2015 PROGRESS REPORTT H E M E A S U R E S T H AT T E L L T H E S T O R Y :365 Days of Spreading Help, Hope & Answers

Vicky waters the new Health & Wellness GardenClient Jose & a supporter enjoy the Walk With Me event A game of ball at Camp Merry Heart in HackettstownDebbie focused at work in New Brunswick

LOOK WHAT YOUR GENEROSIT Y ACCOMPLISHED IN NE W JERSE Y IN A YE AR :

Total number of individuals with disabilities or special needs served by our programs

8,797

2012

2013

2014

2015

Percentage of program participants that reported an improved quality of life since joining Easter Seals New Jersey

Number of participants who were able to avoid involuntary hospitalization thanks to our programs

Number of people with develop-mental disabilities that received community integration services, like accessible transportation

962614

Number of campers with disabilities served by Camp Merry Heart—safe, fun recreation in a supportive environment

613

Number of individuals that were able to receive necessary medical care thanks to our programs

30695%

eastersealsnj.org

Number of individuals provided with employment services including work training, job coaching, and job support services

702

LEARN, CONNECT, GET INVOLVED!

Number of families that received education and support to help them care for a relative with a mental illness

79

LOOK WHAT YOUR GENEROSIT Y ACCOMPLISHED IN NE W JERSE Y IN A YE AR :

Number of New Jerseyans living with mental illness that were able to obtain or maintain stable housing

Number of individuals withpsychiatric disabilities provided with transitional residence or 24-hour crisis residence

820

366

Number of individuals provided with emergency shelter at the Easter Seals Adult Homeless Shelter

Percentage of participants that reported learning new skills or enhancing existing skills since joining Easter Seals New Jersey

99%

132 Easter Seals New Jersey 25 Kennedy Boulevard East Brunswick, NJ 08816eastersealsnj.org

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Number of low-income seniors age 55 and older provided with training and employment assistance

Number of individuals provided with money management assistance to create personal budgets, access services, and build independence

440

4,798

LEARN, CONNECT, GET INVOLVED!

Get information about our programs, discover inspiring stories, and find volunteer opportunities at eastersealsnj.org and on our social media.

“ Y O U A L L W O R K H A R D E V E R Y D A Y T O K E E P O U R L O V E D O N E S S A F E A N D Y O U H E L P T H E M D E V E L O P S K I L L S T O G U I D E T H E M I N T H E I R L I V E S . T H A N K Y O U F O R A L L Y O U D O ! ”

Mary Anne Filljaw, Mays Landing, NJ

R E V E N U E

Government Grants & Fees

$ 119,057,900

Program Service Fees

$ 4,823,534

Sales to Public

$ 1,796,890

Public Support $ 535,858

Investment Income

($ 30,606)

Other $ 301,361

Total $ 126,484,937

Find out more about our many generous donors at: eastersealsnj.org/supportersSTATE: NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities — Division of Mental Health Services, Department of Children & Families — Division of Youth & Family Services, Department of Education — Division of Finance, Department of Labor — Division of Vocational Rehabilitation | FEDER AL : Department of Housing, Urban Development, Department of Labor | COUNT Y : Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren | LOCAL : Boards of Education, Public Schools, and  Hundreds of Individual Donors!

Note: These figures are audited year-end financials from fiscal year 2014–2015.

Direct Services $ 121,308,263

Management & General

$ 4,664,137

Fundraising $ 619,678

National Fees $ 71,492

Total $ 126,663,570

E X P E N S E S

Breakdown of each dollar: 0% fundraising expenses 4% management expenses 96% goes directly to service

0%4%

96%

2 0 1 5 i n t h e n e w s RVW-ESNJ honors participants with special needsMyCentralJersey.com   click to view >

2 0 1 5 i n t h e n e w s Easter Seals NJ Garden Teaches Hands-On Health & WellnessMyCentralJersey.comclick to view >

2 0 1 5 I N T H E N E W S ADA 25th anniversary, Easter Seals celebrates successHunterdon Democrat - NJ.comclick to view >

2 0 1 5 I N T H E N E W S Millville and Easter Seals Partner to Beautify Abandoned HomesSouth Jersey Timesclick to view >

2 0 1 5 I N T H E N E W S Flemington Man Treasures Son’s Independence on Father’s DayHunterdon Democrat - NJ.comclick to view >

2 0 1 5 i n t h e n e w s Disabled Want Working LifeTheDailyJournal.comclick to view >

L I V EMarine Veteran Overcomes Homelessness and Depression with Assistance from Easter Seals New Jersey

Frank saw combat in three countries and was wounded twice during his eight years of service in the United States Marine Corps. While his wounds may have healed, he returned home with a different enemy: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

For Frank, transitioning to civilian life was difficult. As Frank explained, “I felt isolated, but was embarrassed to tell anyone how

I was feeling. After all, marines are tough guys right?” While a missing limb is easy to see and understand, mental illness is hidden and insidious. Frank struggled with his PTSD and tried to get through it on his own. He was able to earn his degree with the help of the G.I. Bill, and life began to turn around. Frank eventually got married, had two kids, and was able to provide for his family.

Life was good for twelve years. Then his marriage ended in a bitter divorce, and his depression returned, only this time it was worse. “I was unable to work and was unable to cope with anything,” Frank said. He ultimately ended up losing his residence, his car, and everything he owned. “Once you fall into the black pit of depression and PTSD, it is almost impossible to climb out.”

Frank applied for and was awarded Supplemental Security Income (SSI), but found that in New Jersey the most difficult thing to obtain was affordable housing. For years he lived in rooming houses and motel rooms. But when rates increased for summer, Frank could no longer afford it and found himself homeless.

By a stroke of luck, his counselor knew the Homeless Outreach Supervisor at Easter Seals New Jersey, and Frank was quickly approved for a spot in their independent living program. “That was six months ago, and I cannot begin to tell you how much better my life is now,” Frank reported. “Having a home restores self-confidence and gives you hope for the future.”

“I am on my way back to full independence! Easter Seals has given me my life back, and I will always be grateful [to] them for that,” said Frank. “Not only are their employees extremely supportive, they are all good, caring people who want their clients to succeed.”

See more success stories at eastersealsnj.org/stories.

Click to view “Frank’s Story.”

L E A R NAdrien Finds Success Outside Her Comfort Zone with Support from Easter Seals New Jersey

Adrien lives with both physical limitations and intellectual disabilities. In spring 2014, she signed up for tutoring with Easter Seals New Jersey with the hopes of one day passing her driver’s test, among other goals. When she started with Easter Seals, Adrien had difficulty developing relationships and adapting to the new atmosphere. With perseverance and a positive attitude, however, she was able to overcome her social barriers.

Soon her hard work began to pay off. While studying to take the written driver’s test, Adrien also began working for Easter Seals New Jersey. With continued encouragement from staff, Adrian finally received her driver’s permit and was able to pay for driving lessons with the money she earned from her job.

“Adrien has made great progress in various areas. She is always willing to go above and beyond to help her fellow co-workers,” said Vicki Landicini, one of Easter Seals New Jersey’s Senior Service Coaches. “She has become dependable and always stays on task. We are so proud of all of her accomplishments, and she truly has become an inspiration to her co-workers.”

As of December 2015, Adrien is officially a licensed driver in the state of New Jersey. “Easter Seals has changed my life in many ways, and the staff has made a big impact on my life,” Adrien said. “I used to be shy, and Easter Seals helped me with my people skills and made me open up to be more adventurous and to try new things. When I first came here, palletizing [for example] was difficult for me and scary -- now I’m really good at it!”

When asked about what’s next, Adrien shared her hopes of pushing forward towards the future. “I’d like to work for the Easter Seals organization as a staff member, maybe a job coach, and help people like me with disabilities. I’d also like to go on to get my forklift license.”

Adrien has proven that with hard work and a positive attitude, any goal can be accomplished and most obstacles overcome.

See more success stories at eastersealsnj.org/stories.

At age 11, Nicole was a fun-loving kid and avid figure-skater that enjoyed sports and outdoor activities. Nicole’s life was forever changed when one morning she woke up paralyzed from the waist down. She was later diagnosed with a virus called Transverse Myelitis, which causes inflammation of the spine. The inflammation was so severe in Nicole’s case that it damaged nerves in her spine, ultimately causing her paralysis. Nicole’s doctors were sure she would never walk again, much less skate, and urged her parents to prepare Nicole for life in a wheelchair.

Nicole, however, was unwilling to accept this fate. She spent three painful years in physical therapy hoping to regain some feeling and mobility in her legs. Her persistence and determination paid off as she progressed from using a walker, to forearm crutches, and finally to walking on her own with limited assistance, disproving her doctors’ projections. Despite the amazing progress she had made, she continued to have difficulty with fluid movement. She would never skate again, and other areas of her life would be affected as well.

In her early twenties, Nicole set out to pursue a career and establish her independence. But her limited mobility presented various accessibility obstacles, and prospective employers often lacked suitable accommodations. In addition, because she found standing for long periods of time to be very tiring, she needed a job with a good balance of sitting and standing. These modest requirements proved to be a major barrier in her search for employment. After all the challenges Nicole had overcome in her life, she never imagined it would be so difficult just to find a job.

“I spent almost two years looking for a job that would support both my passion and my disability,” Nicole explained, “but every day was a struggle, and some days I felt that hope was lost.” Finally, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation referred Nicole to Easter Seals New Jersey to help her try to find a job that would be the perfect match. Easter Seals’ Manager of Supported Employment, Daniela Bardesio, was assigned to her case.

Daniela met with Nicole every other week to improve Nicole’s resume, write cover letters, search for job openings, and prepare for

interviews. After a few weeks of searching, Nicole was hired by the accounting department for Easter Seals New Jersey itself. Now, in addition to her accounting work, Nicole also works alongside Daniela to help others. She plans to visit programs throughout the state to share her story in the hopes that she can motivate people with disabilities to not give up on their dreams of finding or maintaining a job.

“Patience is key,” said Nicole about overcoming the accessibility limitations in the job market for people with disabilities. “For years I sat around my parents’ house, unhappy, and did nothing but watch TV all day. I am now independent, pay my own bills, drive my own car, and love my job. I can finally say that I have a job that I look forward to going to when I wake up. This all would not have been possible without the help of Daniela and Easter Seals. If Easter Seals can do it for me, they can do it for anyone.”

See more success stories at eastersealsnj.org/stories.

W O R KNicole Triumphs in Her Employment Search with the Help of Easter Seals New Jersey

P L AYOpportunities for recreation and social interaction are an integral part of ALL Easter Seals programs and services and are more than just

“fun”... the many benefits they provide are a necessary part of maintaining a healthy state of mind and lifestyle for everyone

For additional information on our development plans, sponsorship, or how you may be able to support the facility, please contact Helen Drobnis, Chief Advancement Officer, at hdrobnis@nj.easterseals.com or 732.955.8380.

Mets Baseball team experts and fans, this trio is showing off their Mets pride at our Sayreville location.

Day program participants from across the state enjoy a jolly time at the annual Holiday party at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft.

Program participants in our Hotel and Travel Respite program spend a great day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Here is Bruce enjoying his summertime crabbing trip in South Jersey – look at that pride in his catch!

Click to view “Through our Eyes at Camp Merry Heart!”

P R E S I D E N T ’ S C O U N C I LThank you to our generous donors who have supported our mission with gifts of $1,000 or more in a 12-month period!

I N D E P E N D E N C E L E V E L 2 5 , 0 0 0 +

AnonymousBritt Worldwide Charities, Inc.The Horizon Foundation for New JerseyWe Live To Give FoundationWells Fargo-Crippled Children’s Fund

E M P O W E R M E N T L E V E L $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 – 2 4 , 9 9 9

A.C. Moore Arts & CraftsCentury 21 Action Plus RealtyFriendly’s Restaurants, LLCJersey Mike’s SubsJohnson & JohnsonThe Healthcare Foundation of NJ

O P P O R T U N I T Y L E V E L $ 5 , 0 0 0 – 9 , 9 9 9

AnonymousCentury 21 Real Estate CorporationCentury 21 Van Der Wnde & Associates, Inc.Frank M. LavaderaJohn & Jean McILwainMay and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc.Millie RyanNew Concepts Leasing, Inc.Ott Klein FoundationRotary Club of the CaldwellsTD Charitable FoundationWilliam T. Byrne

D I G N I T Y L E V E L $ 2 , 5 0 0 – 4 , 9 9 9

Beyondpay AP Select Payroll, Inc.Cheryl & Alex YoungInstitute for Education Leadership, Inc.Robert Half International Inc.John GlynnJoseph J. ReoKevin PaccioneKPMG LLPLamb Financial GroupMetLife FoundationMichael GreenstreetNew Jersey Manufacturers Insurance CompanyNJ State Council Knights of ColumbusRotary Club of DenvilleRoxbury Rotary ClubThe Provident Bank Foundation

A B I L I T Y L E V E L $ 1 , 0 0 0 – 2 , 4 9 9

Alexander E. PerrielloAnonymous (2)Barbara KolesnikovBlairstown Rotary ClubBressler, Amery & Ross P.C.Brian J. Fitzgerald & Linda RondinelliC21 HOPE FoundationCharles E. StohlbergCommunity Health Charities of N.J.Crest Furniture Inc.Dave’s Suburban Disposal Service, LLCDee WaylandDon K. Seibert

Donald & Jeanette SeipEric R. KunkelEshon MitraEstate of Veronica M. CurranFidelity Charitable Gift FundHarry F. TracyHelen & Michael DrobnisHenry G. KleiniHeartMediaJ.T. Mase & Company, Inc.Jean KirschenbaumJignesh ShahJames & Nancy SmithJohn LawrenceK & R Vending ServicesKatie McGeeKenneth & Judy SeipLee Ann DeMatteoLine Systems, IncLisa GannonLowenstein Sandler, LLPMagyar Bank Charitable FoundationMark ForemanMerrill Lynch The RVH Group Merrill LynchMichael BisestiMitchell S. LandisMontclair Rotary FoundationNancy Goguen & Richard MenningerNetcong-Stanhpe Rotary ClubNew Life SpaNew Meadowlands Stadium Company, LLCPamela S. FriedmanPaul B. SolomonPaul S. BoorujyPedram Alaedini

Phyl’s Fund Inc.Pro Staff Physical Therapy and Dynamic Hand TherapyQualifacts Systems Inc.Raj V. Tahil & Mary Jo WrennREAD FoundationRichard & Alice StensonRichard DavidsonRobert J. CiattoRotary Club of MadisonRotary Club of West OrangeRoyal Oaks Club, Inc.Sandy BabeySarayu MitraSBS Masonry Contractors, Inc.Sean WilcoxShelley SamuelsStephen & Jessica HoelperSteven LainoffThomas O’HernTrent S. Dickey Virginia HajeianWellcare Health Plans Winsor Staffing

Updated February 1, 2016

Nearly

9,000The number of individuals or families in the state of New Jersey you helped us move along the path toward independence, inclusion, and full community integration.

Easter Seals New Jersey 25 Kennedy Boulevard

East Brunswick, NJ 08816732.257.6662

eastersealsnj.org

A happy camper enjoying carnival day funEssex County Residential program participant Mark with staff member Ed HaasA day at Raritan Valley Work Center