February 07, 2019 | news12.com online
The nonprofit group Community Options is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the “Cupid’s Chase 5K” charity run. The national group helps people with disabilities.
Category Archives: Media Coverage
Bridge Street Cupid’s Chase 01/30/19
January 30, 2019 | LocalSYR.com
Executive Director of Community Options Cynthia Barnaby and media chair Kate Thornton discuss the upcoming Cupid’s Chase
Valentine’s “Cupid’s Chase” 5K Charity Run will Benefit People with Disabilities
January 28, 2019 | PR Newswire online |
Thousands of runners in more than 40 cities across the United States participated in last year’s Cupid’s Chase 5K Charity run to raise money and awareness for adults with disabilities.
PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — On Saturday, February 9, 2019, over 10,000 people across 45 cities in 11 states will participate in the 11th annual Valentine’s Cupid’s Chase 5K run, presented by Community Options, Inc.
Each year, Community Options, a national nonprofit organization that provides housing and employment support to people with severe mental and physical disabilities, hosts its Cupid’s Chase 5K in various cities to support local disabled residents and their families by raising money for facilities support and programmatic social and medical services. This year’s Cupid’s Chase run will take place in:
- Arizona – Phoenix, Tucson
- Kentucky — Bowling Green, Paducah
- Maryland – Baltimore, Wheaton
- New Jersey – Bridgewater, Glen Rock, Moorestown, Morristown, New
- Brunswick, Princeton, Seaside Heights, West Orange, West Deptford
- New Mexico – Albuquerque, Las Cruces/El Paso, Santa Fe
- New York — Binghamton, Brooklyn, New York City, Queens, Syracuse
- Pennsylvania – Allentown, Bloomsburg, Bucks, Butler, Harrisburg, King of
- Prussia, Latrobe, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington County, Wilkes-Barre
- South Carolina — Charleston, Columbia, Greenville
- Tennessee — Chattanooga, Cookeville, Nashville
- Texas — Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso/Las Cruces, San Antonio
- Utah – Salt Lake City
“We started Cupid’s Chase to raise awareness in the community of the need for vital resources necessary to ensure that adults with significant disabilities will still live a meaningful, prosperous life,” said Robert Stack, CEO of Community Options. “I’m pleased that this event has drawn so many socially responsible community and corporate supporters. Each year we continue to add new race locales and educate all participants and sponsors on the importance of assisting those in our communities who desperately need a helping hand.”
prnewswire.com
The Cupid’s Chase run is expected to raise over $1 million for Community Options’ annual operating expenses. Through a variety of group home management and job placement services, Community Options currently supports over 3,500 adults living and working with severe mental and physical afflictions. Since its inception 30-years ago, Princeton based Community Options has assisted over 14,300 disabled individuals.
For more information, start times, donate, and to register for the event, please visit www.cupidschase.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cupidschase.
Health care needs reform, regulation and research
November 04, 2018 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette online
Health care needs reform, regulation and research
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
This year, 36 states will elect a governor. There are well over 24 seats that could change the balance of power in Congress, and 35 Senate seats are up for grabs during the infamous midterm elections.
A plethora of rhetoric clutters airways. Each candidate will lower our taxes, protect us and lower government spending. A loquacious relative explains why his candidate is better than another. Tactics from fearmongering to testimonials painting wholesome candidates blow up your smart phone and social media.
Recent polls suggest that the gender of the candidates is unimportant. Gun control is an issue, immigration is significant, but what seems to remain the most important is health care.
The obdurate partisan voter bases positions on rhetoric rather than issues. “Abolish Obamacare” or “pre-existing conditions” become codified into right or wrong. A more exhaustive review needs to be conducted.
Over $500 billion is spent on Medicaid annually. It makes up more than 30 percent of the annual budget of Florida alone. Texas warehouses more people in institutions than California, Minnesota and Michigan combined. Their resplendent rhetoric of doing business without red tape is simply not true. The Texas process for disabled community care is protracted. It is bogged down with an over-regulatory governing entity preventing the disabled from getting jobs or living in small homes.
Medicaid was ostensibly designed to help poor people. Over 25 percent of Medicaid is allocated for large state-run, inefficient, sub-standard institutional care. Billions are spent documenting care rather than providing it. Positively, it is the fuel that funds care to America’s most vulnerable citizens.
With so many issues revolving around health care, the political leaders need to see that there is low-hanging fruit. We need accelerated closure of large state-run institutions, privatization of care for persons with disabilities, and the reduction of zealous, redundant and, at times, sanctimonious regulations for those of us on the ground providing the care.
Robert Stack
South Side
The writer is the president and CEO of Community Options, Inc., a national nonprofit developing housing and employment for persons with disabilities.
Ribbon cutting ceremony held
August 30, 2018 | Bridgewater Courier News online
Ribbon cutting ceremony held
Central Jersey Daily Rundown, Thursday, Aug. 30
My Central Jersey
Community Options, Inc. celebrated the grand opening of a new home in Princeton with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 28. Sen. Kip Bateman, Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, Mayor Liz Lempert and members of the Princeton Council were among those expected to be in attendance. The four-bedroom home, which will provide special needs housing credits towards Princeton’s affordable housing plan, was acquired through a funding partnership with Princeton.The funding allowed Community Options to fully renovate the home to meet the needs of the residents. This is the third Community Options home in Princeton, and the 23rd in Mercer County. Overall, Community Options operates 137 homes in New Jersey and supports 725 individuals through residential and employment services. Visit www.comop.org.
Community Options to open new home
August 26, 2018 | My Central Jersey online
Central Jersey Daily Rundown, Sunday, Aug. 26
Community Options to open new home
MyCentralJersey.com
Community Options, Inc. will celebrate the grand opening of a new home in Princeton with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28. State Sen. Kip Bateman, Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, Mayor Liz Lempert and members of the Princeton Council are among those expected to be in attendance. This is the third Community Options home in Princeton, and the 23rd in Mercer County. Overall, Community Options operates 137 homes in New Jersey and supports 725 individuals through residential and employment services. Visit www.comop.org.
Program for adults with special needs nears start-up
Central Jersey Newspaper Media Group
OLD BRIDGE — As an adult day program for adults who have special needs prepares to start in the next few weeks, Mayor Owen Henry took the time to recognize those who have helped make the program a reality.
“One of our goals was to raise money,” Henry said at a Township Council meeting on July 9, adding that the community and local businesses have gone above and beyond all expectations with their help. “It says a lot about our community and our businesses in town.”
Municipal employees donated $15,000 toward a purchase of a van for the facility, which will be run by Community Options Inc., a national nonprofit organization with headquarters in Princeton.
The organization, which serves thousands of individuals with disabilities throughout 11 states, offers adult day training, behavioral therapy and supported employment programs.
Amboy Bank donated $10,000; DCH Honda donated $1,000; the Brunetti organization donated $1,000; and the mayor, who said he is committed to the special needs population in the community, donated $1,000.
“It’s been a complicated process,” Henry said. “We are so fortunate to have offered this to our residents in our community.”
In Old Bridge, Community Options staff will meet with individuals and their families to ensure that each plan incorporates the person’s preferences.
The organization’s housing services are designed to assist people who are living with family members and are on waiting lists for community placement.
The employment services focus on support and follow-up required to assist with pursuing employment, taking into consideration the specific needs of each individual.
For more information about the adult day program, contact the Department of Parks and Recreation at 732-721-5600, ext. 4999.