The Mary Cariola Center announced today that the independent, non-profit agency has been awarded a two million dollar grant over four years from Monroe County through the American Rescue Plan Act. The funding will advance the goals of Workforce Development and Economic Recovery by expanding a program built on strong community partnerships aimed at removing barriers to employment and education, providing professional growth opportunities and designing a replicable organizational model to support the diverse, equitable, and inclusive growth of a skilled workforce in Monroe County to support individuals with complex disabilities. Mary Cariola Center President & CEO Karen Zandi commented, “Our plan has three components; remove barriers to employment and education within the field of disabilities, connect new and existing employees to a life coach to assist in removing the challenges to growth including support with daycare, transportation, housing, food access and more. The third component includes engaging community members in exploring pathways to multiple careers within the field of disabilities.” Erin DiCesare, Mary Cariola’s Director of Learning & Organizational Development who will lead the effort said, “The component of exploring pathways is very exciting to our agency. New and current staff will be able to discover careers within the field of disabilities including teaching assistants, special education teachers, nursing, behavior analysis, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.” This funding will enhance organizational capacity at Cariola to support the diverse, equitable and inclusive growth of all staff. The impact of this project will be long-lasting. Mary Cariola Center will be expanding the workforce through individual skill and educational credentialing. The agency’s work will have a positive effect on people with disabilities in the greater Rochester community. Mary Cariola Center will implement the grant funding plan beginning March 1, 2023. | |  | | | | Donor Spotlight: Jeeps for Jake | |  | For 17 years until his graduation in 2019, beloved Mary Cariola student Jacob engaged us, entertained us, and inspired us with his zest for life, his mischievous smile, and his fun-loving ways. Jake enjoyed many things, but he especially loved Jeeps, four-wheelers, trucks, Side-by-Sides…you name it. If it was big, loud, or fast, he was all in. Jake was one of those kids who could turn any occasion into a party with his bright smile, wit, and charm. When Jake passed away in 2020, his friends and family wanted to do something to honor his memory, and the “Jeeps for Jake” event was created. The event, now in its second year, raised $7,000 for Mary Cariola Center. These funds will support essential services for hundreds of other students like Jake who attend Mary Cariola. Services including music, physical, occupational, speech, and vision therapies, as well as specialized equipment, will help every student reach their fullest potential. We extend our deepest appreciation to all of you who participated in this incredibly special event. Thank you. | | | | | | | | When Mary Cariola staff are passionate about something they show it on their sleeves, bulletin boards, inside classrooms, around the water coolers, office doors and just about anywhere else. It’s safe to say that our staff, and just about everyone else in Western New York, are passionate about our AFC East Champions Buffalo Bills! It’s hard to turn a corner without a reference to the post season Buffalo Bills! One classroom has a Bills themed bulletin board that was updated with Thanksgiving and Christmas greetings and now supports injured safety Damar Hamlin. Victory Mondays are celebrated with staff, students and residents wearing red, white, and blue, while Bills fan days generate participation and excitement. One classroom, along with their Music Therapist Kylie Parsons, created this SHOUT video that’s been viewed over 10,000 times! The Bills make us want to shout with every win! Check out some of the Bills hoopla - Cariola style. | | | | | | | Keeping it all in the (Cariola) Family | | | | | | (This is an ongoing series highlighting the many family members who work at Mary Cariola Center.) We continued our search for All in the Cariola Family employee combinations and we did not have to look far. This month we found a mother/daughter duo and a pair of sisters. Together they represent 51 years of service to the Agency and work in our Educational, Administrative, Clinical and Community Services programs. | | | | | | | |  | | NO SNOW? NO PROBLEM! Greystone's snow machines will be cranking out the powder to guarantee a fast, smooth track for tubers of all ages. | | | | | | | ROC the Day? YOU Nailed it! | | Mary Cariola Center hammered out countless social media posts, distributed emails, and created informational videos to generate awareness and request support for Rochester’s annual day of community giving…ROC the Day. We used everything in our toolbox to raise funds for our unfunded Adaptive Equipment Workshop. For over 40 years, our Workshop has created, built, adapted, and repaired thousands of items used in Mary Cariola classrooms. The goal was to raise $25,000. Thanks to you, we nailed it. We received 154 donations and raised over $41,000. Challenge grants from Cobblestone Capital Advisors, the Summit Federal Credit Union, the Rochester Press Radio Club and an anonymous donor helped Mary Cariola raise the most money we ever have during ROC the Day. Thanks to all of you who made this possible! | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620 | | | | | |
