News and Events
Parkinson Residence Receives $100,000 Grant
The Mele Family Fund, a donor-advised fund of The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc., has awarded Presbyterian Home for Central New York with a grant for $100,000. The funds are dedicated to Presbyterian Home's Parkinson Renovation Project which is designed to help those with Parkinson Disease live more independently and improve their quality of life through advancements in motion and voice technology. Phase one of the project is currently underway and consists of necessary infrastructure updates such as a sprinkler system, new nursing call system, heating ventilation system a new roof and modifications to some resident rooms. "The Presbyterian Homes Foundation is incredibly thankful to the Mele Family for their interest in our project. Their contribution is the second largest donation in history that our Foundation has ever received. They trust what we are doing for people in our community with Parkinson Disease and I think that speaks volumes. They want to help, they want to be a part of the solution and for that we are grateful." stated Lenora D'Apice, director of development at Presbyterian Home.
Parkinson Awareness Walk Raises over $30,000
On October 8th Presbyterian Homes Foundation hosted their 9th annual Parkinson Awareness Walk. The walk was held to raise awareness and funds to support members of our community with Parkinson Disease. This year, local physician, Dr. Guy Wilcox was honored as grand marshal to lead the one mile walk through the Presbyterian Homes & Services campus. Throughout the walk, participants enjoyed a variety of musical entertainment and giveaways from sponsors. A groundbreaking ceremony was also held at the event to kick off Presbyterian Homes' Parkinson Renovation Project. The project is designed to help those living with Parkinson Disease live more independently and improve their quality of life through advancements in motion and voice technology. Through the efforts of the sponsors, staff, and volunteers Presbyterian Homes Foundation was able to raise over $30,000.00 from the weekend events!
The Johnny Golf tournament benefits Presbyterian Home Parkinson Project
On Friday, September 2nd, "The Johnny" was hosted at Stonebridge Golf & Country Club. This was the inaugural golf tournament to honor Johnny Ambrose who was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease over five years ago. The event hosted over 100 golfers and was organized by friends and family of Ambrose. The tournament raised $4,200.00 which was generously donated to Presbyterian Home for Central New York. All of the proceeds will be used strictly for the Presbyterian Home Parkinson Renovation Project which is designed to assist those with Parkinson Disease to live more independently.
Pictured: L to R: Tony Joseph, Lenora D'Apice, Johnny Ambrose
Tony Joseph wins NYAHSA Leadership Award
On June 22nd Tony Joseph, Administrator of Presbyterian Home for Central New York, was honored by New York Association of Homes & Services for the Aging (NYAHSA) and was presented the James W. Sanderson Memorial Award for Leadership. The Sanderson Award is given to a New York state resident devoted to the field of long term care and honors personal leadership and commitment for those working in the not-for-profit sector. Mr. Joseph was sought after for this award for his demonstrated ability to develop programs that meet the needs of his residents and community. Presbyterian Home's renowned Parkinson Residence and telemedicine program are models that are now being replicated internationally.
NPR Highlights Presbyterian Home's Telemedicine Program
On June 27th National Public Radio (NPR) aired a special segment dedicated to Presbyterian Home for Central New York's telemedicine program. Telemedicine is the use of electronic communications (web cameras and flat screen TV's) between a doctor and patient to exchange medical information from one site to another and to evaluate and improve the patient's health status. Presbyterian Home has been utilizing this technology for the past seven years to improve the lives of their residents and community members with Parkinson Disease. For those with this disease, traveling for extended periods of time to see a specialist hundreds of miles away becomes very uncomfortable and difficult. Telemedicine allows those with Parkinson's near New Hartford, NY to make a short drive to Presbyterian Home where they can meet with movement disorder specialists from the University of Rochester or Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore. This greatly reduces the stress and concerns that would otherwise be associated with a lengthy commute. Those in the program sit in a private conference room and are able to see and speak with their doctor on a flat screen TV and the doctor can do the same from a laptop to assess their patient's condition. Clinical trials of the program have found that the quality of care is as good as or better than in-person visits and participants claim they are allowed more time with their physician. The full NPR broadcast can be found on their website under the title "The Parkinson's Doctor Will Video Chat With You Now". For more information on telemedicine and how it could help you, call Presbyterian Home at 315-272-2201.
THANK YOU
Thank you so much for your commitment to helping the Presbyterian Homes Foundation raise the funds necessary to continue to provide services to individuals in our community. Thanks to your generosity, the Foundation has raised over $100,000.00 this year. You are the reason we accomplished this goal.
The money raised with your assistance will help fund a variety of projects including Telemedicine, our Parkinson Renovation Project, our Activities Department, our Chaplaincy Program and many other worthwhile projects on our campus. Thanks to your willingness to give freely, the lives of many people affected will be improved. When you see examples of our everyday services, you will be able to know that your efforts play an important role in making these services possible.
Your generosity makes a huge difference in the lives of many people. The Presbyterian Homes Foundation could not be effective without the kindness of people like you. We want to make sure you know just how much your past efforts have been appreciated, as well as how much your continued willingness to support us is valued.
Best to you and yours,
Presbyterian Homes Foundation
Presbyterian Home for CNY receives $25,000.00 grant
The grant comes from the J.M. McDonald Foundation, Inc., a trust whose income is to be used as donations to deserving charities. The primary interests of the Foundation are education, humanities, health, and a variety of social and human services.
Presbyterian Home for CNY continues to be a leader in the community for Parkinson Disease care, education and research. This grant will allow Presbyterian Homes & Services to continue offering Telemedicine to people in the community with Parkinson Disease. The Telemedicine program allows patients with Parkinson Disease to access neurologists from the University of Rochester via technology right from the campus of the Presbyterian Home in New Hartford. More recently, Presbyterian Homes & Services has aligned with Johns Hopkins through telemedicine as well. "It's amazing how far we have come as a healthcare provider. Just this year our Administrator, Tony Joseph, was invited to speak in Paris, France with regards to our advancements in Telemedicine and Parkinson Disease. Our community had a dream and everyone is helping to make it come true. The fact that we can continue to give people of our community an opportunity to meet with the best neurologists' right from our campus is incredible. Telemedicine truly is cutting-edge and we are really fortunate to be able to offer this remarkable service," stated Lenora D'Apice, director of development for Presbyterian Homes & Services.
2 Day Parkinson Event a Huge Success!
On Friday, September 17th Rasheda Ali joined Presbyterian Homes & Services in the fight against Parkinson Disease. The entire event, sponsored by the Presbyterian Homes Foundation, began with Ali speaking at the Clinton Middle School on Friday afternoon to a crowd of 300 children. Her message was simple: Be sensitive to anyone afflicted with a disease. On Friday evening, her enthusiasm continued on at Daniele's Banquet Specialists where she spoke more in depth about her crusade against PD. Her visit concluded with a walk on Saturday morning on the campus of Presbyterian Homes & Services where Ali served as the Grand Marshal for the walk. Through the efforts of the sponsors, staff, and volunteers we were able to raise over $25,000.00 from the weekend events!
Click here to visit Rasheda Ali's website now!
17th Annual Golf Scramble Update
We are pleased to announce that this years 17th Annual Golf Scramble was one of our most successful ever! The event, which raised money to benefit our specialized unit for those living with Parkinson Disease, raised over $16,000.00! Thank you to all of our major sponsors, volunteers, committee members and participants. Even with a mid-day shower everyone had a great day! We look forward to hosting the event next year!
The Community Foundation grants Presbyterian Homes & Services $35,000.00
Presbyterian Homes & Services have been awarded a grant in the amount of $35,000.00 from the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc. These funds will be used to help the ongoing support of the telemedicine program. This program allows patients with Parkinson Disease to access neurologists from the University of Rochester via technology. The patients are set-up in a room on the Presbyterian Home campus and are able to have a medical visit with their neurologist located out in Rochester.
The Community Foundation has been a force for improving lives and promoting philanthropy throughout Herkimer and Oneida counties since 1952 and has made more than 3,800 grants totaling over $26.8 million. Grants are generated by the more than 240 funds that comprise The Foundation's endowment, established and advanced by area individuals and families.
Funds donated by The Knights of St. John-Denti Foundation
The Knights of St. John-Denti Foundation donated funds to Presbyterian Homes & Services for the purchase of lift chairs for residents who need them.
Pictured from left to right are Paul Maphia, Tony Joseph (Presbyterian Home Administrator), Frank Roefaro and Ray Mazza.
Young Boy Scout Honors Veterans with Fountain
Brian Fee from Boy Scout Troop 14 wanted to do something special to earn his Eagle Scout status. He decided to build a water fountain and dedicate it to all veteran's, including his grandfather who is a resident at the home.
Pictured are Fred Williams, Post Commander New Hartford American Legion and Brian Fee. The fountain project helped Brian to earn Eagle Scout status.
