Page 10 - Success Story Newsletter_Winter 2017

A message from our CEO and
President Brian Fitzgerald:

I am proud to report that in our last fiscal year of September 2015 through August 2016,
Easterseals enriched the lives of nearly nine thousand individuals with disabilities living
in New Jersey. Our dedicated and knowledgeable staff, with the support of our board of
directors, community partners, and committed donors, provided various opportunities for
these individuals to live, learn, work, and play in their communities throughout the state. In
creating these opportunities we also supported their families and caregivers by providing
hope that their loves ones have a place in their community, as well as some relief from the
stress sometimes caused by their consistent care.

For our organization, 2016 was also a year of preparation. Our staff worked hard to prepare
Easterseals to face significant changes in service delivery, administration, and finance.
We've been made aware that the state of New Jersey will change its method of funding
in such a way that has necessitated a change in how Easterseals operates. In response,
Easterseals has reduced its administration, restructured its service portfolio, and changed
the composition of its workforce.

In 2017, Easterseals will operate within the new funding system. Our staff is now prepared
to deliver the same high-quality service and administrative support in this new environment.
Amidst these changes we have kept and will continue to keep our commitment to our
program participants to provide the services that they need.
As we continue through this New Year, and begin to approach our 70th anniversary, we look
forward to once again join forces with our donors, volunteers, program participants, and very
own staff to create greater opportunities for people with disabilities and special needs in our
home state of New Jersey.

LIVE • LEARN • WORK • PLAY

Want to contribute?
Visit eastersealsnj.org/donate

taking on disability together