About The Foundation
The York Foundation
In an effort to address the disparity that people with disabilities experience everyday, Dr. Clarence York and Robert Stack created The York Foundation, an IRS tax-exempt organization under 501(c)3, identification number 22-3839872.
The York Foundation intends to establish a $10 million endowment to further our effort to help empower individuals with disabilities. The Foundation seeks to assist individuals with disabilities in achieving their maximum potential by integrating independence, self-determination, and productivity into all facets of their lives.
The York Foundation serves as a proactive partner with the community to promote an environment of dignity and self-determination for individuals with disabilities and their families. The Foundation's primary focus is centered on developing programs and services that will empower individuals with disabilities.
Primary Funding Interests:
- Programs that have a long lasting, positive impact on the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities.
- Programs that create and promote real opportunities for people with disabilities within their community, enabling them to choose the nature and level of their participation.
- Programs that help people with disabilities to achieve their maximum potential through independence, self-determination, productivity and integration in all facets of life.
The ability to accomplish these three goals is vital to the continued success of Community Options, Inc. and the individuals supported by its programs. With financial support derived from interest income of the endowment fund, The York Foundation will develop a stable funding source to enhance the mission of Community Options, Inc.
Funding
All gifts to The York Foundation, regardless of the amount, are truly appreciated, and help us carry out our mission of empowerment and inclusion for people with disabilities. The York Foundation offers several financial giving options, listed below, each with its own advantages.
Planned Giving
Charitable Gift AnnuityCharitable Remainder Annuity Trust
Charitable Remainder Unitrust
Life Estate Agreement
Life Insurance
Wills & Bequests
Ways to Give
To donate, please visit
comop.org/get-involved/financial-gifts/. After your donation is received, you will receive an acknowledgement letter for your records with our tax identification number.
To learn more about the many ways you can help The York Foundation and Community Options, Inc., please contact The York Foundation at: (609) 951-9900 or
moreinfo@comop.org
Community Options Inc.
About Community Options, Inc.
Residential Services
Community Options, Inc. provides community-based options for residential support services to individuals with disabilities. Staff meet with the individual and their family to ensure that each individual's plan is person-centered, incorporating the person's preferences accordingly.
Housing services are designed to assist people with disabilities moving from nursing homes and state institutions, or who are living with family members and are on waiting lists for community placement, to find housing in the community. Community Options also provides supports for people living at home with their families or residing in their own homes.
Employment Services
Community Options Enterprises, Inc. (COE) provides employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, regardless of the severity of their disability. COE works to empower people with disabilities who were previously institutionalized and labeled “unteachable”. By seeing beyond the disability and focusing on individuals’ abilities and strengths, COE gives people with disabilities the opportunity to realize their true potential.
Three different employment programs have been developed for individuals seeking career development and exploration.
Supported Employment: Supported employment gives individuals with disabilities the opportunity to work in competitive jobs within the community. People served receive assistance in attaining a job, matching their skills, interests, and work environment needs. Each person receives individualized assistance in order to make the best job match.
Entrepreneurial Businesses: Our entrepreneurial businesses serve as an alternative to traditional adult training centers or workshops. The entrepreneurial businesses are owned and operated by COE in order to teach and employ people with disabilities. These businesses provide the opportunity for individuals to learn transferable skills, make at least minimum wage, and be integrated into an environment with the general population.
Option Quest: Option Quest does not replace or eliminate the opportunity for persons receiving support to work in the community. Option Quest can be the vehicle that enables people to explore their abilities while working with their support staff in discovering their potential.
Option Quest strives to educate employers while matching people receiving support to jobs that allow them to achieve fulfillment and benefit their employers.
History
History of Community Options, Inc
Community Options, Inc was incorporated on February 9, 1989, to develop residential and employment supports for people with severe disabilities, utilizing technology and training. As a national agency, Community Options has participated in institutional closure and community residential placement for thousands of people across several states. Community Options does not administer any large congregate programs, recognizing that people with the most severe disabilities need environments, equipment, clinical and staff support that are tailored to their very specific needs. In its history, the agency has developed a reputation for quality, through cost effective administration, that encourages individual choice and flexibility.
The officers, management and staff of Community Options, Inc. have many years of experience in providing community-based residential and employment support to people with intellectual disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, traumatic brain injury and dual diagnoses. The agency has developed an expertise in working with state and county-based authorities to facilitate community placement for persons moving from institutions. This expertise includes utilization of national staff to support locally recruited executive directors in submitting individualized service plans, locating and securing appropriate homes, condominiums and apartments, and recruiting and training experienced staff. Community Options also hires state-of-the-art consultants to assist staff in designing and operating services that meet very specific needs.
Additionally, the organization is experienced in providing International support services in the United Kingdom, Eastern and Western Europe, and the Middle East.
The People
The strength of Community Options has always been its people. The careful selection and training of staff members has created a culture based on commitment to community-based support and respect for individual dreams. The corporate structure provides national support and local autonomy. The early decision to maintain one corporate entity nationwide and to centralize functional departments has proven effective. Planning, human resources, fiscal services, technology, training and public relations support are all based in Princeton, New Jersey.
This allows executive directors to concentrate on people and program issues. National staff members maintain a sharp focus on the corporate mission through connections with the people receiving services. This convivial atmosphere allows employees at every level to celebrate individual triumphs and to understand the direct link between job performance and the quality of life for people with disabilities. Employees are valued for the professional and personal talents they bring to their positions.
A composite bond application was approved by the Economic Development Authority of the State of New Jersey to maximize future capital acquisitions. Insurance costs have been reduced through membership in an insurance pool. National vendors are utilized to reduce unit price costs, thereby taking advantage of volume discounts. The goal of the business office is to identify opportunities to allocate maximum funding to direct service expenditures.
The York Foundation Board of Directors
- Robert Stack, Chairman
- Philip Lian, Trustee
- Domenico Maiuri, Trustee
- Svetlana Repic-Qira, Trustee
- James Buckley, ex officio