Creating jobs and opportunities for people with differing disabilities so they can have a good quality of life.

AROUND
WINTER/SPRING 2013

The LOWES Experience

In December, Melissa Silver, Human Resources (HR) Manager for Lowes in Upper Marlboro, Md. contacted the Associate Director, Employee Support Services at Melwood to discuss an initiative that Lowes planned to introduce to the community in the new year. On a cold day in January, Lowes paid a visit to Melwoods campus on Dower House Road, to discuss this new initiative. During the meeting, they discussed Melwoods positive role in the community supporting individuals with disabilities and Lowes role as a strong and participatory force as well. Ms. Silver said Melwood was Lowes first choice because of the organizations longstanding history as one of the leading nonprofits assisting individuals with disabilities in the region. She said that Lowes was drawn to the innovative programs Melwood offers and the initiative Melwood takes in nurturing individuals to be valued community members. Ms. Silver also admired the unwavering support its staff provides as it parallels the ideals and values of Lowes. On that day, Melwood and Lowes established a partnership that will richly benefit the individuals with disabilities that Melwood serves for years to come. Tammy Daniel, Melwoods Job Development Coordinator, immediately began the task of assessing individuals in each program to select those with skills that matched the business and operational requirements of Lowes. Some of the individuals selected recently completed Melwoods Employee Development Services 12-week class that provides job preparation and basic life education through its Job Readiness Training Program. In February, Lowes selected Steven Rozier for an interview and hired him on the spot as a Customer Service Greeter making $10.75 an hour. After several interviews and tests in the Lowes Human Resources Office, five very proud Melwood students and individuals experienced the thrill of being gainfully employed. They were hired as waterers for the Lawn and Garden department. Lowes then hired an additional two employees from Melwood as Customer Service Associates. Lowes recently requested six more women and men to join the team at the Upper Marlboro store bringing the grand total to 14 Melwood individuals who heard the words Youre Hired! Jacquelyn Hayes-Byrd

In This Issue: 2 Letter from the Chief Executive Officer 3 50th Anniversary Gala 4 Sustaining Jobs through Employee Development 5 Melwood Employee Profile 6 Equestrian Trail Team Success 7 Grants
Melwood Room Naming Ceremony for PSA and CRS From Left: Craig A. English, Sr. Vice President at PSA, Cari DeSantis, Chief Executive Officer at Melwood and Jeff D. Wallop, VP, Account Executive at PSA

PSA Insurance and Financial Services

AND CONSTRUCTION RISK SOLUTIONS PARTNER TO SUPPORT MELWOOD
Melwood, PSA Insurance and Financial Services (PSA), and Construction Risk Solutions (CRS) announced a partnership in support of Melwoods mission to create jobs and opportunities for people with differing disabilities so they have a good quality of life. PSA and CRS have joined forces through a $50,000 Presenting Sponsorship for Melwoods 50th Anniversary Gala. Strategic partnerships such as the one established between Melwood, PSA and CRS are a vital
Continued on page 4

Advancing Our Legacy

Melwood 5606 Dower House Road Upper Marboro, MD 20772 (301) 599-8000 www.melwood.org Chair of the Board of Directors Donald A. Donahue, Jr., DHEd, MBA, FACHE Managing Partner Diogenec Group LLP Vice Chair Richard Mahan, CPA Principal Reznick Group Directors George Watkins, CPA Christina Eaglin Shelly Gardeniers Reginald M. Harris Michael Keppler, MBA Brenda Sheaffer Sue A. Greer, Esq. Chief Executive Officer Cari DeSantis, MALS Acting Chief Program Officer Michael Glanz, MS, CTRS Chief Development Officer Denise Hyater-Lindenmuth, MA, CHES Chief Contracts Officer Judith McCowan, CFCM Chief Human Resources Officer Lorenzo Hester, Ph.D. Editor Janelle Morris Contributors Michael Glanz Janelle Morris Jacquelyn Hayes-Byrd Bekah Carmichael Mary Helfrich Elizabeth Jarrell, NASA

When I began my tenure as Chief Executive Officer, I took a moment to pause and reflect on Melwoods legacy. In the past 50 years, Melwood has established itself as an innovative and inspirational force in the disabilities community. During the 1950s and 60s, most individuals with disabilities were denied access to the American dream. Many of the parents of those individuals fought for their childrens civil right to an education and job training. Melwoods founders were simply a group of parents who wanted more for their children. They envisioned a society where people with disabilities could lead productive lives and be fully included in their community. It is because of the foresight of our founders, that we celebrate 50 years of service to individuals with disabilities. As I establish my goals for advancing Melwoods mission, I often think about that small group of parents whose innovative thinking changed the lives of thousands of people. Melwoods founders were forward thinking, bold and innovative. It is in that same spirit that we will lay the framework for the next 50 years of service. Creating opportunities that evolve based on the needs of our individuals and their success will be the true measure of our growth. For example, the Employee Support Services division offers a Job Readiness Training Program which provides our individuals with instruction in conducting a job search, mastering the job interview, professionalism in the workplace and budgeting their finances. This is a wonderful example of advancing our legacy so that we are not just an organization that helps individuals get a job; we also equip our individuals with the tools to thrive on the job and in their personal lives. I have immediately observed a common thread among Melwoods friends, family and staffdedication. I see it in the halls of the Administration building, when I visit the Copus Training Center and I saw it when I toured several of our federal contract sites; as well as, our beautiful Recreation Center in Nanjemoy, Md. The Melwood Family is dedicated to its mission and fulfilling the vision set forth by our founders. I look forward to serving as the CEO, as we continue to advance our mission and create life-changing opportunities for individuals living with disabilities. Sincerely, Cari DeSantis President and CEO

Celebrating 50 Years
In 1963 during a time when America was fighting for equal rights, a small group of parents embarked on a mission to create opportunities for their children who had disabilities. At the time, those parents struggled for the basic rights of education and job training for their children with disabilities. Their vision of a world where people with disabilities live productively and fully included in society was considered an unconventional concept. That small group challenged societys preconceived ideas about individuals with disabilities and founded Melwood. On seven acres of unimproved land donated by Andrews Air Force Base Melwoods founders pitched an Army surplus tent and began to lay the infrastructure for a place where individuals learned good work habits, gained specific job skills and earned self-generated income. With very little guidance and even fewer resources Melwoods founders, armed with the spirit of innovation and inspiration, created an organization that would become world renowned for its social entrepreneurship. From its humble beginnings Melwood has become one of the leading nonprofit organizations in Maryland and a distinguished pioneer in the history of the advancement of individuals with disabilities.

The exciting Melwood of yesterday, the dynamic Melwood of today, the Melwood of the future of unlimited opportunities: we are Melwood. Earl Copus

To honor 50 years of service, Melwood will host 2 landmark events!

A Night Celebrating Melwoods

Past Present Future

MELWOODS 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

Melwoods CEO and Board of Directors will honor its founders with a 50th Anniversary Gala. The evening promises to be filled with lively entertainment and opportunities to recognize community leaders and advocates in the field of disability awareness. For more information on tables and corporate sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Fund Development office at 301- 599-4578.

SAVE THE DATE

Saturday, November 9, 2013 Evening Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center Black Tie

MELWOODS HOMECOMING
As a prelude to the Gala, Melwood invites the Washington Metropolitan community back to where it all began for a Melwood Homecoming celebration! Melwoods Homecoming is an opportunity for our friends and family, staff and alumni to help us celebrate the organizations rich history; and were opening our doors to the local community to come out and learn more about Melwood! Please join us for a fun-filled day of arts-n-crafts including a woodcraft project hosted by Lowes, scheduled musical performances by the Kelly Bell Band and Garment of Praise Gospel Choir, WHURs live broadcast of the Tony Richards show, a zumba demonstration, pony rides, wine tastings provided by local wineries and an opportunity to sample foods from some of DCs popular food trucks. The event is free and open to the public.

SAVE THE DATE

Saturday, June 15, 2013 12p.m. - 4p.m. Dower House Campus 5606 Dower House Road Upper Marlboro, Md. 20772

PRESENTING SPONSOR

HELP US FILL THE GALA THERMOMETER!

Join us and celebrate 50 years of providing opportunities to people with disabilities. Sponsorship opportunities available.
Winter/Spring 2013

GOLD SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSOR

PSA Insurance and Financial Services

Continued from page 1
component to Melwoods continued growth, said President and CEO of Melwood, Cari DeSantis. We are very excited to welcome PSA and CRS to the Melwood family. A meeting room at Melwoods Upper Marlboro headquarters was named in honor of the sponsors. The gala celebration will be held in

AND CONSTRUCTION RISK SOLUTIONS PARTNER TO SUPPORT MELWOOD

November 2013. Interested sponsors and donors can learn more about how they can support the gala and help Melwood celebrate 50 years at www.melwood.org/Gala

Employee Development
Within a twelve week period the Employee Support Services training room instructors, Sheyenne Fullen and Durell Wooten teach job preparation and basic life skills through a Job Readiness Training Program. The sole purpose of this training is to empower and equip Melwood individuals with the tools they may need in order to get a job and, most importantly, keep a job. Job exploration is the beginning of the individuals journey within the program; with job exploration the individuals are able to hone-in on the Melwood traditional job title or nontraditional career aspirations that only they have the desire to pursue. Immediately following their career analysis, individuals are given instruction on crafting their own resumes so that they may truly be the person behind that very important piece of paper. Other classroom lessons include conducting a proper job search, mastering the art of job interviewing, learning how to professionally conduct themselves within the workplace and finally, how to budget their hard earned paychecks. It has been our experience that a large majority of students who complete the training program leave with an increased sense of motivation and confidence. On February 22, Melwood staff and volunteers had the privilege of planning an amazing and unforgettable Completion Ceremony for our first group of individuals to complete the program this year. That evening, approximately 50 family members and friends gathered to celebrate their loved ones accomplishments as they were presented with their Certificate of Completion. According to the individuals, the Completion Ceremony was a successful and gratifying moment for all who had the honor and privilege to attend. Melwood believes that everyone should experience that awe-inspiring feeling one gets when he or she achieves greatness. This class consisted of 12 students who were excited, proud and eager to take what they learned throughout their journey at Melwood and apply it to each one of their personal and professional experiences.

SUSTAINING JOBS THROUGH

Growing People with Plants

Everyone knows that it takes a lot of effort to look good. Goddards park-like campus of hundreds if not thousands of trees, shrubs and flowers spread over 1,000 acres also requires a tremendous amount of constant work to look wellgroomed. Landscapers are the eyes and ears for everyone to keep the grounds tidy and safe. Spring, the busiest season, is time for bed prepping including pruning, edging, weeding and mulching. During the growing season from April 1 through October 31, the fescue-blend lawns need frequent mowing. Planting is done in the early fall so that the plants will have been in the ground almost a whole year before experiencing any summer drought. To retain moisture during the heat of the summer, some of the younger trees need water bags, all of which must be put on a controlled slow drip once a week. Ground services also include damage patrol on a daily basis as well as storm patrol both before a storm to clear drains and after a storm to clear debris including fallen trees. Goddard, along with the Kennedy Center, Dept. of Energy and Ft. Meade, all found a beautiful solution they all use Melwoods landscaping team to provide horticultural services. The key with any person, with or without a disability, is to be patient but firm across the board. Everybody needs direction, says Mark Rogers, Director of Landscape at Melwood. I was raised by patient parents who taught me God first, and then family, so patience comes easily to me. As a supervisor, I take my employees under my wing and they become part of my family. Rogers treats everyone equally and tries hard on a daily basis to help everyone be successful, often relying on training, frequent refreshers, and a lot of repetition. He considers what he does to be work therapy, with the goal of teaching his staff well enough to be able to move on and work in the competitive work force. To Rogers, part of that process involves making sure that a person feels good about what he or she is doing. Seeing their plants grow and bloom provides gratification to the staff, and seeing his staff perform well brings him great joy. We want the landscape and our people to thrive, says Rogers. Through landscaping, we are giving people a chance to grow. Its very fulfilling. Courtesy of NASA Goddard/Elizabeth M. Jarrell

A Day in the Life:

Philip Sauders was born at the Greater Southeast Community Hospital in Washington DC, to Marylyn and Wayne Sauders in May of 1981. He graduated high school in 2002 and worked at the Safeway grocery store as a courtesy clerk from 2002 to 2005. In 2008, Philip joined the Melwood family and was employed at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a custodial worker. Philips Day Philip starts his day at 5:45a.m. with a shower and bowl of oatmeal. Then at 6:30a.m., he waits for his metro access ride that takes him to work. He starts his job at 8:00a.m. and leaves each day by 2:30p.m. As a custodial worker, part of his responsibilities are emptying the trash, monitoring the bathrooms and elevators, dusting, mopping, cleaning tables, stocking the bathrooms with paper towels, cleaning the elevators and vacuuming the floors. Philip enjoys the work he does. He has a very likable personality

Philip Sauders
and makes friends easily. Philip meets up with one of his friends every day for lunch. His supervisor has described Philip as a hardworking and dedicated worker. In fact, Philip was recognized with the employee of the month award in April 2010. When he arrives home from work, Philip likes to relax and make cards for friends and his extended family members. He also loves to watch television shows. Philip enjoys many fun activities which include attending youth bible study at his church, dancing and spending time with his eleven nieces and nephews. Philip likes to sing along with the radio and various CDs and he loves basketball. He says mildly spicy foods are one of his favorites, especially tacos. There isnt much he doesnt like except cottage cheese. Philips goal for the future is to continue to improve his time by working faster at his job and to receive community supported living assistance so that he can attend more activities within the community.

Afternoon Tea AT MELWOOD

SAVE THE DATE May 30th 2013 1p.m. - 2:30p.m. Dower House Campus Gazebo Lawn Area 5606 Dower House Road Upper Marlboro, Md. 20772 Open to Melwood family and friends. For more information please contact Lois Williams at 301-599-2724.
Winter/Spring 2013

Retreat Center
Most people are aware of the camping, traveling, and riding programs offered at the Melwood Recreation Center, but many are unaware of the retreat programs that also are available. From September through May, the Recreation Center is available to rent for a wide variety of events and activities. The Recreation Center hosts school and church group retreats, corporate team-building events, weddings, family reunions, and more. With available activities such as swimming, horseback riding, canoeing, hiking, archery, high and low ropes, field games, and the climbing wall, there is sure to be something for everyone. Team-building retreats are becoming more popular at the Recreation Center, as groups from local businesses and organizations are beginning to utilize the facilities. Melwood recently hosted a local high school lacrosse team for a fully-customized weekend retreat that was designed to help meet their goals of becoming a team and learning to trust one another. The weekend concluded with a team race specifically designed to challenge the athletes physically, mentally, and emotionally. The course was one mile long and included a variety of physical and cognitive challenges that each team had to complete before advancing. To learn more about retreat offerings at the Melwood Recreation Center, please visit www.melwoodrecreation.org/retreat.

Team Success

EQUESTRIAN TRAIL

The Unified Trail Riding Team at the Melwood Recreation Center began in the spring of 2011 and has seen continued success. The Spring 2013 season wrapped up at the end of March with over 20 participants. The Melwood trail team is unique in a number of ways. Participants range in age from 8 to over 50 and in riding ability from novice to expert. The team is comprised of members both with and without disabilities. Trail riding is a competitive activity in which teams are judged not only on the speed of course completion, but also on the levels at which they care for, prepare, and transport their horses. Participants in the trail riding program spend several weeks preparing for a culminating ride at the end of each season. They alternate between competing amongst themselves and against other teams. During the preparation weeks, participants learn about proper care of horses, how to take their vital signs, trail riding etiquette and signaling, and how to lead a group through a trail ride, in addition to improving their own personal riding skills and abilities. Not only does trail riding push riders outside of their comfort zones, it is a team approach to an activity that is often individual in nature. This season finished with a Ride with Pride weekend at the Melwood Recreation Center, utilizing the nearly 10 miles of trails on the property. Team members participated in several different trail rides, each focusing on different skills. Teams competed against one another in categories such as trailer use proficiency, equine wellbeing, grooming and tacking speed and accuracy, and general equine knowledge. The Ride with Pride weekend event featured a night ride, during which trails were marked with glow sticks and participants wore glow bands to light the way. For more information on Melwoods trail team and other equestrian program opportunities, visit www.melwoodrecreation.org/ride.

Armed Forces Day AT MELWOOD

The Melwood Recreation Center is proud to announce the second annual celebration of Armed Forces Day on May 18, 2013. The event is a day-long festival open exclusively to current, former, and retired military members and their families. Attendees have the opportunity to scale the climbing wall, ride a horse, paddle a canoe, take a dip in the pool, and enjoy time with family and friends. Military-friendly employers will also be present to recruit for a variety of open positions at their companies. Armed Forces Day is a completely free event made possible by many volunteers and sponsors, and is a way for Melwood to give back to the community we serve.

Melwood Campers and Day Services

Melwoods Camp Accomplish was awarded a $10,000 grant from The National Inclusion Project to implement Lets ALL Play-Inclusion in the camps programming this summer. This grant will provide a program model and staff training on inclusion, which is at the heart of Camp Accomplishs mission. Lets ALL Play is a research-validated national model that brings an inclusive recreational experience to children with disabilities by giving them the same experience as children without disabilities. All children come together to participate in typical recreational activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, community service, physical fitness and more. Lets ALL Play will make a huge impact on the children who attend Camp Accomplish this summer. Melwood also received $4,000 in grants from the Prince Georges County Council. Councilman Will Campos of the 2nd District issued Melwood a $1,000 grant; and Councilman Derrick Leon Davis of the 6th District issued a $3,000 grant. The grants were awarded through the Prince Georges County Council Special Appropriations Grant Program. The funding will provide assistance with the daily transportation needs for individuals living in those districts who come to Melwood for Day Services; purchase supplies and materials for the Horticultural Therapy Program which serves 183 individuals with disabilities and provide workshops and lesson plans as a part of Melwoods Life Skills training. Melwoods life skills training includes lessons in budgeting and money management, travel and transportation, legal matters, grocery shopping, menu planning and cooking.

GRANTS BENEFIT

A grant provides Melwood Recreation Center with a program focused on inclusion.

Melwood Welcomes our New CEO

New job: Cari DeSantis will lead Melwood as it continues to find innovative ways to provide more individuals with disabilities the careful training and compassionate partnership they need to become proud and valuable members of the workforce and their communities. Last job: Principal Management Consultant, Health and Human Services, DeSantis developed and managed organizational transformation, strategic planning and reengineering for organizational effectiveness and performance excellence for government and non-profit agencies working in the health and human services sector. Previous roles: Prior to her consulting work, DeSantis was executive vice president of public affairs and communications at the Casey Family Programs Foundation, a $2 billion foundation whose mission is to inspire individuals, communities, elected officials, and the media to care about Americas most vulnerable children. From 2001-2008, she served the State of Delaware as cabinet secretary, Department of Services for Children, Youth and Families. As CEO of this large state department, she was responsible for overseeing an annual budget in excess of $175 million and more than 1,300 employees in 30 locations statewide.

Carol Ann Cari DeSantis, President and Chief Executive Officer

What her jobs had in common: Service to others, and the ability to work with a highly dedicated and caring staff and volunteers. Why she took the job: Cari values the rich legacy of Melwoods 50 years of service to people with disabilities and looks forward to the opportunity to contribute to a vibrant future for the organization and the people we serve. Next steps on the job: Get to know the Melwood family; enhance the organizations visibility in the greater Washington DC community; work with the Board, staff and stakeholders to lay the foundation for the next 50 years of Melwood.
Winter/Spring 2013

Contributions to Melwood help individuals with disabilities to earn their way. Each year, Melwood provides employment, support services and recreation for more than 2,400 people with disabilities. To find out how you can help, call (301) 599-8000 or visit www.melwood.org.

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