  |
 March 2009 
Super Bowl Championship Coach Dick Vermeil To Be Keynote Speaker at LifePath’s 12th Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon Super Bowl and Rose Bowl championship winning coach Dick Vermeil will be the keynote speaker at the 12th Annual LifePath and PICPA Thanksgiving Benefit & Awards Luncheon Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at the Holiday Inn Conference Center, Fogelsville. All proceeds from this event go directly toward enhancing LifePath’s programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities, and will be used exclusively for costs which are not provided for by governmental funding. One of the most distinguished coaching careers in National Football League history officially concluded when Dick Vermeil announced his retirement from professional football in 2006. Vermeil spent 15 seasons as an NFL head coach and was a member of the league’s coaching fraternity for 19 seasons. In addition, Vermeil has had a prestigious career as a football broadcaster, analyzing both NFL and college games. In 2006, he was portrayed on the big screen by Greg Kinnear in the film Invincible. Vermeil began his coaching career at the high-school level in 1959, after receiving a bachelor’s and master’s degree from San Jose State. He secured his first position as an NCAA Division 1 coach by 1965 at Stanford. In 1974, he was named head coach of UCLA, where he led the Bruins to a Rose Bowl Championship. Vermeil’s 15-year tenure as an NFL head coach began when he was chosen to guide the fortunes of the downtrodden Philadelphia Eagles franchise in 1976. In seven seasons with the Eagles, Vermeil engineered four playoff appearances. The highlight came in 1980, when Philadelphia won the NFC Championship Game and advanced to Super Bowl XV. Vermeil retired in 1983. Shortly after departing the sidelines in Philadelphia, Vermeil began a 14-year broadcasting career, serving as an NFL and college football analyst for CBS and ABC. In addition, he provided color commentary for the Kansas City Chiefs preseason television broadcasts from ‘89-96. In 1997, Vermeil returned to the league as head coach of the St. Louis Rams, and led the team to its first Super Bowl victory after the ’99 season. Vermeil again retired, but returned to the arena in 2001, when he was named the ninth head coach of the Chiefs. He retired from that franchise in 2006. Since his ‘retirement’ from the Chiefs, Vermeil has served as a color commentator for ESPN and the NFL Network. This summer, he will participate in his second NFL Broadcast Boot Camp, an initiative designed to assist athletes in their post-playing careers by providing training and hands-on experience in broadcasting and studio work. While in Kansas City, Vermeil and his wife, Carol, were active in a number of charitable endeavors. Most notably, they served as chairpersons for the Chiefs Children’s Fund Benefit Game. The 2005, 2006 and 2007 beneficiary of that game was Operation Breakthrough, a day care center for inner-city families in Kansas City. After returning home to the Philadelphia area, Vermeil has found the time to help many worthy causes. Numerous Philadelphia-area organizations have benefited from his involvement, including The Mary Campbell Center, Elwyn Inc., Devereux, The Second Mile Center, and The Boy Scouts of Chester County, whose golf tournament bearing Vermeil’s name annually earns $100,000 for the organization. He is also involved with People for People, Inc., a community outreach organization founded by Reverend Herbert Lusk, a former Eagles player for Coach Vermeil. The Vermeils now also have the time to devote to their wine, Jean Louis Vermeil Cabernet Sauvignon, in partnership with lifelong friends at OnThEdge Winery and Frediani Vineyards in the Napa Valley, California. Coach Vermeil was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law Degree from Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, PA, in 2007. Vermeil and his wife have three children and 11 grandchildren. Also at the event, David Jaindl will be honored with the LVPICPA Community Service Award. For sponsorship and attendance information, please contact Ann Marie Surovy at amsurovy@lifepath.org or 484-893-5539. Montco Day Services Program Participates in Developmental Disabilities Luncheon On March 10, 2009, Montgomery County Day Services Manager, Stephanie Vincent; direct care staff member, Tabetha Jacobus; and consumers Gina and JR attended the Montgomery County Developmental Disabilities Luncheon. This year’s event was very special to the day program because the consumers and staff participated by assembling almost 300 handmade favors for the luncheon attendees. Consumers and staff worked hard for many days stamping and painting. The day program also had a poster with all of the consumers’ pictures displayed at the luncheon along with LifePath brochures and business cards. Below is a sample of the quotes printed on the bookmarks along with the LifePath logo:
ACTION ALERT: Urge Your Member of Congress to Support the Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act U.S. Representatives Lois Capps and Lee Terry recently introduced House of Representatives Bill 868 (H.R. 868), the Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act. This important legislation aims to address the direct support professional (DSP) workforce crisis by providing funding to states that will enable them to increase wages paid to certain DSPs who are providing services to individuals with disabilities under certain Medicaid programs. According to PAR’s national association, ANCOR, H.R. 868 would:
Please contact your Member of Congress and urge him or her to cosponsor H.R. 868, the Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act. You may want to mention that H.R. 868 will positively impact people with disabilities in their Congressional District as well as the dedicated individuals who support and serve them. To find your Member of Congress, visit http://www.house.gov and enter your zip code in the top left hand corner of the screen. You can also email your Representative through ANCOR’s Action Center at http://www.ancor.org/capwiz/index.cfm. Thank you for your advocacy on this important issue!
Celebrate this important milestone in LifePath's history by making a gift to ensure our legacy of care continues for another 35 years and beyond!
For more information on how to help, please contact Ann Marie Surovy at amsurovy@lifepath.org or 484-893-5539. Thank you for your support of individuals with disabilities throughout the Lehigh Valley and southeastern Pennsylvania!
|
|||||||
 |
 Current News |
 |
||||||
