What's Happening at Genesis?
Community Foundation Grants Awarded
Community foundations have provided another source of funding that enables Genesis to carry out more projects, enhance existing programs and realize new opportunities. We are grateful to each of the foundation boards for considering our requests and making greater things possible for people with disabilities and the staff who assist them. During the last funding cycle, Genesis programs in four of our locations benefitted from community foundation grant awards.
v The Warren County Philanthropic Partnership funding made it possible for the Discovery program in Indianola to purchase two lift chairs to assist individuals with mobility issues, two different types of communication devices to assist individuals with visual and motor limitations, a Nintendo Wii system to be used for exercise and socialization, and appropriate electrical wiring for the installation of a stove that will be used to help participants learn to cook for themselves.
v Last December Good Connections Inc (GCI) in Boone closed its doors and Genesis took over the provision of services for the former GCI clientele. With the addition of many new staff members, including several of the former GCI staff, we found ourselves with a definite shortage of office equipment. The Boone County Endowment Fund fulfilled our request enabling us to get desks, chairs, locking file cabinets and a storage cabinet for confidential files to provide work areas for new staff.
v Genesis in Jefferson in partnership with the Greene County Recycling Agency received funding from the Greene County Community Foundation that is being used to create a county-wide recycling education program. The project involves two county landfills, student artists, educational programs by a County Environmental Education Coordinator, and will culminate with a customized recycling calendar that will be distributed to all residents and businesses in Greene County.
v The Benton County Community Foundation awarded funding that will be used by staff from the Vinton/Belle Plaine sites for trainer certification in the Mandt System® "Putting People First", a system based on the philosophy that the most effective strategy for managing challenging behaviors is based in prevention, early interaction, and de-escalation before the behavior escalates.
Genesis Receives Highest
CARF Award
  
Genesis has received its ninth Three Year Accreditation award from CARF, the international accrediting body for rehabilitation facilities. This award represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to a rehab facility. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation outcome has put itself through a rigorous review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors that its programs and services are of the highest quality. In appreciation of the dedication, teamwork and consistent quality care provided by Genesis staff, the Genesis Board of Directors presented denim shirts with an embroidered Genesis logo to each of the more than 240 staff members. “Genesis staff should all be very proud of what Genesis has accomplished,” commented a Board spokesperson. “Not just for the survey, but every day that they enable the people that we serve to realize our mission – to live and work as they choose because of the opportunities and support provided by the staff of Genesis. Our folks are why we are here. The staff is why we are successful.”
Kreft Bequest Enables Business Opportunity
Genesis in Storm Lake has received a $10,000 bequest from the Ardeth Kreft estate. That gift has helped make it possible for Genesis to purchase a screen printing operation that had previously been subcontract work through Silk Screen Ink. Three rain gauge printers and supplies were purchased creating more work opportunities for those in the vocational program in Storm Lake. Since August 2006 when the first printer was moved to Genesis, over 280,000 rain gauges have been printed and shipped to companies all over the United State and Canada. (See Winter Newsletter for full story.)
Attention Hy-Vee Shoppers!
We are in need your help. The Storm Lake Hy-Vee Store is supporting the community by refunding a percentage of receipts saved and redeemed by area nonprofit organizations. We would like to ask for your help in raising dollars for Genesis by saving your Hy-Vee receipts. Only receipts from the Storm Lake Hy-Vee can be accepted. You can turn them in at the front desk at Genesis or mail to 1607 N. Lake Ave, Storm Lake. There is no maximum to the dollars that can be paid to Genesis, and there is no deadline for collecting receipts. This is an on-going program. Thanks for your help.
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