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Editors’ note: This article is part of our ongoing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Project. Visit www.nonprofitquarterly.org to access additional articles from this series.

It would be an understatement to say that the past few months have been uncomfortable. The national election was downright ugly, and it exposed just how naïve those pundits were who “dared ask whether the United States had finally begun to heal its divisions over race” after President Obama was elected.1 The resistance that has sprung up in response to the new administration has also been fraught—apparent, most notably, in the tensions over race and feminism that were sparked in the lead-up to the Women’s March on Washington, in January.2 The critiques and dissent may have hurt some feelings but the march was an undeniable success, drawing historic crowds to the nation’s capital and highlighting the leadership of the four cochairwomen—one Black, one Latina, one Muslim and Arab American, and one white. Nonprofit leaders should get ready for additional uncomfortable conversations over the next years and accept that...

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/04/10/think-differently-diversity-nonprofit-leadership-get-comfortable-discomfort

The women arrive every morning at 9 a.m., dressed in skirt suits and pant suits and looking ready for business. For four weeks they come together to collaborate on the most important work of their lives – themselves.

They are participants in Women Investing in Second Chances (W.I.N.S.) at the job-training program STRIVE-New Haven. There, coaches and instructors help the women learn to overcome past struggles that have made it hard for them to find employment or advance in careers.

“We do it on our own, but they [our instructors] give us the strength,” says Dorinda Thomas, who was recently hired at Walmart and has aspirations of working in the medical field. “It feels good to work again. It’s a blessing to be in this classroom with these women. I gained my self-respect back and I gained my confidence back.” Continue reading.

Mark your Calendars! FREE 2017 Zumba® Kids/Kids Jr. classes are back for the 3rd year ;)

Join our team of licensed Zumba® Kids Instructors ready to party with your precious little ones to age-appropriate music and moves. Parents/guardians are encouraged to participate.

Our 3rd year offering FREE Fitness classes. Come join the FUN !

Feel free to share away. Don't miss out on "Appreciation Tuesday" Zumba classes EVERY TUESDAY. 

David V. Hunter Remarks on the occasion of receiving the Heritage Award in honor of Mary Wade’s 150 years of service

April 13, 2017

Greetings!  We’re thrilled to be receiving this Corporate Heritage Award, and wish to thank Tony, Larry Bingaman and the Board Members for recognizing Mary Wade is this fashion.  I am here with Mary Wade’s Leadership which includes Trustees and Senior Staff.

Leo Connors offered an excellent and succinct history of Mary Wade, but when you get to be our age, you like to elaborate on those old stories.  On September 8, 1866, a group of ladies met at the home of Mrs. Eli Whitney, just on the other side of the Green on the corner of Elm and Orange Streets, for the purpose of starting a home for homeless girls. They formed a board, raised $6,000, purchased a house and property at 118 Clinton Avenue in Fair Haven,often called Dragon Village because of the seals that sunned on the banks of the Quinnipiac River.  On December 2 of that same year, in less than three months since their first meeting, they opened the doors and the first president was Mrs. Joseph Sheffield.

This group of prominent women named our organization, The Home for the Friendless, and from 1866 to 1900, the Home served many young women, single mothers and children.  However, in the early 1900’s the board explored a new mission and policies that changed the Home's direction.  The Annual Report for 1924 stated, “The discussions have been along the lines of how we could do the most good for the greatest number.”  It was here that the board authorized the use of the name The Mary Wade Home, and the mission turned to providing a home to elderly women.

The Home survived tumultuous and boisterous events throughout the years, the end of the Civil War, two World Wars, major Depressions, Dramatic events.  The women of New Haven managed the Home for almost 100 years.  Then, in 1976, the board was inspired to elect the first man, the first male resident was admitted in 1982, and in 1990 Frank Hepler became the first male board chair.  

Today, Mary Wade continues at the original location which has been its home for 150 years.  As we continue to strive to do the most good for the greatest number, our services have grown both within our walls and outside too. 

• Today, we are the largest employer in Fair Haven.
• We provide over 10,000 transportation trips annually that bring seniors to physician offices, grocery shopping and centers of worship. 
• We have a new non-medical home care service, called Mary Wade at Home to offer assistance to seniors who are struggling to maintain independence at home.
• Our Adult Day Health Program allows seniors to come to our center for the day and return home in the evening.
• Our Residential Assisted Living offers a home like environment with supportive services to those seniors who require assistance.
• Mary Wade’s skilled nursing service is the only five star program, as rated by the government, in New Haven, and we over both short term rehab stays and chronic long term care services. 

Our culture exemplifies a Mission of Service, Excellence and Innovation both within our walls and in the community at large. 

Mary Wade is a proud and active member of Fair Haven and participates in the Chatham Square Neighborhood Association and Fair Haven Community Management Team, and we provide affordable housing to workforce families.

We are expanding our campus this year with the construction of a new state-of- the-art assisted living building that will include a memory care center. 

Finally, we offer you the opportunity to celebrate our 150^th year by attending our 12^th Annual Wine Dinner to be held on April 29^th here in this beautiful ball room.  Ticket information can be found on our website, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram --- or you can come over to our Table Number 12 and we’ll provide you with an invitation.  All proceeds of this event will support increased staff training to be more effective in providing care to those suffering with Alzheimer’s disease.

Many Thanks for this great honor, and we also wish to congratulate esteemed guests on the dais, to newly elected board members and incoming President DelMonico.  

“This place is going to help a lot of people, not just in terms of job training and employment, but also to be a beacon for the city,” says ConnCat Executive Director Erik Clemons. “For our students, it’s not just about getting people jobs. It’s about how they feel about themselves and believing there are possibilities beyond the conditions that they see every day.” 

ConnCat recently opened the Orchid Cafe, run by its culinary academy students, many of whom came with barriers to employment and career advancement. Read more.

How do you identify potential donors? What information do donors want to know about your organization? How can you move current donors to make larger gifts? What are the best practices around stewarding your donors year round to keep them engaged?

The recorded podcast was presented by Jackie Downing, Director of Grantmaking and Nonprofit Effectiveness at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Listen to the podcast.

On Monday, Judge Neil Gorsuch was sworn in as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, succeeding Justice Antonin Scalia, who passed away in February 2016. Now that the court is once again at its full strength of nine justices, how will Gorsuch’s addition affect the Supreme Court, and especially nonprofits and nonprofit causes, in ...

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/04/11/justice-gorsuch-the-immediate-impact-on-nonprofit-organizations-and-causes/ ;

Charitable Spirit is Now Available in Retailers across Connecticut

BRANFORD, Conn. – Salute American Vodka, a high-quality craft vodka company, has announced a new partnership with Brescome Barton, Inc., the largest wholesale distributor of spirits, wine, and beer in Connecticut. The partnership will bring Salute American Vodka from more than 90 locations already sold to nearly every retailer across the state.

A spirit with soul, Salute American Vodka is a leader of corporate social responsibility in the spirit industry. The first dollar of every bottle sold goes directly to organizations that assist veterans and other American heroes in their pursuit of an education, furthering their careers, starting a business and achieving the American dream. The company’s charitable mission mirrors Brescome Barton’s commitment to carry socially responsible brands in the alcoholic beverage industry.

“We are proud to partner with Brescome Barton, a distributor that will not only help Salute American Vodka to expand across the state but a company that holds similar conscious business standards,” says Mike Lutz, Operations Manager of Salute American Vodka. “At Salute American Vodka, we have a product with a social mission and we put the mission first. One hundred percent of every Salute American Vodka dollar contributed goes directly to organizations that help veterans and other American heroes in their local communities.” 

One of Salute American Vodka's charity partners is  Work Vessels for Vets, Inc. The Connecticut-based nonprofit organization equips America’s returning veterans with the tools they need to start a business or pursue career education. The nonprofit works with veterans in the Greater New Haven area and across the state as well as across the country.

Salute American Vodka is USA Certified™ product, meaning everything from the ingredients to the packaging was made in the country. It’s an 80-proof vodka that is distilled four times, giving it a thicker pour with a clean, smooth, and odorless taste. In June 2016, the brand was acquired by Handcrafted Brands of Branford, Conn. The vodka is bottled and distilled in Rochester, N.Y. For more information about the brand and its impact, visit: www.saluteamerican.com.  

About Salute American Vodka

Salute American Vodka is launching nationwide in 2017. The first dollar of every bottle sold is donated directly to organizations that provide programs and services, which support veterans and other American heroes. The high-quality, 80-proof, award-winning craft vodka is USA Certified™; it is 100 percent American-made from the ingredients to the bottle. The vodka is distilled four times, giving the spirit a thicker pour with a clean, smooth and odorless taste. In June 2016, the brand was acquired by Handcrafted Brands of Branford, Conn. Salute American Vodka is bottled and distilled in Rochester, NY. For more about the brand and its impact or to find a retailer that carries Salute American Vodka near you, visit: www.saluteamerican.com. 

About Brescome Barton, Inc.

Brescome Barton, Inc. is the largest wholesale distributor of spirits, wine, and beer in the state of Connecticut. In business since 1936, we have grown significantly through acquisitions and new supplier relationships and continue to grow each year through additional appointments of suppliers and brands.

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Higher Heights builds a community of college-bound students. Photo provided by Higher Heights.

Thirteen years ago, Higher Heights stepped in to help underrepresented college-bound students in Greater New Haven. Now, the organization is bringing its model to other districts and college access programs around the state with training programs that help counselors better support minority, English Language Learner, and low-income students.

“It’s very exciting. We’ve been doing good work in New Haven and now we’re going to have a statewide reach,” says Executive Director Chaka Felder. Continue reading here.

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Weekends are rocking at the Amity Teen Center. On Friday and Saturday nights, crowds can swell to over 100 young people coming out to listen to line-ups of four or five bands. Chances are, they heard about the show from the performers themselves.

“We are teaching the bands self-promotion and marketing,” says Amity Teen Center Executive Director Jennifer DiBlanda. “We pay them a percentage of the gate, so the more friends they bring in, the more money they walk out the door with.”

In addition to the popular band nights on the weekends, the center is open three days a week after school. It offers teenagers a place to do homework, play video games (on computers assembled by young members), shoot baskets, or simply hang out with friends. Continue reading here. 

Join us at Family Centered Services of CT annual Spring Cocktail Party & Auction on Thursday May 4, 2017 at Amarante’s Sea Cliff in New Haven, CT. Music by Caribbean Vibe and Guest Auctioneer: Eric Hummel., Featuring fantastic auction items:  a weekend in Mystic, NYC, cruise on Long Island Sound, a day of papering plus much more!

This upcoming year we will be celebrating a milestone, our 40^th anniversary.  Family CT has been a leader in providing free home-based parenting education, domestic violence counseling and care coordination for children with special health care needs.  This past year we reached over 1800 families and the need continues to grow. It is because our services are free and home-based that we can reach many under-served families who would not be able to accept services otherwise.

Tickets: $75.00 per person

Table of 8:   $480.00

Table of 10: $ 600.00

To purchase tickets visit; www.familyct.org and click on the Annual Spring Cocktail Party & Auction.  Questions? contact: Susan D'Orvilliers at 203-624-2600 ext. 118 

Mary Wade has maintained its 5 Star Rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) which is the Federal Agency that provides Medicare and Medicaid Services and additionally performs annual inspection visits to the Nation's 15,600 nursing homes.  Mary Wade is the only nursing home in New Haven with a 5 Star Rating from the Federal and State Government.

Nursing homes vary in the quality of care and services they provide to their residents. Reviewing health inspection results, staffing data, and quality measure data are 3 important ways to measure nursing home quality. This information gives you a "snap shot" of the care individual nursing homes give.  This information is important when you are faced with a decision to select a nursing home for you or members of your family.

As a result of the latest rounds of inspections Mary Wade has maintained its 5 Star Rating, which means its overall all rating is "Much Above Average".  This overall rating is comprised of three areas of focus:

• Quality Measures
• Staffing Measures
• Performance during Annual Surveys.  

Mary Wade has a 5 Star Rating, "Much Above Average", in the Quality Measures, which involves clinical areas such as the:

• Low Percentage of short-stay residents who were re-hospitalized after a nursing home admission  
• High Percentage of short-stay residents who made improvements in function
• Low Percentage of short-stay residents with pressure ulcers that are new or worsened
• Effective Pain Management 
• Low Percentage of short-stay residents who are newly administered antipsychotic medications (major tranquilizers)

Mary Wade is also given a 5 Star Rating, "Much Above Average", in the area of Staffing, which means that clinical staffing is higher in quality and in numbers, and measures the staffing levels of the following:

• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Physicial Therapists (PT)

Mary Wade is given a 4 Star Rating, "Above Average", under the categories of:

• Health Inspections
• Complaints
• Fire and Safety Inspections

This information is extremely helpful when faced with a decision to select a nursing home for either short term or long term care services for you or a family member.   When you are in this position it is also important to remember that neither your doctor or a hospital staff can force you to select a nursing home, by law, you and only you are the one to make this decision.  If you need guidance or advice on any of this information, you can obtain it by contacting Rosanne Mondrone at Mary Wade by calling 203.562.7222 or email at rmondrone@marywade.org, or David V. Hunter at 203.672.7810. 

https://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/profile.html#profTab=3&ID=075325&cmprID=075325&loc=06513&lat=41.3220272&lng=-72.8692711&cmprDist=1.7&Distn=1.7

Every day after school, each young child and teenager who walks through the doors of the New Haven Boys and Girls Club is welcomed by name and given a high five. An afternoon packed with activity awaits them, from homework help, to art and technology projects, to basketball and other athletics. But it’s the personal attention from caring mentors that is at the core of club’s mission to inspire young people to realize their full potential. Continue reading here.

CitySeed is hiring! 

Mary Wade Home is grateful to be the 2017 Recipient of the Corporate Heritage Award presented by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce which will be presented at the Chamber's 223rd Annual Meeting on April 13 at the Omni New Haven Hotel.

We are receiving the Heritage Award as we plan for ground breaking of a major addition to our senior campus in Fair Haven. www.marywade.org

At the heart of Citywide Youth Coalition’s mission is creating opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills and be engaged in their schools, neighborhoods and communities. Now more than four-decades old, the youth organization supports and runs programs based on the Positive Youth Development model of adolescent behavior. The model is based on research that shows when young people have a variety of experiences to learn,  participate in decision making, and are supported by nurturing adults, they develop “protective factors” that help them avoid making bad decisions. Continue reading.

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