questions, we found a few things out:
· Her favorite job was shredding paper. Why? Because she was very good at it!
· Favorite meal to cook? Spaghetti.
· Is there some place she would like to visit some day? The Grand Canyon. But she acknowledged that she would likely never get the chance…
Now meet Sandy Konfederath, the Coordinator of Community Relations at the Arc-GO (that's Sandy on the right below). While working at the Arc over the years, Sandy has gotten to know Phyllis very well. In fact, they have become good friends. Sandy has applied through the agency’s volunteer program to be authorized to plan social activities and outings with Phyllis – as a friend and not as an employee of the Arc. How great is that?
As a group, LG 2018 can’t do what the Arc does for Phyllis. But we can show her our appreciation and gratitude by ensuring that she gets to visit the Grand Canyon! We are asking for your help to send Phyllis and Sandy to the Grand Canyon this October.
They will fly to Phoenix-Sky Harbor and take a shuttle to Williams, AZ and the historic Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. The next day they travel via the scenic Grand Canyon Railway to the Grand Canyon and spend one night inside the park at the Maswik Lodge Hotel! The train will take them back to the GC Railway Hotel and the next morning it’s back to Phoenix and the flight home.
This is a partially selfish act by our LG 2018 class – we are asking that Phyllis come to our closing retreat in November and make another presentation to show us photographs and talk about her visit to the Grand Canyon!
Please help make this dream come true for Phyllis! We want to make sure that she has the trip of a lifetime!
Your impact:
Any contribution you make will go directly to expenses for the trip to the Grand Canyon. The $4,200 we hope to raise will pay for:
Roundtrip flights from ROC to PHX
$1,000
Shuttles to/from PHX to Williams, AZ
$300
Canyon Discovery Plus tours
$2400
Additional lodging, meals, and a bit of spending money
$500
Any amount that you can donate is greatly appreciated!
About Arc of Genesee Orleans
Arc of Genesee Orleans offers support, advocacy, services and opportunities for children and adults with disabilities and their families in Genesee and Orleans counties. Programs include everything from vocational training and full-time residences to day habilitation and family support. Its mission is to “Be a partner for people with disabilities, and a gateway to opportunities for each person to experience their desired potential.” www.arcgo.org
The LG Class of 2018 is comprised of 35 individuals who are committed to making Phyllis’ dream of seeing the Grand Canyon come true!
Marilyn Almeter-Milbrand, VP of Nursing, CNO, RRH United Memorial Medical Center
Kelly Anstey, Associate Executive Director of Day Service, Arc of Genesee Orleans
Candy Bezon, Principal Clerk/ Secretary to the Commissioner, Genesee County DSS
Carol Bush, Elementary Principal, Elba Central School
Lisa Casey, Confidential Secretary, City of Batavia
Meg Chilano, Secretary, City of Batavia
Tara Conrad, Assistant Registrar, Genesee Community College
Brian Cousins, Director of Accommodations, Darien Lake
Ryan Duffy, Executive Director, Holland Purchase Historical Society
Tracy Ford, Associate Director, UMMC Foundation
Rae Frank, Director, Independent Living of the Genesee Region
Steve Grice, Deputy County Clerk, Genesee County
Ashley John Grillo, Principal, Batavia Middle School
Gregory Hallock, Executive Director, Genesee Orleans Regional Arts Council, GO-Art!
Rob Kaercher, College and Career Counselor, Byron Bergen Central School District
Debbie Krenzer-Lewter, Director of Children with Special Needs, Genesee County Health Department
Krysia Mager, Assistant Vice President, Marketing Communications, Tompkins Bank of Castile
Michelle Mager, Accounting Specialist, Liberty Pumps
Kelly March, Youth Services Library Assistant, Richmond Memorial Library
Gen Mathewson, Human Resources Specialist, Genesee County
Shannon Morley, Conservation Ed. Program Director, Genesee County Parks, Recreation & Forestry
Kimberly Perl, Specialist, Aging Services, Genesee County Office for the Aging
Danielle Perry, Payroll Generalist, Western Regional OTBC
Dave Porter, Manager, Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C.
Sarah Sauka, Court Clerk, Town of Batavia
Julie Scheuerlein, Town Clerk, Town of Stafford
Scott Senf, Admin/ Budget Officer, Genesee County Health Department
Ed Smart, Architect/Owner, smartDESIGN Architecture, PLLC
MC Stokes, Assistant Director- Residence Life & Learning, GCC Foundation Housing Services, Inc.
Alison Thompson, Accounting Manager, Farm Fresh First, LLC
Maria Thompson, Preschool Director, GLOW YMCA
Amanda Valvo, Child Protective Services Caseworker, Genesee County DSS
Karyn Winters, Director, Genesee County Business Education Alliance
Debbie Zawadzki, Executive Assistant, Chapin
Val Zinni, Custodian/ Facilities Coordinator, Batavia City Schools/ CCE Genesee
Thank you!
Organizer
EDWIN SMART
Organizer
Batavia, NY
