2011-2012 Annual Report

Easter Seals “wishes to be ... instrumental in effecting good ...
While with many this may be a vision, yet, with us it is reality.”
-- Edgar F. Allen, 1922

Easter Seals offers help, hope and answers to children and adults with disabilities and their families in the united States and Australia, and through our global partners in puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico. We are the leading non-profit provider of services for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, physical and mental disabilities, and other special needs. easter Seals also provides critical community-based supports and services to military service members, veterans, their families and families of the fallen.

Easter Seals Representatives Ben Trockman, Shannon Eaton and Palmer Harston say thank you to Top Corporate Sponsor Safeway at easter Seals 2012 Celebration of Giving

Through therapy, training, education and support services, Easter Seals creates life-changing solutions so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in their communities.

Easter Seals relies on family and friends, our advocates and philanthropists to provide meaningful services and supports. We are passionate about making the world a better place for people living with disabilities and special needs.

Volunteer leaders are at the center of who we are and what we do. Thousands strong, Easter Seals volunteers lend their expertise and give generously of their time, talent and resources to assure Easter Seals organizations meet the needs of their communities. These are volunteer leaders who care deeply about improving the lives of people with disabilities and their families. They know Easter Seals offers top quality services, and conducts business in an efficient, effective and ethical manner.

Our staff of nearly 24,000 share a dedication to providing exceptional services and support to individuals and their families, who come to Easter Seals with questions and hopes to achieve their immediate goals and their dreams.

As advocates for public policy that gives people with disabilities the chance to live, learn, work and play in their communities, Easter Seals Office of Public Affairs staff, Easter Seals affiliate leaders and client families correspond and meet with federal, state and local government leaders. Our focus has been on protecting key federal and state programs that provide for the needs of children and adults with disabilities and offer critical services to families, when they need them.

Singer/songwriter/philanthropist Avril Lavigne joins participants at Easter Seals Southern California’s Camp Oakes for some fun.

Easter Seals celebrates the generosity of friends who are investing in our future and know the impact of their personal philanthropy. Thousands of individual and major donors have made personal commitments to create a better life for children and adults with disabilities. We also are reaching out to friends who have been a part of Easter Seals over the years, encouraging planned gifts to assure their legacies and Easter Seals’ future.

Easter Seals’ family of corporate partners, their employees and customers contributed nearly $20 million to augment Easter Seals work in their communities. We thank our corporate partners for their example of corporate social responsibility. Safeway Inc., Food Lion LLC, Century 21 Real Estate LLC, CVS Caremark, Amway, and Friendly’s Restaurants lead a group of national corporate partners. We also thank CVS Caremark, Century 21®, Amway and MassMutual Financial Group for sponsoring Easter Seals Walk With Me®. This fun family event engaged nearly 23,000 enthusiastic participants and donors last year at 60 events, raising $3.7 million for Easter Seals services in the United States. Ability First Australia affiliates continue to develop their Walk With Me programs, with 20 scheduled this year. Easter Seals also benefits from millions of donors, old friends and new, who contribute to requests by telephone, mail and through online giving opportunities. These gifts reflect our donors’ trust in Easter Seals. Easter Seals staff also are donors. Last year, staff across the United States contributed more than $1 million to Easter Seals Caring & Sharing program, which supports clients’ and families’ needs. All told, Easter Seals staff have contributed more than $13 million over 17 years.

The profiles on these pages are an introduction to Easter Seals leaders and innovators: Kenan Sklenar, Patsy Samuel and Shelley Oksness. share. In their respective roles, each helps Easter Seals deliver help, hope and answers. The stories of Auburn Smith and Richard Mariello,Easter Seals 2013 Youth and Adult Representatives, speak to the impact of Easter Seals’ early identification and intervention services for children, and services and support of military families.