Because of you...
we've reached new heights in a year full of momentum and milestones. You've made it possible for the individuals and families we serve to reach for the sky.
LOGAN begins providing services for Hannah & Friends Neighborhood
We began providing residential and adult day services at Hannah & Friends Neighborhood in South Bend on March 1, 2018. The collaboration expanded The Studios at LOGAN to a new site and added four more homes to LOGAN’s residential program.
In a press release announcing the change, Matt Harrington, President and CEO of LOGAN, said the partnership was a “natural and mutually beneficial evolution of our relationship” with Hannah & Friends. “LOGAN and Hannah & Friends want the same thing,” he said. “We want women and men with intellectual and developmental disabilities to realize their full potential in life.”
Staff at both agencies worked hard to ensure the transition went smoothly. Since many of the adults affected by the change already participated in LOGAN programs, they welcomed their new service provider. We kept staff changes to a minimum, by inviting existing staff at Hannah & Friends to apply for jobs at LOGAN.
"Hannah & Friends is proud to be partnering with LOGAN, which has been a fixture in the disability field for nearly 70 years,” said Kayle Sexton, Director of Operations for Hannah & Friends Neighborhood. She also serves on the board of directors for its parent agency, Hannah & Friends. “LOGAN feels the same way we do about providing quality of service and life for individuals who have different abilities – including their families."
"Charlie and I are thrilled about the collaboration between Hannah & Friends and LOGAN,” said Maura Weis, Founder, Executive Director and Chair of the Hannah & Friends board of directors. “Working together on this project will lead to great things in the future."
LOGAN staff honored, thanked
for doing “sacred work.”
We applauded the milestones of 48 LOGAN staff during the LOGAN Employee Recognition Luncheon on October 18 at The Morris Inn. Christine Darnold, a Direct Support Professional in Family Supports at LOGAN Center, was named the John Ayers Employee of the Year, and Dana Griggs - Molenda, coordinator of Adult Recreation Services, received the Rosemary Beutel Award for exemplary service.
Maura Weiss, founder and executive director of Hannah & Friends, served as guest speaker, sharing from her heart what it means to parents to have people in their lives supporting their children. “Your work every day with our special people is incredible,” she said. “I think that you are angels walking on the planet. I really do.” Maura thanked the honorees for their dedication and, most of all, their friendship. “As a parent, I’m going to let you know, you’re never underappreciated,” she said. “You go in and take care of other people’s children like they are your own. You welcome them into your life and become their friends. It’s a beautiful thing! … I just want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”
Maura said LOGAN has made a huge difference for Hannah & Friends since becoming the residential and adult day services provider back in March. “You’re efficient, you’re organized, the house is always clean,” she praised. “As charities, I think we’ve shown people in South Bend that we can work together, that we can become stronger because we are together.”
Matt Harrington, LOGAN President and CEO, recognized 48 staff for reaching 5-, 10-, 15-, 25-, 30- and 35-year milestones. “To understand the impact you make in the lives of the people we serve just makes me so proud to work at LOGAN, to work alongside of you,” he said. “You all should be commended. What you bring to our clients, your fellow staff, our clients’ families, the community at large – it’s inspirational. … I really believe the work all of you do every day is truly sacred work.”
Click here to see photos and a complete list of the honorees.
Cheryl Schade receives state recognition
One of our officers received well-deserved statewide recognition in March. Cheryl Schade, Vice President and Chief Program Officer, was presented the inaugural Pinnacle Award at the 2018 INARF Annual Awards Luncheon on March 21. The honor is given to an outstanding professional level staff member working in the field of human services. Cheryl was cited for her outstanding dedication to advocacy, innovation and education.
“During her 38 year-long career, Cheryl Schade has used her expertise to better serve people with I/DD. Additionally, she has provided leadership to staff in a variety of services including residential, day program, employment services, behavior supports, and children’s services,” said Jim Allbaugh, chairman of the INARF board of directors.
Excellence in Impact
We received a prestigious honor in Michigan in March. The LOGAN Autism Learning Center - Southwest Michigan and its staff were honored by the United Way of Southwest Michigan with its 2017 Excellence in Impact Award. The award was announced and presented at a banquet on March 15, 2018. This award recognizes organizations for making a measurable difference in Berrien and/or Cass County and for displaying a spirit of collaboration and a willingness to take risks.
The Autism Learning Center and its staff were cited specifically for growing to meet the considerable demand to help children with autism, resulting in a broadening impact throughout Southwest Michigan. They were praised for their “unwavering focus” on helping each child rise to their highest potential in their family, school, and community.
“All of our programs accomplish amazing things for the people we serve,” said Matt Harrington, LOGAN President and CEO. “It just so happens that most days the community does not provide them awards or recognition for their impact. Congratulations to all of the team members at the Autism Learning Center in Southwest Michigan!”
You did it!
Because of you, we completed our $1.6 million “For the Kids” campaign in November of 2018. We paid off the construction loans for our LOGAN Autism Learning Center – Southwest Michigan in Benton Harbor.
The need for autism services in the Berrien/Cass county region was so great and so urgent, we took a risk. We started a fund-raising campaign after we purchased an abandoned school building and broke ground for a major renovation. We started the project in January 2016 and cut the ribbon to the new center eight months later, in September. We've been adding families and services and continuing to transform the property ever since.
Because of you, we’ve moved children off waiting lists and into services. We’ve added adolescent and adult programs and continue to grow to meet the needs of the region. A big thank you to all of our donors for making this campaign a success. We confidently took the risk because we knew we could count on you.
The Little Learning Center opens at LOGAN
We made room at LOGAN Center to expand the Sonya Ansari Center for Autism and serve more children. We renovated space to create a therapeutic classroom for children ages 2 to 8 inside the main building. We celebrated the opening of The Little Learning Center in October. “Creation of the new classroom enables us to move more children off the waiting list and into services,” said Joshua John Diehl, Ph.D., Chief Program Officer/Children & Adolescent Services. “As I've said before, I hate waiting lists. So this is good news.”
The Sonya Ansari Autism Learning Center – Granger, also serves children ages 2 to 8. Services for adolescents are provided at the Sonya Ansari Center for Autism, located on the LOGAN Center campus. The new classroom, and the renovations needed to build it, were made possible through a generous grant provided by the Schurz Foundation.