We Miss You
Thank You! We Really Miss You
If we haven,t said it often enough or loud enough lately ”THANK YOU! During extraordinary times, it takes an extraordinarily caring community to remain steadfast in Ability Beyond's mission to care for the individuals we serve. Thank you for your friendship, thank you for reaching out to volunteer, and thank you for your continued support!
Thanks also for your patience with us. We know that our outward facing communication has been somewhat limited these past few months. Since March, with the onset of Covid, we have been fiercely focused on keeping our people safe, and keeping families updated regularly.
Through this all, the Ability Beyond Team has pulled together like never before, and we have all learned a lot along the way. One thing we know for sure is that we really miss you! We miss seeing you at gatherings, and sharing handshakes and hugs.
Thank you for sticking with us, and showing us love and support during this crazy time.
Ability Highlights
We wanted to share a few highlights of how your kindness has helped Ability Beyond support the people we serve during such a challenging year:
1. We established the Leir Recovery Hub in Bethel, in an effort to keep Covid-positive residents safely quarantined. This helped flatten the curve and stop the spread of the virus to others. You can see how happy Chad was, when he returned to his home after spending time recovering in the Hub, greeted with flowers and balloons!
2. We have been utilizing technology more now than ever, to deliver services and keep people connected. We've distributed tablets and iPads for communication between residents and loved ones, and we rolled out remote programming to mirror day program activities, and keep people engaged with each other from afar.
3. Four Ability Beyond homes–Beckerle, Dodgingtown, Pleasant Rise Circle and Maple Avenue all enjoyed a facelift, and our residents celebrated their arrival back into updated, spacious living areas with even greater accessibility.
4. Family visiting areas under tents at Ability homes, and Adirondack chairs at our centers, have all been contributing to enjoying each other's company and holding meetings outdoors for as long as the good weather lasts.
5. By hosting two virtual job fairs we have been able to fill 25 direct support positions, with more fairs on the way.
6. Our virtual No-Go Gala, held in April, raised over $400,000
7. 95 golfers and 18 tennis players enjoyed a socially Distant Golf and Tennis Outing at Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury, raising almost $80,000.
Mental Health Awareness – Meet Dan
In the unfortunate absence of our Mental Health Breakfast that would typically have taken place in November, we'd still like to share with you the story of an extraordinary individual named Dan, and the memoire he wrote to help others.
Daniel Davis has been with the Supervised Residential Recovery Program since Sept 2018. In his memoire, titled ‘The Quest for Sobriety', Dan takes us through his journey from being a typical young boy, to trying his first beer and the fast hold substances took upon him. Plagued by homelessness and addiction, Dan recalls a life changing ambulance ride that would lead him to a new phase of sobriety.
Dan says “I want to thank the Recovery staff [at Ability Beyond] for giving me the encouragement to write this book. I know that each of you are proud of me, as I am of myself, Writing my own story was a helpful experience. I've continued to build on my recovery, and I feel confident in myself for having achieved this. I hope you can get inspiration from this book. By reading about the dilemmas I had in my life, it is my hope that you make a brighter future for yourself.”
Click here to read ‘The Quest for Sobriety' by Daniel Davis
CARES Act
As 2020 comes to a close, so do the time-limited tax provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Now through December 31, 2020, cash gifts made to Ability Beyond can have a greater impact for both you and the consumers we serve:
1. Those who take the standard deduction may now deduct up to $300 ($600 for couples) in qualified charitable contributions of cash to Ability Beyond, and other qualified charities. Normally, no deduction is permitted.
2. Itemizers may deduct cash gifts up to 100 percent of their adjusted gross income in 2020 up from 60 percent. Gifts to donor-advised funds and private foundations are not eligible.
3. Required minimum distributions from retirement accounts are suspended for 2020. However, individuals still can make a qualified charitable distribution of up to $100,000 from their IRAs. The direct distribution to charity would not be included in taxable income.
You are encouraged to consult with your tax advisor or counsel for advice as you contemplate your philanthropic and financial plans. If you have questions or would like to speak with a member of our staff, please contact Cathie Petrosky, our Donor Engagement Officer, .
Ability Beyond continues to break down barriers and create new path's for those we serve thanks to the kindness and generosity of our many supporters.
Thank you for your support and for being such an important part of our Ability Beyond community. On behalf of all of us, we send warmest wishes for a safe and happy Holiday season.
Friend-Raising
Ability Beyond is excited to introduce a new ‘Peer-to-Peer' platform, which allows you to set up your own fundraising page and invite friends and family to contribute to your personal campaign, in support of Ability Beyond's 120 homes in New York and Connecticut.