Posts tagged northern kentucky
Redwood has a fresh new logo and tagline and we wanted you to be one of the first to see it. Watch for it in the months ahead, in your annual campaign letter and 2013 Express invitation. Please be on the lookout for these mailings as they will feature our new logo and design.
Over the years, Redwood has seen significant growth – from several expansions to our facility to the increasing number of programs and people served. This growth has been possible thanks to the support and commitment of donors like yourself.
To better reflect the spirit of our mission and the unique services that Redwood provides for persons with disabilities, a new logo has been developed. It suggests a tree and leaf, as well as the letter “r.” The shades of green symbolize growth, optimism, and healing while also reflecting the colors, strength, and longevity of a redwood tree. The tagline – Where abilities grow – describes the belief that we at Redwood have had in serving our clients for almost 60 years.
A Job Well Done Leads to Community Collaboration!!!
Have you heard the exciting news? Redwood’s children are getting a new playground thanks to community and organization wide effort! A group of Redwood staff started the initiative by forming an ad hoc committee to discuss ways the playground could be improved. This group included Katrina Murphy, Peggy Farmer, Lyda Eagle, Jenn Weiss, Kayla Worthington, and Telly McGaha. Soon after, Michelle Rummel at United Way received a call from GE employees wanting to volunteer. She steered them in Bridgette’s direction. This team of engineers adopted our playground makeover project, which started out as a request to help us replace the flooring in our toddler playground. However, once they visited Redwood and met our children, the project took an amazing turn. Lisa Moloney, the team leader at GE and mother of a toddler, told Bridgette she felt compelled to do more! Soon after, GE asked to completely replace the entire playground!
Lisa and the team at GE immediately reached out to Walnut Grove Playgrounds, who sent a representative, Ken, to meet with us. Ken toured Redwood and helped choose new equipment and features that best meet our needs. GE’s foundation provided a $15,000 grant to help cover the cost of the equipment. An additional grant was received from the Jack J. Smith Charitable Trust with PNC Bank. Still short, GE agreed to provide an additional $10,000. This amazing act of generosity helped secure nearly 95% of the necessary funding.
Since then, recent volunteers at Redwood have decided to help facilitate this project. Scott Dinius at Western Southern Financial is submitting a proposal to his company’s foundation to cover the remaining costs. As so many hands are needed for this project, volunteers from Ethicon Endo Surgery and Fed Ex have offered to bring teams out for a day of service to install the new playground.
From people busily working and managing the programs taking the time to create and serve on ad hoc committee to the support from and coordination of United Way and area corporations, this is an amazing collaborative project for Redwood and those we serve. The project would not be possible if all of us, within our different roles throughout Redwood, were not working collectively towards our common mission of guiding children and adults to achieve independence and reach their full potential throughout their lives. We are doing amazing things for the people we serve — and it shows.
Come out this week and see for yourself what Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) at Redwood is all about! Meet our doctors, nurses, onsite therapists, and certified child care staff during our PPEC Open House.
Times of the Open Hou
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Redwood is proud to announce that we are now offering Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) services in Northern Kentucky. Our Open House is this Friday, October 26.
We’re participating in a competition from Safeco and could use your help! Now through July 27, you can vote for Redwood in Safeco’s Make More Happen competition. The top four vote getters will win $7,500. You can vote once every 24-hours on your smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers, etc. Voting resets after 24 hours so that you can vote again. Please spread the word! Thank you!
Estate tax law uncertainty: Keeping your plan on track
During these uncertain times, it’s also important to regularly review your estate plan.
If Congress allows current rates and exemptions to expire at the end of 2012 as scheduled, your family could lose significant amounts of wealth to gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes. But Congress may extend current exemptions and rates or take other action.
Because of this uncertainty with estate tax laws, you need to make sure you’re on the right track. If your estate exceeds $1 million — or you and your spouse’s estates combined exceed $2 million — consider whether you should make gifts this year.
As long as you don’t exceed your $5.12 million exemption (less any taxable gifts you’ve previously made), you won’t owe any tax on the gifts. This likely will remove the assets from your taxable estate and, at minimum, will remove their future appreciation. Note, though, that in certain circumstances gifts made in the past might be included in your estate. So it’s important to understand the consequences of making the gift. And, before making a gift, be sure that doing so won’t jeopardize your own financial security.
During these uncertain times, it’s also important to regularly review your estate plan. Make sure it takes maximum advantage of current estate tax law, and yet still has the flexibility to adapt to future estate tax law changes.
For example, if your estate plan includes a credit shelter trust to protect both you and your spouse’s estate tax exemptions, make sure the plan allows you to take maximum advantage of the available exemption while still providing the surviving spouse sufficient assets to maintain his or her lifestyle.
Minimizing taxes is only one aspect of estate planning, but it can help you achieve other goals as well — such as providing for loved ones or supporting charity. That’s why it’s important to make the most of available tax breaks and be prepared for future estate tax law changes.
Walgreens Launches National Initiative to Create More Job Opportunities for People with Disabilities
In a May 14, 2102 press release issued in the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch, Walgreen has announced the launch of its national Retail Employees with Disabilities Initiative (REDI). The in-store training program helps people with disabilities gain retail and customer service skills, and works closely with community organizations and providers. A similar initiative at Walgreens distribution centers resulted in 10 percent of the workforce composed of people with disabilities at all levels.
In 2010, the drugstore chain piloted REDI in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, partnering with store managers and job coaches. After more than 66 percent of REDI graduates were recommended for hire, the program grew to more than 150 stores throughout Texas, New York and Connecticut.
“We are committed to helping customers live well, stay well and get well, and to do that you need team members who are dedicated to excellent customer service,” said Mark Wagner, Walgreens president of operations and community management. “This program highlights ability and gives candidates the tools to be successful in any retail setting.”
The first phase of REDI will begin in parts of Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin, with plans to reach all states by the end of 2013.
According to the Disability Scoop, Walgreens’ efforts to expand disability employment have become a model for other employers. Last year, Proctor & Gamble said it would follow in the drugstore’s footsteps when they announced that at least 30 percent of employees at a new packaging facility in Maine would be people with physical or developmental disabilities.
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Redwood has been nominated for the Best of Northern Kentucky in two, yes, TWO, categories: Best preschool program and best charitable race, our Branching Out for Redwood 5K. If you’re going to be at the event on Thursday, please stop by our booth and vote for Redwood!
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