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Staff Stories
Please take a few moments to read about KenCrest's staff and the incredible things they do behind the scenes every day.
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Virginia Hamby
Virginia Hamby, Social Worker, Children & Family Services, Lehigh Center
Recently a church group gave very generously to the Family Fund so that some of our families could have a happier Holiday. Later, they were interested in knowing how their gifts helped. Without hesitation, Virginia volunteered to attend an early Saturday morning meeting at the church to share stories of families who had been supported through their donations. She spent time gathering family stories. She drove an hour each way to meet with the group on the weekend. When thanked for her efforts, Virginia’s response: "I feel so thankful for the opportunity to have a job that allows me to experience the world in so many different
ways". Sometimes, Positive Approaches at KenCrest isn’t about giving – it’s about giving back.
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Tina Heckler
Tina Heckler, Secretary, Youth & Adult Services, Lifesharing
Last year, Tina came to KenCrest Lifesharing as a secretary. Before that, she never thought about organizations that supported people with special needs. One day as Tina was doing companion work for one of the people in the program, she realized that he had so much in common with her family. For example, they all loved the same social activities! Since then, Tina has become a Lifesharing provider, and this man – and his dog – have moved in with she and her family. Tina’s daughter, Brooke, now has a “brother” and all are quite happy. This is what Positive Approaches looks like at KenCrest.
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Tina Fisher
Tina Fisher, Coordinator, Youth & Adult Services, Lifesharing
While driving down a busy road on a recent work day, Tina found herself behind a Paratransit van. Suddenly, the van veered off the road. She pulled her car over, got her fire extinguisher out of the back, and went straight to the disabled van. There turned out to be no need for the fire extinguisher, and neither the driver nor the passenger was seriously injured. Tina stayed with the passenger until an emergency crew arrived, just to add some calming reassurance to a very upsetting situation for him. This is what Positive Approaches looks like at KenCrest.
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Betsy Greene
Betsy Greene, PC Technician, Collaborative Support Services, IT Services
The Personal Support Network staff held their first annual Thanksgiving Dinner for their supported living individuals, many of whom do not have families of their own outside of their KenCrest family. After finishing her work day, Besty volunteered her time to help serve the dinner. She not only pitched in to serve the food, but stayed to wash the dishes. For these people, Betsy helped make the difference between having a lonely holiday with nothing to do and having a celebration to remember. Thoughtful efforts like Betsy’s are what Positive Approaches looks like at KenCrest.
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Lana & Randy Toth
Lana Toth, Community Home Supervisor, and Randy Toth, Resident Advisor, Youth & Adult Services, Western Suburban Residential
Lana and Randy’s daughter was in a serious car accident, requiring surgery and hospitalization. The day after the accident, two of the gentlemen they support were supposed to go to a Phillies baseball game. In spite of their own personal crisis, Lana and Randy agreed that he would still accompany the men to Citizens Bank Park and make sure they had a good time and some laughs while Lana stayed with their daughter. They showed an uncommon ability to balance their own needs with the needs of the people they are committed to support. This is what positive approaches looks like at KenCrest.
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Zina Hicklin
Zina Hicklin, Resident Advisor, Youth & Adult Services, Delaware Program
While working together with Zina on a shift, a staff person discovered her car had a flat tire. She became very upset because she had never changed a tire before. Zina took charge of the situation. She went outside and changed the tire on the staff person’s car. She noticed that the spare tire needed air, something else her fellow worker had never done before. Zina followed her to a gas station and put air in the tire for her, giving up a personal appointment she had. Putting others before yourself – that is what positive approaches looks like at KenCrest!
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Harold Russell
Harold Russell, Program Coordinator, Youth & Adult Services, Delaware
We were in the process of trying to put “Storm Center” equipment in each group home in Delaware for the safety of our residents. We had tried several building supply companies and, given the number we need, the price was prohibitive. Harold went shopping and found a “Big Lots” store with the right equipment for less than one-third the price. However, they only had 10 in stock and we needed 27. He continued to check all of the similar stores in Delaware and Maryland, traveling to each one. Thanks to his determined efforts, we were able to purchase all the equipment necessary at a major savings. Everyone served in our Delaware programs benefited. This is what Positive Approaches looks like at KenCrest.
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Craig Weber
Craig Weber, Assistant Network Administrator, Collaborative Support Services, Plymouth Meeting Office
On a recent visit to one of the children’s centers, Craig had been called to work on a computer problem. While he was there, he was told about another problem that had gone unreported for 2 months. When that was repaired, he was asked to update the secretary’s computer. After successfully correcting each of those tasks, he reported to the program coordinator that he’d finished. In talking to her, he learned that she didn’t know how to perform a function on the computer that would save her time and headaches – so he stayed until she had mastered the skill. Patience, and the willingness to stay until the job is completed, that is what Positive Approaches looks like at KenCrest.
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Perry Hoagey & Bruce New
Perry Hoagey, Bruce New, Hikers, Youth & Adult Services
In March, Perry and Bruce embarked on the adventure of a lifetime – a hike of the entire Appalachian Trail through 14 states from Georgia to Maine. Inspired by the people they work with at KenCrest who love the outdoors and hiking, they decided to add a selfless purpose to their personal quest and raise funds for uncovered medical expenses for the people we serve. Health concerns forced Bruce to give up the hike after 300 miles. Perry continued on, and finished the entire 2,175 miles of the Trail in five months. Their efforts raised nearly $15,000. Sometimes Positive Approaches at KenCrest is in the form of common, everyday deeds. And sometimes it is an extraordinary accomplishment.
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Monique Thompson
Monique Thompson, Fiscal Manager, Collaborative Support Services, Plymouth Meeting Office
The Midvale Office called Monique about a large request from a funding source she had never worked with. It included multiple pages of data that needed to be collapsed into one document. The staff in the Midvale Office was stumped about how to do it. Monique suggested that the Midvale staff e-mail her the document and give her a few minutes. Five minutes later she e-mailed back a finished document exactly meeting the request. She had stopped what she was doing to share her expertise with her co-workers on a project that was entirely unrelated to her work. This is what Positive Approaches looks like at KenCrest.
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