Celebrating Two Years of Making a Difference
Katelyn Allen, Bryce Allen,Vicki Allen and Daniel Allen; the family of Marisa Dara Allen, who the Founding Student Award was created in honor of.
(April 21, 2015) Community Options, Inc.’s Red Ribbon Academy opened its doors on March 25, 2013. On Saturday, April 18, 2015, we celebrated Red Ribbon’s two-year successful journey, prosperity, and the people we lost along the way.
We honored two of the founding parents, Vicki and Daniel Allen, with the Founding Student Award in memory of their late daughter, Marissa Dara Allen, who broke down barriers for young adults with developmental disabilities. Marissa Dara Allen’s presence gave many families hope and confirmation that their sons and daughters have a chance to attend a Medical Special Needs Day Program that will care for severe, medically fragile individuals and truly make a difference in their lives each day. The ceremony also recognized other individuals that the program has lost since the start of the program, Stephanie Cohen and Anthony Esposito.
Saturday proved that the Red Ribbon Academy is not just a Medical Day Program — it is an inspiration because of the love, care, and advocacy it has filled in the hearts and souls of many on all levels. Many from around the country have ranked Red Ribbon as one of the best Medical Special Needs Day Programs.
Linda Thomas, the founder of The Parents Group, shows off the Red Ribbon Academy. The Parents Group is group of five mothers who developed the concept of the Red Ribbon Academy and collaborated with Community Options to open this Medical Special Needs Day Program.
Now, many more understand the mission of Community Options’ Red Ribbon Medical Day Program. The program is truly a masterpiece that is still evolving and will never be forgotten.
On this day, Red Ribbon Academy thanked the local and state support, political support, along with their state-wide community support for bringing awareness to how important the need is for more Medical Day Programs like this.
We continue our journey!
Ms. Ayesha S. Patrick – Executive Director
Red Ribbon Academy
506 Hamburg Turnpike
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973)905-4020