Recent Events
FREE's Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Each year, FREE pays tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for his significant contributions to civil and human rights. This day of honor, celebration and positive spirit has a lasting impression on us all and it reminds us that he laid the foundation for many leaders through his extraordinary courage, vision and spirit. Dr. King inspires us all to "serve".
2012 Strategic Plan
FREE is proud to have distributed its 2012 Strategic Plan outlining the strategic themes and priorities for this year. Click here to view the plan.
NYSACRA Legislative Day
Over 300 individuals attended the NYSACRA Legislative Day; all advocating for issues which impact people with developmental disabilites and the overall service delivery system. It will be important to build upon our advocacy efforts and therefore a group of valued team members, families and individuals we support participated in a 2 day legislative event in Albany to ensure our voices are heard and our position concerning the future of the service system was represented.
FREE Partners with Abilities PROSPER Program
PROSPER (People Reaching for Opportunities to Succeed Personally Educationally and Realistically) drop-out prevention program works with at-risk juniors and seniors from Freeport and Uniondale High Schools that have learning and/or emotional disabilities. In addition to one or several of these disabilities, most of these students are also dealing with a multitude of other social issues that often involve gangs, foster care, absentee parents, teenage pregnancy, etc. We are honored to provide the students with intern opportunities.
TD Bank Check Presentation
Dara Gary and Anita Dowd met with representatives from TD Bank and accepted a $1500 check that will support FREE's network of supports and services.
Americorps Graduation
Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. We are proud that we had two graduates from the AmeriCorps project, sponsored through the NYS Advocacy Association.
Port Washington Yacht Club
The PWYC is a family yacht club offering activities for all ages. Members and guests enjoy an outstanding variety of events and programs year-round, including social, yachting, dining, junior programs, tennis, platform tennis, pool and trapshooting. A family member of a young lady residing in one of our homes spearheaded a fundraising event for FREE which raised over $23,000 to be used for capital improvments in the Community Living & Opportunities Division.
FREE's Annual Employee Longevity Award Ceremony
FREE celebrated its extraordinary team by recognizing the longevity of dedicated employees with a special breakfast and awards ceremony at the Huntington Hilton. Over 50 employees were honored for decades of service to the organization. We couldn't do what we do each day without committed team members and it gives us great pleasure to have the opportunity to recognize their efforts.
Jazz Ensemble
The talented Jazz Ensemble launched a fundraiser at St. Joseph's in Brentwood. Their expanded repertoire of songs, inspirational drum line and extraordinary choreography was simply impressive!
Channel 12 News
"Making A Difference" segment aired on Channel 12 News highlighting FREE's remarkable Art Therapy Program.
Family Advocacy - Informational Forum on Future Planning (1115 Waiver)
Over 100 people came to FREE's information forum regarding the future of the Services System, including an expansive discussion regarding the 1115 Waiver. New York State is in the process of developing an 1115 Medicaid waiver specifically targeted at individuals with developmental disabilities. By providing services through an 1115 waiver rather than a 1915(c) waiver, New York seeks to improve "coordination of care across the state's numerous service systems that supports individuals with developmental disabilities".
New Professional Development Initiative
FREE is committed to provide innovative, comprehensive training opportunities for all of its valued team members. In keeping with the 2012 Strategic plan, FREE kicked-off the New Year with a redesigned orientation (pre-service) training program, which provides all regulatory required training (for all government entities) and other essential topics providing each of the employees with a foundation of knowledge prior to beginning work at their assigned location.
Pictured (left to right) are: Kris Janowski of F.R.E.E; County Executive Ed Mangano; Derek Varsalona who interns at Nassau County Department of Social Services; Robert S. Budd Chief Executive Officer of F.R.E.E.; NYS Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg and his wife Helen; William Weitzman Nassau County Commissioner of Labor Relations; George Rainer Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Winthrop University Hospital and Robert W. Dow Jr. Commissioner of Labor for Suffolk County.
FREE Receives Donation
A Taekwondo Champion was particularly enamored with our interest in Special Olympics training. The funds received have been secured with the sole purpose of supporting our talented athletes.
FREE Supports the Toys for Tots Initiative with the U.S. Marine Corps.
The mission of the program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to children in need in the community. The stated goal is to "deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive and patriotic citizens".