Still Connected: An Eden II Programs Update
A Letter From the Associate Executive Director
Dear Eden II Friends & Family,

As we go into the summer months, we are still unsure of a lot of things, but the one thing we are sure of is the unwavering dedication of our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and the supportive Eden II management teams, not to mention the school and preschool staff who have brought new meaning to the words "creative" and "innovative". We still have so many questions about what the future looks like. When will "on-site" programs be able to open up again? What will programs look like in the future, and when will we be able to find that "new normal" that everyone keeps talking about? These are just some of the unknowns we grapple with as we watch the numbers begin to stabilize and our state work towards normalization. We still find ourselves in uncharted territory striving to make the best decisions with the information we have to help us walk safely into the future.

Our Residential staff have been working tirelessly and have done an incredible job during very trying times that have gone on longer than anyone could have imagined. They are warriors and we are lucky to work with them. These men and women leave their families and report to work to support our residents without hesitation and we greatly appreciate their dedication to the residents who live in our homes, and the families who have entrusted their loved ones to our care, and our agency as a whole. These are hard times; hard for staff, hard for families, hard for our students, our residents and our participants in our programs. Day Hab and Family Support Services staff have stepped up and taken on shifts to fill in gaps in our group homes and make us whole. We are truly grateful for all of those brave, dedicated staff who "stepped up to the plate".  

If you would like to support our frontline staff, visit our donation page here. To date, we have raised over $20,000. We thank everyone who has helped support these heroes. 

The participants in our programs have shown their resiliency to a degree that we could not have anticipated and that makes us proud. Thankfully, our Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) approach has proven to be a most useful asset in handling the challenges of this time. Consistency and determination have proven to make our programs stable and strong. As we transition back to our "new normal", whatever that might look like, we reflect our state's approach and are moving cautiously with thoughtfulness, and with data based decision making as our guide. Our focus remains the safety and welfare of our nuclear, as well as our extended, Eden II family. We wish everyone good health and happier days ahead. 

Irene Cavanagh, Ed.D.
Associate Executive Director OPWDD Services
Thank You For Supporting Our Amazon Wishlist!
We are thankful to everyone who has purchased items from our residential wishlist to help keep the participants in our group homes engaged and entertained while they practice social distancing.
Aaron
Andrea (Jimmy's sister)
Bryna 
Michelle & Daniel (Friends of Rosengarten)
Phyllis Attianese 
Julie Azuma
Nick Block 
Diana Caputo
 Jamie Coen-Scholfield
Sarah Collins 
Fran Enia 
Stephen Fine
Stephen Gavosto
Deborah Goldschmidt
Eileen Hopkins
Sue & Andy Jacobs
Jensen Family
Cindy Kaplan
Judith Kaplan
Ruth Kestenbaum
Irene & Marty Kofman
Charles Kramer 
Matt Lamendola
Jennifer Leyendecker
Angela Natale
Nina Novie 
Sherie Pennino
Denise Perciballi
Lenore Puleo 
Mindy Rosengarten
Yigal Rosengarten
Stephanie Russo
Lisa Sclafani Sorrento
William Stanley
Joe & Claudine Votto 
Olena Zaretska
Zuppardi Family

Thank you to everyone who has donated to our front line campaign!

If you do not see your name listed please contact info@eden2.org. We apologize in advance for any missing names.
Michael Ackerman 
Pamela Adamo
Nancy Ambery 
Erin Archibald 
Jamie Arnold 
Julie Azuma 
Elisa Belcastro 
Maidelle Benamy
Marc Benanti
Marissa Bennett
Robert Berkowitz
Sharon Berkowitz 
Denise Bianchi 
Richard Boehm 
Matthew Brander 
Terry Burn 
PS Burns 
Ross Burwasser
James Caldarella 
Lisa Caldarera 
Susan Canny 
Chrisie Canny 
Marissa Capizzi
Acela Carlin 
Sue Carter 
Jason Casano
Stephanie Cassas
Anthony Castiglione 
Irene Cavanagh 
Robert Cavanagh 
Donna Ceman 
Maureen Chalos 
Keith Chambery 
Georgia Christoforou 
Frank Cicero 
Chris Citarrella
Jeanette Collins 
Sarah Collins 
Maria Contino
Michael Contino 
Jill Cornell
Sharlene Corrigan 
Rob Croccito 
James Cronin 
Dan Cunningham 
Julie Debernardo 
Geoff Debery 
Lorelai Dee
Paula Delfino 
Michael DeMaio 
Anna DeMeo 
Joanne D'Esposito 
Maria DiGiacomo
Marietta Dimina 
Ronnie Dineen 
Darren Diprima 
Dominic DiPrisco
Christine DiTomasso 
David Dobell 
Jan Downey 
Beti Duli-Tale 
Shirley Dunn
Andy Dunscombe 
Stephanie Dussel
Samia El Moslimany
Matt Emmer 
Carly Emmer 
Lauren Epifanio 
Nancy Everett
JoAnn Farrell
Corinne Farrell
Marlene Feinberg 
Barbara Ferrante 
Pier Fetz 
Marisa Filupeit 
Lorenz Fish 
Cynthia Fisher 
Eileen Fitzpatrick
Rob Fodera
Angela Fuschetto 
Malki Gartenberg 
Gerald Gartner 
Geri Garvin 
Karen Gates 
Melissa Gavinelli 
Toni Gennuso 
Joanne Gerenser
Michael Giangregorio
Nick Gilbo 
Laurie Giordano 
Joanne Giuliano
Ariel Glaubach 
David Glick 
Barry Goldberg 
Lori Gray 
AnnMarie Grieco
Adriana Grimaldi 
Janet Grosser 
Moe Hageko 
Lauren Hakim 
LouAnne Haley
Faye Hamid 
Gail Hansche 
Melissa Hess
Maureen Higgins 
Patricia Hincken 
Hannah Hoch 
Denise Holzka 
JoAnn Hope 
Eileen Hopkins 
Jackie Huey 
Patty Hutton
Hope Iliceto 
Thomas Iliceto 
Dyane Irvine
AnnMarie Itgen 
Lyudmila Ivanova 
Linell Iversen 
Donald Johnson
Alexander Jones
DeAnna Jones 
Michael Joseph 
Susan Kaplan
Michael Kaplan
Loretta Kennedy 
Barbara Kenny
Steve Kirschbaum 
Jessica Klein 
Rosemarie Klingele 
Maryann Korn
Charles Kramer 
Mark Krinsky 
Eugene Krupatkin
Janet Lamantia 
Kara Lamendola 
Marcia Langaigne
Stefanie Lavelle
Pat Leahy
Jessica Leather 
Jackie Libretti
Alison Lipshin
Kristine Lombardo 
Vivian Lynch 
Laura Maguire 
Christopher Maher 
Alfred Mahoney 
Elena Maldonado 
Patty Marceante 
Nancy Marchese 
Paula Marocchi
Valerie Martin 
Ann McDermott
Mary McDonald 
Joanne McDougall 
Janet McGill 
Meaghan McGoldrick 
Beth McLoughlin 
Kevin McShane 
Nicole Memoli 
Dan Miran 
Linda Mitchell
Janet Moley 
Julie Morawek 
Barbara Morello 
Maria Mucciarone 
Richard Murdison 
Angale Natale 
Paula Neenan
Ashley Nicole 
Cathy Nicoletti 
William Nolan 
Nina Novie 
Despina Novie
Chris Nuzzi 
Debra Ochs 
Marge O'Neil 
Rita Ormsby 
Olivia O'Rourke 
Toni Ann Pabon 
Bernardo Pace 
Lisa Padla
Bonnie Patala
Larry Paterno
Ken Paulsen 
Christopher Pekoff
Sherrie Penino
Nancy Phillips 
Sandina Popper
Christine Porizio 
Richard Portello 
Brenda Principe
Ellen Proszak
Frank Pugliese 
Denise Purcell
Daniel Rauch 
Shanx Ravisankar 
Brooklyn Re
RoseMarie Reel 
Susan Ribaudo 
Anjail Rice
Joseph Rinaldi 
Sulma Rivera 
Celia Roche
David Roll 
Yvonne Roman 
Mindy Rosengarten
Joshua Rosengarten 
Susan Rotsztajn 
Mary Rowan
Sharyn Ruggiero 
Donald Russo
Breeda Ryan 
Carolyn Sagnelli
Leonard Scandaglia
Ada Schechtman 
Wendy Schmidt 
Robyn Schneider 
Bonnie Schneider 
Anne Seifried 
Joanne Sgambati 
Katherine Sgarlato 
Victoria Shurott 
Michele Sileo 
Kimberly Smith 
Sophie Sophororos 
Lisa Sorrento 
Anna Spadafora 
Denise Sperduto
Tamio Spiegel 
Jaime Sposito 
Maria Stabinsky 
Kathleen Stanley
Marianne Stanley 
Rosemarie Stavola 
Irene Stefas 
Harvey Stein
Wendy Stynes 
Christina Swiderski 
Terry Tarangelo 
Eve Taranto
Veronica Taura 
Nicole Tibaldi
Michelle Tittel
Sheila Tjon
Valerie Tucci 
Gretchen Turner 
Shannon Viggio 
Teresa Visconti 
Ben von Doussa 
Keith Ward 
Denise Wiatre
Linda Williams 
Alexis Yarmolowitz 
From Eden II parent and board member, David Glick:

Once a week we make sure we go somewhere fairly deserted where we can walk around freely with our children - and where just about no one else is around since Levi will still not wear a mask longer than two seconds. Emmaline and Levi love it. They smile the whole time and don’t need any screens or shows - a bonus. These photos are from the Great Swamp and Whitesbog Village.
Andrew celebrating Memorial Day!
Bri enjoyed some time playing in the sand!
Our Genesis Directors, Coordinators, Teachers, and SLP’s are working round the clock and keeping spirits up during this pandemic.

One of the teachers shared:
“With all the stresses and everything else we’re dealing with right now it’s nice we were able to share this moment together.“
Devin's mom, Margaret, sent us a few photos of the Genesis student during her online lessons, saying "Just a few of the hilarious times we’re having with the staff while video learning! We (her parents) so appreciate the humor and patience the staff display during this crazy time. She has said she misses everyone many times."
Thank you to Sue Reek, Making Waves Foundation,  Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America and Kristyn Roth for their donation of masks!
Donate Supplies or Funds Today!
Our residential staff are working around the clock to take care of our participants, and are doing an amazing job! We currently have supplies for all of our locations that need them, but with a surge in demand, we are being proactive and looking to increase our current supply. If you or someone you know have any of the following items available to donate, please contact info@eden2.org to arrange a dropoff.

Powder free exam gloves
Medical isolation gowns
Chemical splash goggles
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer wipes
Surface sanitizer wipes
Disinfectant spray
N95 face masks

Thank you to those who have generously donated PPE for our staff:

Borough President James Oddo
Senator  Andrew J. Lanza
Assemblyman Michael Cusick
Assemblywoman  Nicole Malliotakis
Assemblyman  Mike Reilly
Assemblyman Charles D. Fall
Councilman Steven Matteo
Councilman  Joe Borelli
Councilwoman  Debi Rose
District Attorney Mike McMahon
-
Anthony Castiglione
Amy Hume Bellisano on behalf of The Woodbridge Center
Denise Bianchi
Brooklyn Home Foundation
Debbie Burwasser
Joe Caldarera
Stephanie Cassas
Sabrina Rose Dallas
Denise Eget
Dr. Ryan Galligan

Hatteras
Audrey Hassuer & other
Metuchen residents
Dr. Jane Howard
Magnacare
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis
Shelley Chi Mawhinney, Metuchen
Randy McArthur
Joe McCormack
Making Waves Foundation
Medtrak Rx
Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America
Sue Reek
Rab's Country Lanes
Rescuing Families, Inc.
Sulma Rivera
Staten Island Elected Officials
Staten Island Glove & Safety
Elizabeth Thomas
Westpoint Home
Oscar Valera, Metuchen
Amazon Smile is a free and easy way to help support Eden II. Simply select Eden II as the charity of your choice, and Amazon will donate a percentage of every purchase made back to Eden II when you shop through Amazon Smile. Click here to select Eden II.