Alliance Center for Independence
Congratulations to the students at Montgomery High School (Somerset County) who completed the Tier 2 course of Its All About Work this summer. Thank you to Beth Conte, Supervisor of the Somerville office of NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, who spoke to the students on services offered by NJDVRS.
Edison, NJ, July 21, 2014 – The Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $140,000 grant from the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. The funding will be used to continue the Sandy Recovery Program previously administered by Portlight Strategies. The program provides financial assistance for home accessibility equipment, funding for the replacement of durable medical equipment and supplies, as well as counseling and referral services to disabled residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Portlight Strategies’ Sue Pniewski, will join ACI as the Sandy Recovery Program Project Director and continue her work out of The Visitation Relief Center in Brick, New Jersey.
Congratulations to our own Nybil Ghanem, who was recently accepted into the ADAPT Community Organizing Training. Nybil will learn about how to work with others to bring about accessibility improvements in our area and while making social changes for people with disabilities. ADAPT is a national grass roots disability right organization that is based in Texas.
On July 22nd, ACI hosted Knowing Your Body, the first of three workshops on sexual health. The program is conducted by Melissa Keyes-Digioia, Senior Sexual Health Educator/Trainer with Planned Parenthood of Central and Greater Northern New Jersey. The second workshop, which focuses on healthy relationships, will take place on August 4th.
Salma and Brian from ACI recently visited the Prudential Center in Newark for a tour led by NJ Devils' Account Executive, Gregory Crawford. ACI will be working with the New Jersey Devils for an upcoming fundraiser. More details coming soon!
On July 17th, 2014 ACI hosted it's first charity event at Alex and Ani in Red Bank. We would like to thank Elizabeth in helping us put this event together as well as the staff that evening, Danielle, Julia, AnnaMarie, Roxy, Victoria, Shelley, Nicolle and BrianaLeigh, for all of their hard work and support throughout the event. A special thank you to everyone who came to show their support, we had a great night!
UPDATE: Didn't get a chance to make it out to this fundraiser? We are happy to announce that Alex and Ani will be having another one this November!
ACI members enjoyed a summer time baseball game at TD Bank Park in Somerset on July 12th. Every year, ACI hosts a group at the game through our Social Recreation Department. For more information about upcoming social recreation activities, contact Nybil Ghanem at 732-738-4388 ext. 121 or nghanem@adacil.org.
