| |  | There is an old Irish saying that goes like this, “if you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough!” If taken as fact, everyone will be green with envy with the announcement that Mary Cariola Center will be the Grand Marshal of Rochester’s 2025 Tops St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Cariola was notified of this wonderful recognition earlier this month. The parade is set for Saturday, March 15 at 12:30pm, with Mary Cariola students, residents and staff leading the parade from East Avenue and Alexander Street to the County Office Building. This acknowledgment is for 75 years of serving the Rochester Community and leading the way with innovations in the care and education of our students, residents and families. Join us on March 15th and cheer our marchers on! | | | | | |  | More than ninety students, staff and their families enjoyed breaking bread, twirling pasta, and engaging in friendly conversation at the 2nd annual Mary’s Pasta Dinner at our East Avenue Campus. The event pays homage to our humble beginnings when our founder, Mary Cariola, hosted spaghetti dinners to raise money for the Agency. This is more of a social event where students and their families have an opportunity to meet staff and their families. Transition Specialists Molly Iten, Rachel Mueller, and Theresa Corleto coordinated the event while students played a significant role in the event, compiling grocery lists, shopping, baking, and decorating 10 dozen cupcakes. A photo booth, a pasta raffle, and student artwork also added to the fun. Many thanks to Barilla and Roc City Salt Bread for their donations of pasta and bread for this highly successful event. | | | | | | | | | |  | Earlier this year, the Rochester Community lost a legend in the legal community and the non-profit community. And Mary Cariola Center lost a dear friend. Agency President/CEO Karen Zandi reflects on the impact that longtime friend Justin Vigdor made in the Rochester community. Read more HERE | |  | | |  | In early 2024, Mary Cariola Center created a group of families from our school and residential programs to be part of our “Sunshine Speakers” group to help advocate for students, residents and staff. The group’s work has included email and phone campaigns urging elected officials to support our programs. The speakers have taken the time to talk to staff about the importance of their work and have also presented at local community groups and organizations. Now, the Sunshine Speakers are expanding to include staff who are subject matter experts in their field. Families and staff advocating for Cariola is an unbeatable combination. Whether you are speaking to elected officials, the media or community groups, the Cariola story is best told by those who are directly impacted by our work. If you are interested in being a Sunshine Speaker, contact Director of Marketing and Communications, Greg Kamp at gkamp@marycariola.org | | | | | |  | Recognizing Our Leadership Donors Donor support is an important and powerful reason for Mary Cariola Center’s success. Among other things, your donations allow the agency to create or maintain special programs, update our facilities, stay current through staff development, and provide all the equipment, services, and extra care our other funding streams don’t cover. We know the difference these things make in the lives of the individuals we serve…we see it every day. One way that we honor our most generous and steadfast supporters is through special donor recognition. To show our appreciation, we have developed donor-giving circles to thank you, keep you informed, and keep you connected. | |  |  | | |  | Congratulations to Dainya (Nya) Anderson, our newest Mary Cariola Center Employee of the Month. As Shift Supervisor at our East River Road Residence, Nya has shown outstanding leadership ability. Nya has demonstrated resilience and skill in keeping the East River home running smoothly and is applauded for her exceptional support to staff and residents. She has effectively guided staff, fostering a keen sense of teamwork, providing them with the necessary training, and ensuring that the residents continue to lead fulfilling lives. Nya's dedication and hard work truly make her a valuable member of the Cariola team. Congratulations Nya! | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
