NEWS RELEASES & NEWSLETTERS
Illinois Nonprofit Leader Selected as
New Executive Director at Home of Guiding Hands
Mark R. Klaus has been named as the new Executive Director of Home of Guiding Hands; it was announced today by Rick Doremus, HGH Board President. Klaus, the long-time President and Chief Executive Officer of Charleston Transitional Facility in Champaign, Illinois, was selected after a national search.
HGH has been providing residential services and a variety of support programs to children and adults with developmental disabilities in San Diego County for more than 40 years. With a staff of more than 400, it is one of the largest employers in East County. HGH is headquartered in El Cajon; it provides services in San Diego and Imperial County.
“Mark Klaus brings a wealth of experience to HGH; his work in providing an exceptional residential program as well as expanding educational and vocational training will be valuable assets for the people we serve,” said Rick Doremus. “And his advocacy work will be crucial as we see the state’s budget cuts continue to erode services for people with developmental disabilities.”
Klaus comes to HGH from Charleston Transitional Facility, where he was selected as the first President and CEO in 2000, leading the organization in developing community-based residential and day training programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. The organization serves more than 1,000 individuals and families annually. It is also one of the 12 Regional Centers in the state that comprise The Autism Program Network, the largest statewide network in the United States for diagnosis, treatment and resources for individuals diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. He also spearheaded the efforts to open and operate 27 homes which provide 24-hour care for 185 residents and created a therapy services division which provides occupational, physical, and speech therapy and behavioral counseling to children, adults, family members, and the community.
Klaus serves on the board of the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities and was a recent appointee by the Governor of Illinois to the Human Services Commission. He previously served eight years on the Champaign Unit 4 Board of Education, including three years as board president. Klaus received his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is married and the father of two.
Mark J. Ochenduszko, the recently retired City Manager of Coronado, served as the interim director of Home of Guiding Hands following the resignation of Executive Director Carol A. Fitzgibbons, who accepted a position with Inland Regional Center.
Former Coronado City Manager Takes Helm
as Interim Director of Home of Guiding Hands
Mark J. Ochenduszko, the recently retired City Manager of Coronado, has been named as the interim director of Home of Guiding Hands, it was announced today. The Home of Guiding Hands (HGH) Board of Directors unanimously voted to appoint Ochenduszko to the post, replacing long-time Executive Director Carol A. Fitzgibbons, who recently accepted a position as Executive Director of Inland Regional Center.
HGH has been providing residential services and a variety of support programs to children and adults with developmental disabilities in San Diego County for more than 40 years. With a staff of more than 400, it is one of the largest employers in East County. HGH is headquartered in El Cajon; it provides services in San Diego and Imperial County.
Ochenduszko, 55, retired as Coronado City Manager this past February, managing a staff of over 200 full-time employees. The city has an annual operating budget of over $45 million. He has also served as the city manager of Cypress in the Los Angeles area, and Campbell, in Northern California. Other administrative positions include Assistant City Manager for Temecula, Personnel Officer for La Mesa and Supervising Personnel Analyst for the San Diego Unified School District. Ochenduszko received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Public Administration from San Diego State University. He and his family live in Coronado.
Jim O’Grady Rides for “The Road Home”
Jim O'Grady hears the open road calling to him - fresh air, blue skies and miles and miles of blacktop just waiting for him and his bike. Long-distance cycling is just one of the ways this active HGH board member stays in shape. But for his latest trip, Jim is not only going for the burn - he's going for the good.
For one week in April Jim will be going on a 300 mile ride in the hill country of Texas. Three hundred miles isn't the longest of Jim's rides - he's biked the length of the west coast from Oregon to Southern California and he's toured Ireland on his 10-speed - bu this time, it's going to be one of his most meaningful joureys.
“I want to encourage all of my friends, family and professional colleagues to sponsor my ride and the proceeds will go to Home of Guiding Hands,” says Jim. “I’m very proud of my association with this wonderful organization and I want to give everyone I know an opportunity to support people with developmental disabilities.”
Here’s how it will work: Jim is asking for contributions of 5, 10, or 15 cents per mile – or whatever you would like to contribute. That 5 cents will mean a $15 donation; 10 cents will bring a $30 donation and 15 cents equates to a $45 contribution to the programs that offer residential care, respite services and many other supportive programs to children and adults with autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and mental retardation.
“I had decided to do the bike ride last fall,” Jim explains. “And when The Road Home campaign started, I thought it would be a good way to link my fundraising with what I was planning to do. I’ve sponsored others on walks and such and everyone says it’s a great experience. I know my friends will support HGH, and I can’t wait to get started!”
The Road Home is Home of Guiding Hands’ matching gifts fundraising campaign. Each donation made to the campaign will be matched dollar for dollar from a seed fund created by donors who are challenging everyone to help raise $100,000 by July 2010. Combined with the seed fund, that will be a total of $200,000 raised.
Jim will be updating us from the road as he travels through Austin, New Braunfels, Blanco, Fredericksburg, Johnson City, and Luckenbach, Texas over six days on the road, from April 10 through the 16th. This page will follow his journey, and the donations of his supporters.
Join Jim now as he hits the highway for Home of Guiding Hands.
News Releases
Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. Grant to Fund New Technology
A Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. Charitable Grant will assist Home of Guiding Hands (HGH) to enhance health and safety for its residents with developmental disabilities and improve staff efficiencies through the establishment of a web-based software system that provides integrated documentation and communication. The $2,500 grant was made possible by the UPS Foundation and Rich Hallabrin, public relations manager with Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. (MBE), a UPS company.
“I'm pleased to work for a company that supports volunteerism and its employees’ interests in the community,” said Hallabrin, who has a longstanding relationship with HGH.
HGH is a 41-year-old non-profit public benefit corporation that empowers individuals with developmental and related physical challenges to achieve greater independence through residential and comprehensive support services. HGH operates 27 homes in San Diego’s East County area and annually assists more than 350 individuals and their families with a variety of programs.
“We’re delighted to support Home of Guiding Hands through this grant and look forward to its impact in our community,” said Stuart Mathis, MBE president. “HGH’s mission reflects our service objectives and we are proud to provide whatever assistance we can.”
The MBE grant will help HGH fund start-up costs associated with establishing a comprehensive web-based client data tracking system. “Data will be compiled in one online system that can be accessed at the click of a button, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This will greatly increase HGH’s ability to meet the health and treatment needs of its residents,” explained HGH Coordinator of Information Systems and Security Lisa Sanders. The new system is expected to be operational by July 1, 2008.
HGH Awarded Seal of Excellence
Local Independent Charities (LIC) of America recently
certified Home of Guiding Hands (HGH) as BEST in America and granted the
organization permission to use and display the Independent Charities Seal
of Excellence.
Local
Independent Charities of America is a tax-exempt federated group representing
charitable organizations that specialize in areas such as feeding the hungry,
sheltering the homeless, protecting children, healing the sick and defending
animals, as well as helping to inform, educate, and empower people across the
nation.
The Independent Charities Seal of Excellence is awarded to
the members of Independent Charities of America and Local Independent Charities
of America that upon rigorous independent review are able to certify, document,
and demonstrate on an annual basis that they meet the highest standards in
accountability, program and cost effectiveness. These standards include those
required by the U.S. Government for inclusion in the Combined Federal Campaign,
a national employee-giving program in which HGH annually participates.
According
to LIC of America, of the 1 million charities operating in the United States
today, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000, or 5 percent, meet or exceed
these standards. Of these, fewer than 2,000 have been awarded the Independent
Charities Seal of Excellence.
City of Santee Partners with Home of Guiding Hands
Grant Award to Improve Neighborhood Homes for People with Disabilities
The Santee City Council approved at its meeting on Feb. 27, a grant appropriation
of $33,500 to improve six homes owned and operated by Home of Guiding Hands
for the benefit of Santee residents with developmental disabilities.
These
home improvements will result in greater energy efficiency, functionality,
access for disabled persons and exterior beautification,” said Santee
City Manager Keith Till. “The Santee City Council was happy to partner
with Home of Guiding Hands in this project.”
The request for housing rehabilitation assistance was submitted through
the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public hearing process,
and was determined to be eligible for funding from the city’s
Redevelopment Low and Moderate-Income Housing Fund.
"We were ecstatic to learn of the grant award,” said HGH Executive
Director Carol Fitzgibbons. “HGH is dedicated to being a good neighbor
in the communities in which our residents live. Part of being a good neighbor
is properly maintaining our homes, so that the neighborhood is enhanced.
These funds will help us to do this through several projects and will also
help preserve our homes for future generations of people with special needs.” According
to Fitzgibbons, the grant funds will be used to improve homes that are between
30 and 40-years-old. Each
home provides for six very low income adults with developmental and physical
disabilities.
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