In The News

 

 

University of Pittsburgh Bradford Athletic Department Awarded for Work with CARE

The athletic department at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford received the Jostens Community Service Overall Winner Award from the National Association of Division III Athletics for its longstanding relationship with the CARE For Children program and other service projects.

 

The award was presented to Lori Mazza, director of athletics, at the NCAA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind.

 

The awards program is co-sponsored by the NADIIIAA and Jostens and is intended to recognize the many contributions Division III student-athletes regularly make to their campuses and local communities. The program awards winners in the following three categories: one-time project, array of projects, and on-going project.

 

Pitt-Bradford was recognized for its relationship with the CARE for Children program and other service projects. In 2001, then-head women’s basketball coach Daly Ann Fuller approached CARE with the idea of collaborating on an adaptive basketball camp to give children with motor and learning deficiencies the opportunity to play basketball. The initial camp had 20 participants. Now, 10 years later, the basketball mini camp has grown to more than 100 participants, who learn from the coaches and players on to dribble, pass and shoot.

 

Since then, more than 230 student-athletes in all 14 sports have offered their time and support to the CARE organization. 

 

In addition to its work with CARE, the athletics department has taken part in many other community service projects, including serving food to needy families at the Friendship Table, participating in reading programs at local Bradford schools, raising $600 for local veterans and assisting with a veterans breakfast to honor all veterans in the campus community.

 

“To accept this award on behalf of our student-athletes was a privilege,” said Mazza. “There are so many accomplishments that our athletes are recognized for, however, many times community service is overlooked. 

 

“Although we do an array of projects with the Bradford community, our ongoing relationship with CARE is one we are very proud to be a part of.  To be recognized by our peers within all of Division III for our community service is truly a testament to the quality of student-athletes we have at Pitt-Bradford.” 

 

As well as receiving a commemorative trophy, the department received a $1,000 contribution from the NADIIIAA and Jostens.

 

The NADIIIAA is an association comprised of athletics administrators from the nearly 450 institutions and 40 conferences competing at the NCAA Division III level. A primary purpose of the NADIIIAA is to encourage the continued development of athletics programs focused on the student-athlete and based on sound educational philosophy.  

*

Rainbow Corner Preschool Aides Receive CDA

Preschool Aides, Barbara McGarry and Janice Stiles, from Rainbow Corner Preschool at CARE for Children, have earned the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in recognition of outstanding work with young children.  The Council for Professional Recognition awards credentials to early childhood educators who demonstrate the ability to constructively work with young children in group settings.

“CARE for Children places a premium on the quality of all our programs and invests in staff training and development to ensure quality initiatives.  Our early learning programs provide an important developmental cornerstone for children and our aim is to provide an outstanding program with highly trained staff.” said Preschool Director Kimberly Engstrom, M.Ed.

The process to obtain the credential was lengthy and included 9 months of classroom instruction, external course work, job evaluation and concluded with written and oral exams.  Both were also required to complete 480 hours of working directly with children, as well as various trainings and seminars regarding mandated reporting, language development and first aid and CPR.

Ms. Stiles has worked for Rainbow Corner Preschool since 2003.  She lives in Bradford with her husband, Doug.  She has two children and four grandchildren.  Ms. McGarry began at Rainbow Corner in 2008 and she, too, lives in Bradford with her husband, Mike.  They have two children.

  

*

Women of the Moose #330 Give to CARE

For the fifth year, the Bradford Chapter #330 Women of the Moose “adopted” CARE for Children as part of their annual community projects.  The Women of the Moose purchased school supplies, including pencils, glue sticks, crayons, construction paper, notebooks, and binders which were distributed to school-aged children with special health care. 

Pictured from left to right are: Sandy Roulo, Chaplin; Taylor Sevrey, 6; Alexis Sevrey, 10; Rose Caswell, Senior Regent; Mandi Wilton-Davis, CARE Development & Marketing Coordinator; Nean Wolcott, Secretary and Project Coordinator; and Vickie Cromley, Recorder.

Taylor and Alexis Sevrey are the granddaughters of Vickie Cromley, and were in attendance to help organize the supplies.

*

Carlson Named School Therapy Services Coordinator

May, 2011 - Tina Martin, CARE for Children executive director, announced that Ashley Carlson, MOT, OTR/L has been promoted to School Therapy Services Coordinator for the non-profit organization.

Carlson will be responsible for the supervision, coordination and delivery of school based occupational and physical therapy services, including the management of school therapy staff in areas of clinical, procedural and professional standards and quality assurance for program delivery.   She will also continue in her role as supervising occupational therapist which she has held since 2006.

“CARE is fortunate to have therapists of Ashley’s caliber working with the children we serve,” stated Martin.  “Our staff aspires to the highest level of care for the children we treat and with Ashley’s program leadership I am positive that school therapy services will thrive.”

After completing an undergraduate degree in Behavioral Science at Wilmington College in Delaware, Carlson earned a Masters of Occupational Therapy Degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, one of the leading universities in the field.  She is board certified by the National Board of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).  Carlson’s experience in the field includes assessment and treatment of sensorimotor, neurodevelopmental, neuromuscular, cognitive disabilities and developmental delays.

She was instrumental in starting the Therapeutic Listening program at CARE, and is trained in Hand Writing Without Tears and M.O.R.E.: Integrating the Mouth with Sensory and Postural Function.

Carlson serves on the Board of Directors of the Port Allegany United Fund and the S.W. Smith Library Board of Directors.

Ashley lives in Port Allegany with her husband, Dr. Nate Carlson and son, Ryan.

*

CARE- Lady Panther Basketball Camp Celebrates Milestone

March 26, 2011 - The Lady Panther basketball team hosted its 10th annual camp for children of all abilities on Saturday.  Since its inception the Lady Panther Mini Camp has provided the opportunity for both boys and girls with motor and learning deficiencies to play ball.

In the fall of 2001, former Lady Panther Head Coach Daly Ann Fuller approached CARE for Children about the possibility of doing an adaptive basketball camp for children with special health care needs.  She liked that the camp would give the players the opportunity to step outside themselves to appreciate the ability to play college-level ball, and give back to the community.

After Coach Fuller left Pitt Bradford, each subsequent coach adopted the camp and made it their own.

"The camp gives the athletes an opportunity to spend some time with local children," said Lady Panther Coach Molly Brennan.  "This event has been going on for 10 years and I think it is important that it continues, our student-athletes need to be involved in the community."

The first year 20 campers attended and each year the camp has grown with 45-70 children in attendance annually.

The basketball camp, part of CARE’s therapeutic recreation program, helps children learn about the game in an inclusive environment.   The camp is unique because it focuses on basketball skills that campers may not have experienced because of perceived limitations.  The physical and occupational therapy staff from CARE are on hand to help the Lady Panthers adapt components of the game and to work with the kids as an extension of traditional school based therapy.

The camp also became the jumping off point for several other CARE/Pitt Bradford Athletics collaborations including adaptive soccer, volleyball, and baseball.  CARE also uses the Pitt Athletic Center to host Kid Fitness.

“This program started with women’s basketball, and other sports have joined the fun,” Athletic Director Lori Mazza stated. “Sometimes it is hard to get students to understand the reward they will feel, but once they play with the CARE kids, they ask to do it again. I know CARE enjoys coming out and playing with our students, but the reality is that we get so much more out of it then the children do.”

In 2009, the Pitt-Bradford Athletics was selected as an honorable mention award winner of the NADIIIAA/Jostens Community Service Awards for its work with CARE.

The CARE Board of Directors honored Pitt Bradford and the Athletic Department in 2007 with the agency’s Community CARE Award.

The Bradford Rotary Club is also an event sponsor providing each child in attendance with a hooded sweatshirt and basketball.

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CARE for Children · P.O. Box 616, 20 Russell Boulevard, Bradford, PA 16701 · (814) 362-4621