TODAY’S DATE:    May 25, 2007                                                  

CONTACT:
Cheryl L. Coppola
Development Director
(585) 919-3142
ccoppola@happinesshouse.org

Happiness House’s 8th Annual Staff Recognition Event
May 23, 2007

The Board of Directors and staff at Happiness House gathered at the Inn on the Lake in Canandaigua to recognize staff and to celebrate the culmination of another outstanding year, during a period of transitions including; the opening of our Happiness House’s Gorham residence, the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility in Canandaigua, and the expansion of Happiness House’s Geneva site.
One of the highlights of this event was the introduction of the nominees for the Mary W. Griswold Professional Service Award, which recognizes the exceptional work of Happiness House staff members, who in and through their work exemplify the mission and vision of the agency.  The award was established in memory of Mary W. Griswold, a former member of Happiness House’s Board of Directors.
Nominated by their peers, this year’s finalists (pictured below, left to right) included:  Anne Battaglia, Susan Dancause, Alexandra Stubbins, Maureen Schuck, Darrell Whitbeck, Deborah Rockefeller, Elizabeth Honadle, Lisa Lincoln, Berdel Stevenson, and Jennifer Gruschow.

This year’s recipients of the Griswold Award (pictured below, left to right) included:  Anne Battaglia, Susan Dancause, and Deborah Rockefeller.

Staff members were also recognized for Years of Service, as follows with Five Years of Service:  Mary Walsh Boatfield, Nicole Casellas, Chrissy D’Amico, Alison D’Aurizio, Elizabeth Honadle, Kristy Kellogg, Cynthia Little, Carol Moriarity, Linda Meritt, Sue Rey, Heather Roller, LuAnn Ryan, Elizabeth Sherman, Veronica Smith, Kileen Smith, and Berdel Stevenson.  With Ten Years of Service:  Diane Theel.  With 15 Years of Service:  Darla Davis, Krystyna Estes, Ronald Mann, Patricia Pykare, and Joan Wadhams.
Pictured below, guest speaker Debra Verdehem, parent of a child who attends the UPK program in Waterloo, congratulated Happiness House staff on their achievements, and offered praise and thanks for the positive contributions that each staff member makes at Happiness House and within our community. 

Happiness House- Finger Lakes Cerebral Palsy Association is a private nonprofit health and human service agency that has been serving communities in the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York since 1969.  Today with sites in Geneva, Canandaigua, and Waterloo, Happiness House offers an array of educational program, recreational and family support services for children and adults with and without disabilities who reside in Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties.  On average Happiness House serves 700 individuals and their families each year.
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