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For more than 50 years, Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara has been providing
rehabilitation and supportive services to people with intellectual and other developmental
disabilities and their families throughout Niagara County.
Started in June 1955, due to the efforts of a group of parents who wanted to obtain
services for their children who were mentally retarded, the Niagara County Chapter of the
Association for Retarded Children, (known today as Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara) was
incorporated as a chapter of the New York State Association for Retarded Children (known
today as NYSARC, Inc.).
The agency originally operated school programs in Niagara Falls, Lockport and North
Tonawanda. These programs provided learning and support to children with mental
retardation and developmental disabilities, basic needs that they had previously been
denied.
The agency's first sheltered workshop opened in the 1960's, followed by its first
community residence in the 1970's. In 1990, the agency's name was changed to
Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara to reflect the organizational philosophy of building
opportunities for people with disabilities and ensuring that they be able to reach their
maximum potential and independence through integration into the community.
The provision of new choices in vocational programs spurred a period of growth
throughout the 1990's. Opportunities Unlimited was aggressive and sought ways to
offer innovative programs and services for consumers which focused on the 3 IP's of
Inclusion, Independence, Individualization and Productivity.
August 1998, marked the start to a new era of growth for agencies serving the disabled
throughout New York State with then Governor George Pataki's announcement of a five-year
plan aimed at eliminating the waiting list for persons needing out-of-home residential
care. The program, named New York State
CARES, plans to assist Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara with continuing its
commitment toward integration of people with disabilities and offering them an opportunity
for community living.
Today, Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara annually assists more than 800 people to
reach goals and lead more independent lives. Services include on-site vocational
training; community-based job placement and employment support; school to work transition
planning; day programming; clinical services; transportation; residential choices;
supportive services such as recreation, self-advocacy and exceptional parenting programs;
and service coordination to ensure that each person receives as much support as needed to
become as independent as possible.
Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara is now the largest not-for-profit agency in Niagara County, touching the lives of numerous individuals and their family members. As the agency continues to grow and offer new opportunities for people with disabilities, the vision created by the pioneering parents who tirelessly worked to ensure the best for their children, still exists today.
LET US THANK YOU NOW!
In 2004, the Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation announced the charter
membership of The Coterie Society – or “Circle of Friends” – a group
of individuals who remembered the Foundation in their estate plans. Twenty-two
individuals joined the Society at that time, and we now count 51 people amongst our
“Circle of Friends.”
Each fall we are welcome new individuals to the Society, and it’s not too early to start thinking about how you can become part of this valuable organization. The future of this agency is in the hands of these generous and thoughtful people, who want to ensure that plenty of opportunities are made available to our participants (individuals with developmental disabilities) in the years ahead.
Joining is simple. If you have already named the Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation, Inc. in your will or as the residual beneficiary of a supplemental needs trust, simply contact Susan Beich at (716) 297-6400, ext. 331 or sbeich@opportunitiesunlimited.org. We will then plan to recognize you as a member of the Coterie Society at the October 20 breakfast celebration.
If you have additional questions, we would be glad to provide you with information about this simple and important procedure that provides for the future of people with developmental disabilities in the months and years ahead. Remember:
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Everyone has an estate of some size, large or small, and bequests of any size are appreciated and recognized. |
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Unless you would like to do so, you do not need to disclose
the amount or size of your provision for the Foundation. |
Sincerely,
Connie S. Brown
Executive
Director and
Member of the Coterie Society
President’s Message- Jim Woodruff
I am extremely honored and humbled to serve a second term as president of the agency board of directors at Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara.
Who am I? I am a native of Niagara Falls and am married to Barbara (Craver) Woodruff. We have four children (Lisa, Kimberly, Amy & Melanie) and four grandchildren (Kaylee, Zoey, Nicholas and Presley). I graduated from Niagara County Community College with an associate in Business Administration. I was a Quality Analyst at Delphi Thermal Systems and retired after 32 years. I also retired as a Command Chief from the United States Air Force Reserve after 35 years service; assigned to the 914th Airlift Wing in Niagara Falls. I presently work as a Business Administrator for Christ the King Church and School.
I originally got involved with Opportunities Unlimited because I wanted to experience the portion of life that my daughter Kimberly was experiencing before her untimely death in 1996. Kimberly worked for Opportunities as a care giver at the time of her death and I wanted to be a part of what meant so much to her.
While being involved over the past six years and being a part of the nature trail (created in Kimberly’s memory) I have come to appreciate and love the people with intellectual and developmental disabilities we serve.
My pledge, as president, is that in all our discussions and decisions, in all our business at hand no matter what it is, it will be for the betterment of those we serve.
2010-2011
Board of Directors
OFFICERS
DIRECTORS
Mark Barry, Lockport Memorial Hospital
Linda Conlin
Peter Greisler
Steve LaRock (parent)
Paul Masters (parent)
Patricia Minarcin (parent)
Marsha Piccirillo
Dorothy Repetski (parent)
Jeanne Schmidt, W.J. Cox Associates, Inc. (family member)
Jeff Strebb, Ingram Micro
Melissa Tower, Wilson Central School
Whitney Vantine, Tonawanda City School District
Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara receives funding from various sources, such as:
location menu, legend: N = Niagara Falls/Western Region, L = Lockport/Eastern Region, and W = Wheatfield
1555 Fashion Outlet Blvd.
(Formerly 3rd Avenue)
LPO Box 360
Niagara Falls, NY 14304-0360
(716)297-6400/FAX (716) 297-7522
ralbond@opportunitiesunlimited.org
1555 Fashion Outlet Blvd.
(Formerly 3rd Avenue)
LPO Box 360
Niagara Falls, NY 14304-0360
(716)297-6400/FAX (716)297-0931
2393 Niagara Falls Blvd.
LPO Box 360
Niagara Falls, NY 14304-0360
(716)504-2625/FAX (716)504-2623
Medicaid Service Coordination FAX (716) 504-2632
107 Heath
Lockport, NY 14094
(716)434-4050/FAX (716)434-4640
Subcontracting FAX (716)434-3932
2510 Niagara Falls Blvd.
2510 Niagara Falls
Blvd.
LPO Box 360
Niagara Falls, NY 14304-0360
(716)504-2617/FAX (716)215-0339
Central
Intake/Admissions/Service Coordination FAX (716)504-2632
Quality
Assurance FAX (716)504-2622
located
in Wheatfield, 1/2 mile west of Witmer Rd.
2510 Niagara Falls Blvd.
LPO Box 360
Niagara Falls, NY 14304-0360
(716)504-2617 ext. 230/FAX (716)504-2632
located in Wheatfield, 1/2 mile west of Witmer Rd.
2393 Niagara Falls Blvd.
LPO Box 360
Niagara Falls, NY 14304-0360
(716)504-2625 xt 103/FAX 504-2623
1555 Fashion Outlet Blvd.
(Formerly 3rd Avenue)
LPO Box 360
Niagara Falls, NY 14304-0360
(716)297-6400/FAX (716)297-7522
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E-mail any comments or problems to the webmistress at plynch@opportunitiesunlimited.org
CopyrightŪ Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara 1999
Last modified Monday, April 12, 1999