For Immediate Release
Evening of Empowerment News Release
Media Contact:
Erica Moulton
emoulton@eastersealsma.org
508-751-6372
Easter Seals Massachusetts Evening of Empowerment Honors Those Who Ensure Children and Adults with Disabilities have Equal Opportunities to Live, Learn, Work and Play
APRIL 7, 2016 – BOSTON MA -- Last night, more than 375 people, including former Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan and event emcee WBZ-TV’s Paula Ebben, joined Easter Seals Massachusetts for its Evening of Empowerment. The annual event celebrates people and companies who work tirelessly to ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Held at the Westin Waterfront, Boston, MA, the event also honored Kirk Joslin, served as president and CEO of Easter Seals Massachusetts for the last 20 years, until passing the baton to Paul Medeiros on November 1, 2015.
“What an incredible experience to be in a room filled with people who share an unsurpassed commitment to empowering people with disabilities so they have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play,” said Paul Medeiros, president and CEO, Easter Seals Massachusetts. “I know I speak for the entire Easter Seals Massachusetts organization in expressing our gratitude to our sponsors, supporters and the Evening of Empowerment event committee for making this such a special evening.”
Tweet this: Congratulations @EasterSeals MA #EveningofEmpowerment 2016 award winners! Your work is truly inspiring! @KirkJoslin @Laddawn @HarvardPilgrim
Continuing its long-standing tradition, Easter Seal Massachusetts clients and supporters delivered inspirational presentations of the awards:
Remon Jourdan, better known as Rey, was left paralyzed from the waist down and with limited use of his arms as a result of a car accident. Rey, who has made the most of assistive technology available through Easter Seals Massachusetts, read a poem from his book, Write 2 Right, and introduced Rick and Dick Hoyt. The Hoyts, well-known for their efforts to break down barriers faced by people with disabilities, presented Easter Seals Massachusetts with a $40,000 check from Team Hoyt.
Paul Foley, who has lacked the use of his limbs since birth, has also been successful with some help from assistive technology provided by Easter Seals Massachusetts. He is a software developer at MIT Lincoln Laboratories and a board member of Easter Seals Massachusetts. Paul presented the Equal Opportunities to Work Award to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, which was recognized for its efforts to ensure it has an inclusive work environment where barriers for individuals with disabilities are addressed and eliminated. Harvard Pilgrim sees the value in diversity and recognizes it as an asset for the organization and the community.
Another motivational Easter Seals client is Jesse Ascioti, who is hard of hearing and legally blind. While working as a camp counselor at Easter Seals Camp, he helped found a program to teach American Sign Language to the campers and staff. Jesse proudly presented the Empowerment Award – the Live, Learn, Work and Play Award – to Kirk Joslin. Among Kirk’s countless achievements, he conceived the Assistive Technology Resource Center (ATRC), which has helped thousands of Easter Seals Massachusetts clients learn about and make informed decisions regarding assistive technology they can use to increase their independence at home, on the job or in school. Located in the heart of downtown Boston, the ATRC is unique to Easter Seals Massachusetts and houses hundreds of high- and low-tech devices designed to help people with disabilities ranging from autism to multiple sclerosis.
Kirk continued the celebration of outstanding individuals and organizations with the presentation of the 2016 Team Hoyt Award to Laddawn, Inc., a Devens, MA-based distributor of high quality packaging products. Laddawn employees have truly been a team by volunteering and using innovative fundraising ideas to support Easter Seals programs. This incredible group raised a record $200,000 over the last year for Easter Seals Massachusetts, and has contributed more than $1.5 million over the years.
http://www.easterseals.com/ma/get-involved/events/evening-of-empowerment.html
About Easter Seals Massachusetts
Since its founding in 1944, Easter Seals Massachusetts has had one mission: ensuring that children and adults with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play. In 2015, Easter Seals services benefited more than 26,000 Massachusetts residents with disabilities, their families, teachers and employers.
