Two Non-Profit Health and Human Service Organizations Announce Executive Management Agreement
Strategic Partnership to Enhance Community Services and Operational Efficiency
Rochester, NY, 7/29/24 – Finger Lakes United Cerebral Palsy, Inc./Happiness House and United Cerebral Palsy Association of Cayuga County New York, Inc./E. John Gavras Center is pleased to announce a new executive management agreement aimed at enhancing the delivery of health and human services to the community. This strategic partnership will leverage the strengths of both organizations to improve service delivery, increase operational efficiency, and expand outreach efforts.
Under this agreement, Darrell Whitbeck, currently the President and CEO of Happiness House, an Ability Partners agency, will assume the role of CEO for both organizations. This unified leadership structure is designed to foster collaboration, streamline administrative processes, and maximize resources to better serve the needs of the community.
Since 1969, Happiness House has been serving the Finger Lakes community. Parents of children with Cerebral Palsy in Geneva banded together to start Happiness House. The New York State Elks Club and the Women's Club of Geneva raised the necessary funds to open the first childcare program in a house on North Street, initially serving five children with disabilities. Today, Happiness House operates locations in Canandaigua, Geneva, Stanley, Waterloo, and the Golisano Autism Center in Rochester, supporting 1,700 families annually.
The partnership will enhance two nonprofit organizations, offering valuable lifelong care services to over 1,800 individuals, including those with and without disabilities. Additionally, the formation of a more efficient administrative structure will enable both organizations to allocate more funding toward improving and expanding essential programs and services for children, adults, and families across seven counties.
Darrell's career with Ability Partners organizations spans over 20 years, during which he has held various clinical and leadership roles. His journey began as an Occupational Therapist in Happiness House’s Geneva preschool program, and he has since become a specialist in serving individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, as well as those who have sustained Traumatic Brain Injuries.
"We are excited about the opportunities this partnership brings," said Mr. Whitbeck. "By combining our expertise and resources, we can make a greater impact on the health and well-being of those we serve."
Both organizations remain committed to their individual missions while working together to achieve common goals. The collaboration will focus on areas such as preschool educational services, day habilitation services, and community outreach initiatives.
The E. Gavras Center was established in 1953, beginning as a small clinic at Auburn Memorial Hospital, where physical therapist John Gavras provided therapeutic programs for children with disabilities. The clinic was created in response to parents of children with developmental and physical disabilities seeking alternative care options. Within two years, the clinic expanded, adding more staff and serving a larger number of children.
Today, the E. John Gavras Center serves Cayuga, Onondaga, Tompkins, and Wayne Counties, offering a variety of programs and services to 121 families
"This agreement allows us to build on our respective strengths and create a more comprehensive approach to service delivery," said Ed Onori, board president of E. John Gavras Center. "We are confident that this partnership will lead to improved outcomes for our program participants and the community as a whole."
About Happiness House
Finger Lakes United Cerebral Palsy, Inc./Happiness House, an Ability Partners agency, is an educational, residential, health and human service organization that excels in providing the highest quality, innovative, and cost-effective services to children and adults with and without disabilities through collaboration with families and partners throughout the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes community. Our belief in the principles of equal opportunity, independence, and realization of individual potential is the cornerstone of who we are and what we do. We believe “What Happens Here Changes Lives Forever”.
About Ability Partners
Ability Partners connects and supports a community of leading human service organizations in their pursuit of empowering individuals of all ages and abilities to lead their best lives. Every day, we are guided by ensuring independence, equal opportunity, inclusion, respect, and dignity for all.
Ability Partners Agencies, CP Rochester Happiness House, and Rochester Center are the 37th largest employers in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region. We play integral roles in the economic vitality of our communities. Together, the three affiliates employ over 700 dedicated staff members with a combined service history of over 230 years. Serving 10,000 individuals and families across 20 locations in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes areas, with an annual operating budget of $36 million.
For more information, visit www.abilitypartners.us or www.happinesshouse.org
About E John Gavras Center
United Cerebral Palsy Association of Cayuga County New York, Inc./E. John Gavras Center has focused on helping People of all abilities reach their full potential since 1953. Come grow with us!
To learn more, visit www.gavrascenter.com