Pathfinder Village Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Major Gift Announcement

Edmeston, New York, October 5, 2010 ...  Pathfinder Village celebrated its 30^th Anniversary this weekend with the announcement of a $1 million gift to assist the organization in its care of elders with Down syndrome.  This gift, which establishes the Jane Davey Hamilton Family Endowment, will also expand the Village’s outreach and education efforts to help families who care for an aging member who has Down syndrome.

The gift was announced by Jane Davey Hamilton Warriner and Edward Klees of Philadelphia, whose brother, Peter Hamilton, had lived at Pathfinder Village from 1998 to 2005.  Before a packed room Friday evening at The Otesaga Resort Hotel, Cooperstown, Ms. Warriner and Mr. Klees related their experiences with Pathfinder Village:

“Founding Chief Executive Officer Marian Mullet and an inspired Board of Directors had a vision that created Pathfinder in 1980.  Thirty years later, Pathfinder and its residents have matured.  Jane and I recognized this change, and after meeting with current CEO Paul Landers to discuss the aging demographic, and hearing his vision for Pathfinder’s future, we realized our goals are almost identical:  To address the residents’ long term needs as they age; to provide expanded family support, education and outreach services; and to provide specialized training and support for staff. … We have committed ourselves to helping Pathfinder accomplish these goals and to raise the funds necessary to support Pathfinder’s families, staff, and most importantly, the residents,” said Mr. Klees.

Ms. Warriner added, “We are very honored to be giving this gift to Pathfinder.  Thank you very much for the love, care and support you gave Peter, and your friendship throughout the years.  Pathfinder is a wonderful place that transforms lives.”  She also issued a challenge to other Village families and donors to raise an additional $2 to $3 million to support the goals of eldercare.  Through the Village’s three decades, its age-demographic has shifted to coincide with the increased longevity of individuals with Down syndrome from age 9 in 1929 to over 50 today (National Institutes of Health).  Over half the Village’s population is now over 35 years old.

Paul Landers said, “It’s difficult to express a level of gratitude that comes close to matching this level of generosity.  Pathfinder Village has been blessed to have so many individuals step up and meet the needs of this community year-after-year, it’s quite remarkable.  This family is not only making a financial commitment to Pathfinder, but they have pledged their time and energy to help us fulfill our mission.  This level of generosity is extraordinary!  The Jane Davey Hamilton Endowment is a significant step towards Pathfinder becoming complete as a community care model.  It’s just the right thing to do!”

During the Anniversary weekend, Mr. Landers spoke of other goals for the Village: To promote the Village as an affordable, successful model that offers individuals with disabilities a supportive and inclusive lifestyle; to expand the Village’s role in the disability community; to offer new programs for summer and college-style learning experiences; and to increase the Village population to 95 residents and maintain Village school enrollment of 30 students.  On a larger scale, Mr. Landers would like to create a new Town Square complex at the Village, which will include a new health clinic and community fitness center, a resource for the residents and local communities.  Other possibilities for the Town Square include; expanded café/bakery, art studio and gallery, community theatre, day program for older individuals and independent living apartments/condominiums. 

Mr. Landers said, “Pathfinder Village is a successful model of care that has demonstrated positive outcomes for individuals with Down syndrome and developmental disabilities for 30 years.  Like all businesses, Pathfinder has to stay current, has to respond to the changes in the disability community, and we have to share with others our success.”

The 30^th Anniversary celebration also featured keynote speaker Andrea Roberts of the advocacy group, Reece’s Rainbow, which works to raise funds to support international adoptions of children who have Down syndrome by “forever families” in the United States and Canada.  Mrs. Roberts was featured last March in People Magazine’s “Heroes Among Us” column, and is “in the running” for the magazine’s Hero of the Year Contest.

The mother of a young son, Reece, who was born with Down syndrome, Mrs. Roberts related how she learned that most children born with intellectual disabilities in non-developed countries are left at orphanages, where they receive inadequate care and few educational or therapeutic support services.  Most of these children die within a year.  To save these children, she founded a 501c3 organization to find these children and share their stories with the world.  To date, Reece’s Rainbow has helped place over 300 children with Down syndrome in adoptive homes.

“When I saw what was happening in foreign countries, I asked, ‘Who am I to do this?’  But then I realized God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.  And now, what is happening is that the directors of the orphanages that we work with are realizing the potential of these children, and they are contacting us when they receive a child with Down syndrome.  Who knows, with what is happening and through a lot of work, someday I can even see a Pathfinder Village in the Ukraine or in Bulgaria.”

Pathfinder Village continued its Anniversary Celebration Saturday with a “Friends and Family Day” in Edmeston, which included traditional dance workshops, art displays, program service workshops, and a presentation by the Center for Self Expression, a day program offered by The Arc Otsego, Oneonta.  The two-day Anniversary celebration was sponsored by New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Edmeston, and James and Barbara Edwards, Greenwich, Connecticut; Michael and Margaret Nicolais, New York; Thomas and Alison Novack, Norwood, New Jersey; Preferred Mutual Insurance Company, New Berlin; and Thomas and Laurel Scott, Annapolis, Maryland.  The celebration culminated with a fireworks display, sponsored by Federated-Clover Investment Advisors of Rochester, New York.

Pathfinder Village opened on July 29, 1980 following five years of planning, fund raising, and working with state officials by parents and board members.  Through quality residential, educational, vocational, and recreational programs, individuals living at the Village grow towards fulfillment and independence, while giving back to local communities.

The Village is licensed by the State of New York and its programs are regulated by the State Department of Education, Department of Health, and the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities. It is located on New York State Route 80, two miles east of Edmeston and 15 miles west of Cooperstown.  For more information, please contact Joseph V. Mahon, Vice President–Development, at (607) 965-8377, ext. 114, or email jmahon@pathfindervillage.org.

Pathfinder Village to host Student Fellow this Summer through Colgate University’s Upstate Institute Field School Program

Edmeston, New York, June 9, 2010 ... Pathfinder Village, a remarkable residential community specializing in Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities, is hosting Phuong Nam Kieu, a fellow through the Upstate Institute Field School Program at Colgate University, Hamilton.  Mr. Kieu’s fellowship began last week and will run for ten weeks.

Upstate Institute Student Fellows work with community groups to complete projects that will have positive social, economic, cultural or environmental impacts on the upstate region.  Student fellows are matched with community partners based on their skills and interests, and work to complete projects proposed by host organizations.  Pathfinder Village is one of 22 sites chosen in the Central New York region in this highly competitive program.

Mr. Kieu, a junior who is pursuing studies in mathematics and economics, has been active in social and non-profit organizations within the U.S. and abroad, and has also worked on marketing, media, and grass roots organizing projects for a variety of social and educational groups.

Julie Dudrick, the project director for the Upstate Institute, said that, "Nam is the kind of student that benefits greatly from the opportunity to engage in a community-based research project such as the fellowship at Pathfinder Village this summer. He is smart, thoughtful and perceptive, and recognizes the value of putting his liberal arts education into practice by working with such an important organization."

Paul Landers, the Village’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Mr. Kieu is a talented individual, who has demonstrated an interest in community groups and non-profits.  Pathfinder Village is honored to be selected by the Upstate Institute as a partner, and is truly fortunate to have Mr. Kieu with us for the summer.”

Mr. Kieu is a native of Hanoi, Vietnam.  He was graduated from Hà Nội Amsterdam High School in 2006, and completed study abroad programs through Colgate University at the University of Manchester, England in 2009.  He is interested in visual arts, web site development, and a variety of sports.

During his fellowship, Mr. Kieu will create marketing materials, teach a photography class for adult residents, and produce videos and photographs that will help promote the Village School program at Pathfinder Village.  This program, which serves both residential and day students, ages 8 to 21, offers students who have multiple learning disabilities an alternative program, one that emphasizes the development of self-esteem, individualized instruction, independent learning skills, academic success and pre-vocational skills.  Presently, the Village School serves 13 residential students, as well as 13 students from neighboring school districts.  The education program is licensed and overseen by the State of New York Department of Education and staffed by state certified teachers.

Mr. Kieu has most recently helped organized “The Kite Runner,” an online newspaper that will begin publication this summer and aims to bridge the gap between Vietnamese students at home and abroad.  During his studies at the University of Manchester, England, he participated in “Students in Free Enterprise,” an organization that focus on entrepreneurial social work.

In 2009, Mr. Kieu assisted with a SAT-test tutoring program for disadvantaged high school students in Utica, through Colgate’s Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education (COVE).  In 2007, he was an intern for the Institute of International Education, a private organization promoting American Education in Hanoi, recruiting volunteers and organizing information sessions for students who wished to study in the U.S.  He has also been active with Vietnam Friendship Village, a community of children and adults affected by Agent Orange, and in Vietabroader Conference, a national online conference page for Vietnamese students aspiring to study abroad.

Founded in 1980, Pathfinder Village is a non-profit, residential community for children and adults that specializes in Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities.  Additionally, it offers a day school program for students who have disabilities, serving area school districts.  Pathfinder Village is licensed by the State of New York and its programs are regulated by the State Department of Education, Department of Health, and OMRDD. It is located on State Route 80, two miles east of Edmeston and 15 miles west of Cooperstown.  More information is available at its website, www.pathfindervillage.org, and Pathfinder Village now has a fan page on the popular social network site, Facebook.

Down Syndrome Center hosts Guardianship & Health Care Issues Seminar

Life planning and establishing guardianship for those with developmental disabilities can be complicated, and the terms of such decisions may have far-reaching effects.  To assist families with these concerns, The Kennedy-Willis Center on Down Syndrome at Pathfinder Village hosted a workshop presented by the New York State Commission on Quality Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities last Friday, March 26.

"Guardianship and Healthcare Issues for People with Special Needs" featured legal experts from the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD), NYSARC, and the state Commission on Quality Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities.  The workshop offered participants information to establish advance directives, such as guardianship, living wills, health care proxies, and powers of attorney.  An emphasis was placed on the rights of individuals, and how guardianship and end-of-life decisions can best be implemented under current statutes in New York state.

Featured presenters included Patricia W. Johnson, Esq., the assistant counsel for the state’s Commission on Quality of Care; Paul R. Kietzman, Esq., general counsel for the NYSARC, the state’s largest private service provider for people with developmental disabilities; and William Combes, A.C.S.W., the state director of the programs for Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilties/Traumatic Brain Injury through the Quality of Care Commission.

 “Discussions about guardianship, healthcare, and end-of-life issues regarding loved ones who have developmental disabilities are complicated, but advance planning is the best way a family may make these decisions objectively.  It is important that families seek guidance from qualified professionals while going through this process,” said Carl Koenig, interim director of the Kennedy¨Willis Center on Down Syndrome.

“The establishment of these plans takes time,” continued Mr. Koenig.  “Once guardianship and a life plan are established it is important that these instructions be kept up-to-date to reflect the current status of the individual and his family.”

The Kennedy-Willis Center on Down Syndrome opened in 1996, and provides counseling and training for direct care staff, medical professionals, and families who care for loved ones who have Down syndrome and other disabilities.  The Center has sponsored over 30 conferences on a variety of topics pertaining to Down syndrome, including behavioral patterns, sexuality, life planning, aging, and inherent medical conditions. 

Founded in 1980, Pathfinder Village is a remarkable residential community for children and adults who have Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities.  Additionally, it offers a day school program for students living in the area's school districts.  Pathfinder Village is licensed by the State of New York and its programs are regulated by the State Department of Education, Department of Health, and OMRDD. It is located on State Route 80, two miles east of Edmeston and 15 miles west of Cooperstown.  More information is available at its website, www.pathfindervillage.org, and Pathfinder Village now has a fan page on the popular social network site, Facebook.

Spring Break at Pathfinder Village

Sun-drenched southern beaches are a long way from Pathfinder Village, an extraordinary residential community specializing in Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities. But for Colgate University freshman Griffen O’Shea, and Jennifer Viera, Spring Break at Pathfinder Village has been a life-changing experience.

Colgate University, Hamilton, offers its students opportunities for community service during its Alternative Spring Break program, as a meaningful option to student parties in Ft. Lauderdale, Daytona and Virginia Beach. Pathfinder Village, a recent participant in the University’s program, offers flexible internship experiences for undergraduates and graduate level students who may be considering careers in human services, or who wish to learn more about working with people who have developmental disabilities.

The Alternative Spring Breaks are organized through Colgate’s Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education (COVE) and the Office of the Chaplains. Other student teams went to programs at the Oglala Lakota Nation in South Dakota, the Dominican Republic, and New Bern, North Dakota.

"These trips open students' eyes so that whatever job they end up in, they have an awareness about the world," said Ingrid Hale, COVE director. "We want the participants to become engaged citizens."

“I had applied to attend some of the other programs that were offered, but had been turned down because upper-classmen get first-choice,” said O’Shea, 18, a native of Babylon, NY. “But then the opportunity for Pathfinder came up, and after watching the DVD and looking at the materials, this looked like a lot of fun. Plus, it’s close to Hamilton so I can come back and visit my new friends.”

“This is a great way for us to give back to the community and form new relationships,” added Ms. Viera, 19, Pelham, who is considering a major in education, history, or computer sciences. “I’ve known some people who have had Down syndrome before, but not well. This is a great way to get to know kids in their home environment. They seem so free-spirited and it has taught me the lesson that we should always try to enjoy life.”

O’Shea and Viera have spent their week at Pathfinder working with residential and day students at the Village’s school, which serves 26 children, ages 11 through 21, who have Down syndrome or other learning disabilities. They’ve also moved the school’s library from a small office to a larger area at the Village. In addition, they’ve assisted students in their daily lessons, and helped prepare for the annual St. Patrick’s Day party at the Village.

Their evenings have been spent dining in the Village’s residential homes, and participating in the regular recreation and enrichment programs that are offered to all of the Village’s 80 residents, who range in age from 14 to 58. The interns will share their college with some of the residents during a visit to the Colgate campus Visual Lab/Planetarium to cap-off their exchange program.

“We’re actually happy we got shut-out from the other programs,” Griffen and Viera agreed. “We hope they offer the program at Pathfinder again next year.”

Paul Landers, the Village's chief executive officer, was appreciative of the college interns’ work. “Griffen and Jennifer have gotten to know our residents for the past week, and they learned that working with people who have Down syndrome can be a tremendously rewarding experience. These young people are demonstrating initiative and concern, and will be fantastic leaders in whatever careers they choose. They will be great advocates for people who have disabilities.”

Photos: 

Top:  Griffen O'Shea and Chris Sullivan blow up balloons using a compressor to decorate for Pathfinder Village's annual St. Patrick's Day Party.

Below: Frank Stohlman and Jennifer Viera work to reshelve children's books at the library.