Community Options: Believing in dignity for all

May 23, 2018 | ROI-NJ Online

Community Options: Believing in dignity for all

Gov. Phil Murphy, left, last year toured The Daily Plan It in Princeton, one of Community Options’ businesses that provide job training and employment to people with disabilities. Svetlana Repic-Qira, right, regional vice president.

ROI-NJ.

Origin

Community Options was founded in 1989 by Robert Stack, who is currently CEO and president.

Mission

Community Options’ mission is to develop housing and employment supports for persons with disabilities.

Goals

Over the next few years, we have identified five key objectives as part of our ongoing strategic plan: expand services, leverage technology, cultivate personnel, improve fiscal operations, and enhance marketing and development. We are confident that we will achieve the goals set forth by our Leadership Team by 2020.

Programs

Community Options is a progressive, national nonprofit organization that has been in operation for over 35 years. Community Options believes in the dignity of every person and in the freedom of all people to experience the highest degree of self-determination. Our focused efforts include developing residential housing, specialized programs for medically fragile adults, entrepreneurial businesses, employment supports and transitional education programs benefiting thousands of individuals with disabilities and their families.

Achievements

Community Options recently celebrated the opening of our 500th home. We secured a donation to open our second Vaseful flower store, providing employment to people with disabilities. The flower store is expected to open in the fall. We’ve continue to expand our services with homes for people with disabilities that recently opened in Princeton, Marlton, Franklin and Willingboro. We have plans to open an additional six to 10 homes within the next year.

Fundraising

Community Options holds two annual fundraising events. The first is the Cupids Chase 5K race, held over Valentine’s Day weekend. In 2018, there were 38 races across the 11 states that Community Options operates in. Funds are raised through runners as well as corporate sponsorships. The second major fundraising event is the Annual Golf Classic, which took place this year at Jasna Polana in Princeton. Throughout the year, Community Options’ executive directors will also hold various fundraisers for their local offices. Many of these include partnering with small businesses in their local communities.

Benefactors

Community Options is supported by many local businesses in the areas that we serve. All of our offices are supported by a Community Options Business Advisory Council, or COBAC, which advises executive directors on local economic trends, establishes and maintains corporate and civic connections, and raises funds for local programs. COBAC members include representatives from Robert Wood Johnson, Staples, New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, Yardville National Bank, Haldeman Ford, Pepper Hamilton, First Washington State Bank, Sovereign Bank, the National Association of Catering Executives and many other prominent lawyers, consultants and business leaders.

Board members

We are proud to have an active and engaged board of directors that include many prominent business and community leaders. Some of our board members include:

Philip Lian, chairman — Parcside Equity LLC
Alec Taylor — Matrix Development Group
Lori Grifa — partner at Archer Law and former DCA commissioner
Gail Gordon — attorney and wife of state Sen. Bob Gordon
James Spano — Spano Partners Holdings
Delia Donahue — partner at Pepper Hamilton LLP

Finally

As a national agency, Community Options seeks to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the community through person-centered and natural supports, and collaboration with community partners to increase accessibility to services. Community Options does not administer any large congregate programs, recognizing that people with the most severe disabilities need environments, equipment, clinical and staff support that are tailored to their very specific needs to enable them to live life to their fullest potential in the community.

Conversation Starter

Reach Svetlana Repic-Qira, regional vice president, Community Options, at: Svetlana.Repic-Qira@comop.org or at 973-905-4015.

In Brief

Serving: We are a national nonprofit organization providing services to people with disabilities. We are based in Princeton; however, we currently operate in 11 states: Arizona, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

Key People

Robert Stack, CEO and president; David Sweeney, chief financial officer; Svetlana Repic-Qira, regional vice president; Brian Dion, regional vice president; Catherine Carroll, regional vice president

Youngest Go The Distance runner to add half marathon to long list of races

March 19, 2018 | WPSD Local 6 online

Youngest Go The Distance runner to add half marathon to long list of races

Logan shows off his medals at the 2018 Cupid’s Chase race in Paducah.

McCRACKEN COUNTY, KY- Local 6 is helping 10 people Go The Distance. They’re training with Atlas Physical Therapy and Paducah Athletic Club experts to run a half marathon.

Logan shows off his medals at the 2018 Cupid’s Chase race in Paducah.

The youngest of the group just turned 12, but Logan Steckenrider is no stranger to long-distance running.

“This was my first 10K,” explained Logan, pointing to one of his many medals. “I did this one in Utah last year —got a nosebleed at the end.”

The dozens of medals he’s earned represent a lot of hard work. Logan has run more than 100 races in just a few years.

We caught up with him at the Cupid’s Chase in February, but his mom, Mindy, has faithfully documented each run. She remembers one of his first races, the Paducah-McCracken County United Way Barbecue on the River Kids Run. It was just a mile.

“I think he finished like 7th overall in that race for his first time out, and his time was really good,” Mindy said. “And I thought, wow, we may really have something here.”

“I just liked the idea of being faster than everyone,” Logan said of what got him passionate about running.

Logan is now taking his dedication to the next level.

WPSD Local 6

What’s his current training regiment? “I do two tempo runs a week. I do one cross training, one hill, and then one long run,” Logan said.

He’s working with the experts at Atlas Physcial Therapy and Paducah Athletic Club to improve his form.

“I learned that I kind of run with one foot in and the other one straight,” Logan said.

“I’m really proud of him for being able to balance things and to keep his grades up,” Mindy said. “He’s just, he’s a good kid.”

Logan has a mindset as he tackles this big goal. “It’s gonna’ be hard to do at first, but once you’re done, you’ll be excited and happy,” Logan said.

“I don’t know what’s after a half marathon for him,” his mom said.

There’s no doubt that whatever it is, Logan is sure to go the distance.

Logan will run the Iron Mom Half Marathon in Paducah in May.

Cupid’s Chase 5K on KVIA

February 9, 2018

Jose Castro joins the Noon News to discuss the upcoming Cupid’s Chase 5K.

Greenway Cupid’s Chase races to benefit Community Options

February 08, 2018 | Paducah Sun online

Kimberly McNail, the director of supported employment at Community Options, shows one of the T-shirts given to runners in Saturday’s fifth annual Cupid’s Chase, a fundraising racing event for Community Options.

The Greenway Trail in Paducah will be the site for a pair of Valentine’s weekend races that will help raise funding for Community Options Inc.

Community Options opened in Paducah in 2013, providing services to people with disabilities to help them find jobs and make themselves more self-sustaining. Proceeds from the races – called “Cupid’s Chase” – will help fund Community Options services.

“The services we do are case management services, assisting individuals with disabilities to kind of pull all the different team members together and help (those with disabilities) get the services that they need,” said Paducah executive director Ann Hoye. “We do supported employment and we do residential services, so we help individuals be independent in the community.”

Kimberly McNail, who is the director of supported employment at Community Options, gets job referrals for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.

“We assist individuals that are referred to us, whether they’re in our residential program or they live in their own home or their family’s home,” she said.

“We help them with getting jobs in the community and matching them with employers, based on the employers’ skills and the individuals’ needs and wants.”

There are 58 Community Options locations in 11 states, including Paducah, Bowling Green and Alexandria in Kentucky and Nashville, Chattanooga and Cookeville in Tennessee.

Cupid’s Chase includes 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) and 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) races to be held Saturday along the Greenway Trail. The registration begins at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Broadway and Water streets, and the races begin at 9 a.m.

The race will involve runners, walkers, strollers and wheelchairs to help raise funds for Community Options.

“All of the Community Options sites nationwide do the race on the same day,” McNail said.

Cupid’s Chase serves as a fundraiser for Community Options and its programs. The Paducah Cupid’s Chase began in 2014, marking its fifth year.

“It’s held on the Saturday before Valentine’s Day,” Hoye said. “So, they like to pull in the Cupid theme, so even on the T-shirts that the runners will wear, it says whether they are available or unavailable. Last year, there were about 80 runners. This year, we’re hoping to have people come, and if they don’t want to run, they can volunteer to help us run the event and just get to know who we are and what we do.”

The entry fee is $30 through Friday and $40 at the race. Race bags can be picked up from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at Community Options at 329 N. Fifth St. More information about the race can be found at www.cupidschase.org or by calling Community Options at 270-444-9470. Information about Community Options can be found at www.comop.org

Cupids Chase Run Saturday Helps Community Options

February 08, 2018 | West Kentucky Star online

PADUCAH,KY – Runners, on your mark for Cupid’s Chase, coming Saturday to Paducah.

The annual race is sponsored by Community Options, a nationwide organization focused on helping people with disabilities. They provide group homes, employment services, and general case management for individuals with disabilities. Cupid’s Chase is a race around each Valentine’s Day in multiple locations across the country that raises funds for these programs.

Cupid’s Chase will be held in downtown Paducah at the intersection of Water Street and Broadway. Registration for the race will begin at 8:00 am. The race will begin at 9:00 am.

Kimberly McNail works in the employment services division of Paducah’s Community Options office. She says there are many things individuals with disabilities can do in the workforce.

“Its really rewarding seeing the individuals with disabilities being given a chance to work out in the community,” McNail said.

She also mentioned that part of that reward is the development of relationships between the employers and the individuals with disabilities.

Chelsea Harris works in the residential homes with Community Options. and works hands-on in the homes. She says the individuals develop skills for independent living. She says the best part is seeing the clients “take charge of their own life.”

Registration for Saturday’s race is $30 per person if you register before Friday. On race day, the cost is $40.

For more information or to sign up go to www.cupidschase.org

Cupid’s Chase 5K on WCIV

February 8, 2018 | WCIV Article

Cupid’s Chase 5K

Alan Rose joins Lowcountry Live to discuss the upcoming Cupid’s Chase 5K.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with some healthy fun! The Cupid’s Chase 5K is this Saturday at James Island County Park and it’s a fundraiser to help those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Run for a good cause in Cupid’s Chase 5K in Mesilla

February 07, 2018 | Las Cruces Sun-news online

Las Cruces Sun-news

Las Crucens can raise money for a local good cause while sporting their relationship status in the 9th annual Community Options, Inc. Cupid’s Chase 5K, beginning at 9 a.m. on the historic Mesilla Plaza, on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Participants in the run will receive either a red shirt, representing couples, or a white shirt, indicating they are single. All the money raised will go directly to disabled citizens of the Las Cruces and El Paso area.

“Our money doesn’t go to corporate around the country, it stays here,” said Jessica Ochoa-Hernandez, Community Options, Inc. director of supported employment. “It has brought equipment, computers, laptops, supplies, field trips, birthday cakes and more to our disabled, so that none of these things have to come out of their own pocket.”

Cupid’s Chase is more than just a run. It’s also an opportunity for runners to celebrate Valentine’s Day. In addition to color-coded mingle shirts, several vendors will provide activities and services, including a photo booth and Desert Devil Crossfit gym equipment. Downtown Desert Yoga will offer Zumba and yoga instruction to help runners limber up prior to the run. A mariachi performance will be presented on the plaza gazebo.

“We always have runners celebrating at these races,” Ochoa-Hernandez said. “They wear wings and tutus. We even had a marriage proposal and a brief officiated wedding at one race.”

Runners with any range of physical ability are encouraged to participate. The race does not have to be run. Many participants walk, push babies in strollers or walk dogs. Those who are not mobile enough to do the entire 5K often contribute by handing out medals and awards at the end of the run. This year’s 5K prizes will be medals. Each runner will receive a bag with goods donated from sponsors. In the past, runner bags have included coupons, appetizers at restaurants, free services, stress balls, snacks and more.

Raul Fernandez, who has benefited from funds raised by the 5K in the past, has also participated as a runner. He began participating when his sister brought him to the run.

“The race helps me train and exercise,” Fernandez said. “I hope to get across the finish line fast again and win another medal.”

Out of all the benefits Fernandez has received from race funds, he appreciates field trips the most. Some places Fernandez has been able to visit include Sparky’s in Hatch, Wet n’ Wild, and White Sands National Monument.

“My favorite trip was White Sands,” he said. “I was able to slide down a lot of sand that looked like snow.”

Along with raising funds, Cupid’s Chase also raises awareness about people with disabilities in the community.

Participants in Cupid’s Chase receive either a red shirt, indicating they are in a relationship, or a white shirt, which means they are single.

“The individuals we provide services for are so intelligent and capable of contributing to the community and they often get overlooked,” Ochoa-Hernandez said. “There is a lack of awareness about individuals with disabilities in general and the run informs people of the services we provide and what these individuals are capable of doing.”

Runners can register for Cupid’s Chase, as teams or as individuals, at the Community Options, Inc. office, 2500 Missouri Ave., before the race. Race day registration will also be available at 7 a.m. on the Mesilla Plaza. The fee is $30 before the race, but will raise to $40 the day of the race.