Check out your Company Bowl for anonymous work chats.
It’s been a busy few months of engaging activities that made the winter season enjoyable for students, adults, and staff alike! From outdoor fun in the snow to learning in the classroom, we spent time building community and making connections throughout the colder months.
From student holiday shows and festive community outings to parties and time spent with friends and colleagues, the individuals we serve and our staff have been enjoying the winter holiday season together!
Congratulations to Rita M. Gardner, on reaching a monumental milestone – 10 years as President and CEO of Melmark! Over the past decade, Rita’s mission-first leadership has guided Melmark through a period of tremendous growth, innovation, and resilience. More than 600 individuals and their families, supported by a team of 1,500+ dedicated professionals, have benefited from her steadfast vision and compassion. Rita has led Melmark with passion, purpose, and dedication, strengthening our foundation and positively impacting the IDD community. In the last decade, $12.5M has been invested in staff wages, benefits, and training, the Endowment Fund grew from $6.8M to nearly $90M, Melmark Carolinas opened in 2018 and a second New England day school in 2022. Additional highlights include a 103% increase in program service revenue, the creation of the EnvisionSMART™ Institute to advance research and training, and 494% growth in total cash and investments. Rita’s legislative leadership resulted in the passage of House Bill 959 to establish the Melmark Model in NC and she co-authored the EnvisionSMART™ guidebook series. Rita and Melmark have been included for eight consecutive years on The Women’s Edge Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in MA and she led the development of an intentional adult community model for individuals with profound autism and developmental disabilities. Rita - thank you for a decade of mission-first transformative leadership and we look forward to what’s to come!
Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week is held annually each September. We want to pause, acknowledge, and highlight our dedicated DSPs and thank them for the incredible work that they do to support all of the individuals and families in our Melmark community. Their contributions are vital in helping every individual, every day live their best life and support best outcomes. Thank you to our team of DSPs for the incomparable care they give to those we serve and for always being mission-first.
Thank you to our highly-skilled Melmark school staff for their dedication and mission-first work during our Extended School Year (ESY)! It was a summer filled with learning, laughter, and community building.
May is National Nurses Month! It’s a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the vital contributions nurses make to healthcare and their communities. Thank you to our incredible nursing team for their compassion care, dedication, and expertise. They make a difference every day in the lives of the individuals we serve We’re grateful for all you do to keep our Melmark community healthy and safe!
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Last week, we celebrated and honored the lasting impact of our incredible educators who go above and beyond every single day. Thank you for your passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to making Melmark a place of growth, learning, and support. Let’s all give our teachers a shoutout for the incredible work they do!
