Main Story - 05/19/2010

UNITY HOUSE DIRECTOR HONORED WITH AWARD
Darlene Podolak is named “Woman of Distinction” by Girl Scouts

Auburn, New York – Unity House of Cayuga County, Inc. Executive Director Elizabeth Werner is pleased to announce that long-time employee Darlene Podolak has been named a “Woman of Distinction” by the Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways. Podolak is a program director at Unity House, overseeing one of the largest departments within the agency. She will be honored at an award ceremony on June 15 at The Lodge at Welch-Allyn in Skaneateles.

“I have worked with Darlene for fourteen years, and I can say that I am a better professional because of what I have learned from her,” said Werner. “I find her to be articulate and compassionate. Darlene embodies the mission of the Girl Scouts – she is a woman whose courage, confidence, and character make this world a better place. I couldn’t be more pleased that she has been selected for this honor.”

Darlene Podolak is the Regional MRDD (mental retardation and developmental disability) Program Director at Unity House. In her daily work, she supervises eight full-time staff, manages programs that serve nearly 200 MRDD consumers, and is responsible for one of the largest departments within the agency, comprising approximately 32% of Unity House’s annual operating budget. Darlene has been with the agency since 1992, and serves on a number of councils and committees, including the Surrogate Decision Making Committee and Unity House’s Consumer Advisory Panel. She holds a bachelors degree in music therapy from SUNY-Fredonia and a masters in management from Keuka College.

Darlene is also involved in the life of the Auburn community and her church, First Presbyterian in Auburn, where she has served on the Session and as treasurer for the Board of Deacons. She is currently a member of both the Mission and the Scholarship Committees, and is a co-leader of the church’s youth group.

In addition to her church activities, Darlene has taught a class on hand chimes for adults with disabilities through the Cayuga Institute of Living and Learning, is a regular blood donor through the Red Cross, and participates in area fundraising walks and runs – Warm the Children 5K, Camp Gregory 5K, CROP Walk – as well as Auburn’s annual summer Great Race.

The Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways annually recognize women whose achievements personify the Girl Scout mission. Such women lead by example, encourage others to achieve their goals and dreams, and serve the community through personal, professional, and volunteer leadership roles.

For more information about Darlene Podolak or Unity House services, please contact Director of Marketing and Development Kelly Buck at 315.253.6227 x313. Additional information about the Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways may be found at www.gsnypenn.org.

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05/03/2010

UNITY HOUSE & DRUG COURT SPONSOR RECOVERY WALK
Annual event recognizes National Drug & Alcohol Treatment Court Month

Auburn, New York – May is National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court Month, and Unity House of Cayuga County is partnering with Auburn City Drug Court to host the
5th annual Recovery Walk. The walk will take place on Tuesday, May 18, beginning at 6:00 pm in front of City Hall; registration is not necessary and all are invited.

Mayor Michael Quill will kick off the event by proclaiming May as National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court Month. Then participants will walk down South Street to Clymer Street and back, ending at GRACE House on Osborne Street for an open house; refreshments will be served.

The first Recovery Walk was held in 2006. Tim Durant, a former Unity House employee who was part of the Drug Court team, helped plan the first walk, then passed away unexpectedly one week before the event. Auburn Judge Michael McKeon and the Drug Court team dedicated the Recovery Walk in Tim’s memory.

For more information about the Recovery Walk, please call Pam O’Conner at GRACE House (315- 258-3998) or Carol Colvin at Drug Court (315-253-3001).

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04/15/2010

UNITY HOUSE MOVES INTO NEW ITHACA SPACE
Ribbon-cutting celebration planned at Catherwood Road facility

Auburn, New York – Unity House of Cayuga County, Inc. announces the grand opening of its new facility in Lansing Village Place, 15 Catherwood Road, Ithaca. Elizabeth Werner, executive director of Unity House, cordially invites the Ithaca community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception to celebrate the agency’s move. The event will take place from 3:00 – 4:30 pm on Tuesday, May 11; no reservations are necessary.

“This advantageous site will offer easy accessibility to multiple venues of interest to our consumers – the YMCA, restaurants, Pyramid Mall, and more,” said Werner. “Our new location features plenty of free parking, beautiful office suites, is on the public bus line, and best of all, provides better service to our consumers. Significant renovations have taken place, we are all moved in, and we invite the community to celebrate with us.”

In October, Unity House sold its property at 408 East State Street, Ithaca, to local businessman Mr. Avi Smith, who plans to renovate the building and turn it into an inn. Unity House owned the historic mansion, also known as the McCormick-Cowdery House, for 12 years.

The move to Catherwood Road offers tremendous opportunity for creative expansion of Unity House’s Ithaca-based programs. The agency’s day habilitation program serves nearly 45 adults with disabilities a day, and these new facilities offer space that is five times larger than the former downtown facility.

“The new day habilitation site at Catherwood Road provides much-needed additional space,” said Program Director Darlene Podolak. “There is now room to work together in small groups or find a quiet place to enjoy a book. The individuals who receive our services have increased opportunity to develop and apply their skills in an environment that can accommodate everyone’s needs and interests. The space is beautiful and better represents to the consumers the value that they and their contributions have in the agency.”

The large, beautifully appointed kitchen has proven to be the biggest attraction. Consumers are learning kitchen safety, and how to plan, purchase and prepare different menu items to be shared with their peers and staff.

About 35 Unity House employees work in the new office space.

For more information about Unity House’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, please contact Director of Marketing and Development Kelly Buck at 315.253.6227 x 313.

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04/13/2010

UNITY HOUSE RECEIVES GRANT FROM WOMEN’S FUND OF CNY
Grant provides educational funds for Grace House residents

Auburn, New York – Unity House of Cayuga County, Inc. has been awarded a $4,250 educational grant from the Women’s Fund of Central New York, a donor-advised fund overseen by the Central New York Community Foundation of Syracuse. The funds will be used to offset tuition costs at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES.

Unity House offers two living options in Auburn, New York for those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction: GRACE House (Growing Recovering Addict Caring Environment) and a supportive living and children’s program, designed to assist parents with a chemical dependency to integrate back into society with their families. The goal is to build skills, independence, and self-esteem while supporting residents’ recovery and assisting them to become contributing members of their communities.

At GRACE House, each woman’s structured treatment program contains a mandated educational/vocational element. These grant funds will allow two or three GRACE House residents to earn certification from Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES in either the Certified Nurse Aid or Office Support Specialist program.

“These women recognize that in order to acquire a good job that pays a living wage, an excellent first step is earning certification through BOCES,” said GRACE House Program Director Michele Leonello. “They are committed to pursuing their educations, but sometimes, the situation is a ‘Catch-22’ – most cannot afford tuition, yet without these certifications, they are unable to get meaningful, well-paying jobs. This grant offers them the chance to pursue a certificate at BOCES, which opens a world of future opportunity to them. We are deeply grateful for this support.”

The Women’s Fund of Central New York is a permanent endowment, established through the Central New York Community Foundation, to fund programs and projects that support women and girls. There are several specific goals, but the overall aim of the Fund is to enable women to become economically self-sufficient and achieve their full potential as members of the community. More information is available online; go to www.cnycf.org and click on the Affiliates tab.

For more information about this grant, please contact Director of Marketing and Development Kelly Buck at 315.253.6227 x 313.

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