The importance of tradition

A guest post from Marisa Geitner, president & C.E.O. of Heritage Christian Services

 

My kids and I are always in the kitchen. At the holidays we bake pies and Christmas cookies, and in the summer we try new ways to use the vegetables from our garden.

It’s our tradition. It’s one way we spend time together.

At Heritage Christian, we have traditions, too – things we do that make us family. 

We celebrate important milestones. 

We cheer as people cross finish lines and learn to do more than they ever thought possible. 

We care.

We talk a lot about treating people with Christian compassion, about becoming love in action. Love says that we must open our hearts to the people we serve and the people we work with. It requires us to be patient, humble and kind, and it encourages us to see the good in every situation.

That’s a tradition I’m especially proud of.

What Heritage Christian traditions mean the most to you? What helps you feel like family?

Building friendships and building bridges

Teen ATTITUDE gave Emily the opportunity to meet young women her own age. It was her only time with peers who didn’t have developmental disabilities. Teen Attitude helped her find friends during a difficult time of transition. The young women at Teen Attitude learned that they have a lot in common despite different levels of abilities. -- from her sister, Amy

You can help other teen girls learn about friendship and socialization TODAY and it will be matched dollar for dollar when you give at http://www.roctheday.org/ThePietersFamilyLifeCenter.

Teen ATTITUDE is a peer to peer program that pairs teen girls with and without disabilities for mutual support and friendship at the Pieters Family Life Center. ATTITUDE stands for: Awareness Teamwork Trusting Independence Together Understanding Differences for Empowerment.

As a peer to peer social group for teenage girls, we energize the CAPABILITIES of all participants by providing activities that encourage fun and friendship.  In a nurturing environment we support and assist one another with unleashing each other’s highest potential.

To hear about one family that's anxiously waiting for the program, visit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLpbpR9beNU&feature=youtu.be

HCS Foundation: Making a Difference Today

The Heritage Christian Services Foundation exists to ensure people with developmental disabilities have the best care and the best quality of life regardless of how the economy is doing.

“Heritage Christian has received Medicaid cuts, which means the need to strengthen our financial base has never been more urgent – so we can maintain the fine services we offer now and ensure our agency will stand strong for generations,” said Mark Zawacki, executive director of the Foundation. “That’s why we’re asking you to give now, to our four key areas.”

·         Spiritual Life: The agency seeks to support people along their journeys of faith and facilitate attendance at places of worship. 

·         Workforce and Talent Retention: The fund will help provide salary increases and professional development, each a critical element in recruiting and retaining the best employees. Also, it will ensure the agency can offer generous benefits that are designed to retain a high quality staff. 

·         Residential Opportunities: Over time, people could face the loss of a parent or a sibling, steep medical bills or other unforeseen challenges. To prepare for that, the agency is creating a fund to ensure that financial grants can be provided in times of change or crisis. 

·         Health and Wellness: Through the creation of the Heritage Christian Services Successful Aging and Wellness program, which is now in a pilot phase, the agency can help individuals age with grace, dignity, greater health, and an even stronger sense of engagement.

 To donate, visit http://www.roctheday.org/HeritageChristianServices and know that all donations -- up to $1,600 -- will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to the KeyBank Challenge Grant.