Community Options Celebrates 20 Years of Service in New York on Record Day at the New York Stock Exchange
August 15, 2016 | Press Release.pdf
Community Options Celebrates 20 Years of Service in New York on Record Day at the New York Stock Exchange
Officials and guests of Community Options, Inc. visit the New York Stock Exchange. Max Depelteau (5th from left), an individual served by Community Options, Inc., rings the NYSE Closing Bell® to highlight their 20th Anniversary of providing services throughout NY State. Photo Credit: NYSE
PRINCETON, NJ – National nonprofit Community Options, Inc. rang the Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, August 15. Community Options is based in Princeton, NJ and provides housing and employment support to thousands of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the nation.
School to Employment Program (STEP) participant Max Depelteau rang the Closing Bell for Community Options, a record day at the 224-year-old New York Stock Exchange as all three major U.S. stock indexes ended at all-time highs on Monday (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/wall-street-set-open-slightly-130103300.html)
STEP is a community Options program. STEP is a job-training program for young adults with developmental disabilities, who are transitioning from school to the workforce. STEP has successfully mitigated the risks associated with the underemployment of people with disabilities by consistently preparing, training, and placing participating participants in meaningful jobs.
Max currently works two days a week at his paid job at Experienced Support Coordination as an office clerk and continues to attend the STEP program three days per week. The 24-year-old is hoping to lock down a five day a week paid job in the near future. Max started in STEP as a high school student from West Windsor Plainsboro High School North.
Community Options Enterprises Managing Director Dina Casalaspro, Grant Writer Cherry Watson, Regional Director Katie Valle, Community Options Enterprises Managing Director Andrew Park, STEP Director Meghan Hunter, Employment Specialist Donna Orr, Program Manager Caroline Garcia and Community Options Enterprises board member Philip Lian and his wife Joan Mueller were also on hand to represent Community Options as well.
Community Options is celebrating its 20th year of service in the state of New York and will hold a fundraising Gala on Thursday, October 6 to honor the milestone. The Gala will take place at Pier 61 of The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers at 6 p.m. The festivities will include cocktails, dinner and a silent auction.
The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers is located at 23rd Street and West Side Highway in New York City.
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About Community Options, Inc.:
For over 25 years, Community Options has developed housing and employment programs for people with disabilities – serving thousands of people through 38 offices across 10 states. Community Options provides advocacy assistance to empower people with disabilities because all people – regardless of ability level – should live and work in the community with dignity, choice and self-determination.
For more information please visit our website: www.comop.org and to follow along with the ComOpCares campaign, search #ComOpCares on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
View photo gallery here