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| Chesapeake Service Systems (CSS) Announces Reaching the $2,000,000 mark towards Project HOPE (Helping Others by Providing Empowerment)! |
In June of 2004, the Tidewater Occupational Center (TOC) in Suffolk closed. In one day, 168 people with mental retardation were let go from their jobs - the very thing that gave them value and made them feel like they fit into the world.
Employees of CSS attended the closing of TOC and saw the devastation on the faces of the workers with severe disabilities. Because of this crisis situation, CSS started a capital campaign (Project HOPE) and opened a new laundry occupational center in 2005 in the city of Portsmouth. Since that time, 71 people with developmental disabilities have been given employment opportunities at the new facility.
We have seen health and development dramatically improve for these individuals with mental retardation who are now working and living productive lives. The mother of one woman with mental retardation came up to Tom Swanston, Executive Director at CSS and said, "My daughter is 38 years old and for the first time in her life she spoke, because she is working at your facility." The changes in the people with developmental disabilities (mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism and spina bifida) have been remarkable. People with the most severe developmental disabilities now produce over two million pounds of laundry a year. They are a valuable and productive part of our Hampton Roads economy. Given the proper supports and services that help them find purpose, people with mental retardation can have wonderful quality of life.
Over 40 businesses, foundations and organizations have shown that they care about people with developmental disabilities by donating to the new laundry occupational center. We send out the highest level of gratitude to all of them for their generous contributions.
Chesapeake Service Systems wishes to especially thank the top three donors to the project:
City of Portsmouth (CDBG) $240,000
The Beazley Foundation, $110,000
Joan and Macon Brock $90,000*
*(Macon Brock Chairman of Dollar Tree Stores will donate $90,000 to the project when CSS raises a $90,000 match. Please contact CSS at 312-0456 X 304 if you want to help meet the challenge.)
People with mental retardation and other severe developmental disabilities are not mistakes. It is time that all people cherish them as a valuable part of human diversity.
We need your help to create more jobs for people with severe developmental disabilities in Hampton Roads. Please donate to this life-changing and life-affirming project today!
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| Businesses and Foundations come together in support of Project HOPE (Helping Others by Providing Empowerment)! |
Everyone at CSS sends a big thank you to Bank of America for their generosity and compassion by supporting Project HOPE (Helping Others by Providing Empowerment). They see how work transforms people with mental retardation and other severe disabilities, so they can lives happier more fulfilling lives. At the completion of this project, we will be able to hire between 300-500 people with mental retardation across Hampton Roads because of businesses who care about making the world a better place for those who are among the most vulnerable. Victor Branch, Senior Vice President, Market Development Manager from Bank of America in Richmond and Michelle Testa, Market Development Specialist from Bank of America in Norfolk toured CSS's laundry facility in Portsmouth and presented CSS's Executive Director, Tom Swanston with a donation check on March 22nd.
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Other recent generous supporters of the project include: Capital Group American Funds, Resource Bank, Norfolk Southern Foundation, Douglas and Patricia Perry Foundation, Community Development Block Grant from the City of Portsmouth, FCE Benefit and Dollar Tree.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity! Your compassion will help provide new jobs and increased quality of life for hundreds of people with mental retardation in Southeastern Virginia. CSS hopes to have a strong relationship with all of these incredibly caring business leaders and foundations for years to come.
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Joan and Macon Brock toured CSS's headquarters on April 4th. Macon is chairman and CEO of Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., headquartered in Chesapeake. Dollar Tree is the leading operator of discount variety stores offering merchandise for $1. Joan is a major shareholder and served for 11 years as assistant secretary/treasurer of the $2.3-billion dollar company, which operates 2,300 stores in 38 states. CSS staff and clients greatly enjoyed their visit. We thank them for taking time out of their very busy schedules to see the variety of work opportunities CSS provides to people with most severe developmental disabilities.
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| Service above Self for People with Severe Developmental Disabilities in Hampton Roads! |
Chesapeake Service Systems is the proud recipient of the Chesapeake Rotary's District 7600 grant. With these funds on Friday, April 6th members of Chesapeake Rotary donated their time to help paint and stabilize a wheelchair ramp at our new laundry occupational center in Portsmouth. This state-of-the-art vocational center provides employment for people with severe developmental disabilities from all over Hampton Roads. Rotary volunteers helped complete one of many new additions to the facility. A few hours out of their day brought joy and a better workplace for those who are among the most vulnerable in our community. Thank you Chesapeake Rotary!
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We are still only in Phase II of the completing the facility. We are in desperate need of funds to purchase more equipment so that we can increase the number of jobs for people with severe disabilities. Every dollar collected goes directly into helping people with mental retardation, autism and other severe disabilities live better lives. Please help today!
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| March is Mental Retardation Awareness Month |
Mental Retardation Awareness Month is a national observance, launched in 1979 by the Arc of the United States, to educate the public about the issues and barriers associated with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities.
What is mental retardation?
The American Association on Mental Retardation defines mental retardation as a disability that significantly limits both intelligence and social adaptive behavior before the age of 18. Mental retardation is not a physical disease or a mental illness. However, mental retardation may coexist with a mental illness and may be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic disorders, complications during pregnancy and right after childbirth, injury, disease, brain abnormality, and exposure to toxic or poisonous chemicals.
According to a recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental retardation is the most common developmental disorder in the United States and affects an estimated 1.5 million children and adults between the ages of 6 and 64.
Mental retardation is 12 times more common than cerebral palsy and 30 times more prevalent than neural tube defects such as spina bifida. It affects 100 times as many people as total blindness.
It cuts across the lines of racial, ethnic, educational, social and economic backgrounds. It can occur in any family. One out of ten American families is directly affected by mental retardation.
The effects of mental retardation vary considerably among people, just as the range of abilities varies considerably among people who do not have mental retardation. About 87 percent will be mildly affected and will be only a little slower than average in learning new information and skills. As adults, they are capable of performing a variety of jobs.
The remaining 13 percent of people with mental retardation have serious limitations in functioning. However, with care in assessing their work skills and finding them a job that matches their skills, those individuals have also demonstrated great employment success as well.
Please join us in our efforts by taking the time in March, Mental Retardation Awareness Month to learn more about people with mental retardation and the vitally important role work plays in their quality of life.
(Statistics provided by the ARC’s website and the National Mental Health Information Center website.)
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