For Immediate Release – April 16, 2009
Contact: Betsy Gramkow, Director of Development
Triform Camphill Community
20 Triform Road, Hudson, NY 12534
518-851-9320 betsy@triform.org
Triform Receives Grant from The D.J. Fiddle Foundation, A National Autism Organization
Triform Serves People with Special Needs Including Autism in Columbia County, NY
Triform Camphill Community, a community for young adults with developmental disabilities including those with Autism, recently received a $10,000 grant from The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation for one of its vocational training programs.
Triform is a community of 77 individuals, about half of whom have special needs. The community offers educational, vocational and life-skills training programs in a nurturing environment. “We recognize that work is central to adult life, and vocational training for people with special needs is at the heart of what we do,” commented Triform President, Tim Paholak.
One of Triform’s six vocational training areas is in the Bakery. Every day, young adults and their mentors use their baking talents to supply the breads, pizzas and other baked goods that feed the community. The recently funded program, known as “Recipe for Success,” will create an opportunity for participants to have their own cookie-making business as they learn not only cooking making skills but also how to sell their creations.
With the funding from The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, Triform hopes to broaden its bakery offerings to include custom-made baked goods for retail sale. “We are thrilled to support this exciting program at Triform because it not only creates an entrepreneurial avenue for the participants but illustrates to the community at large that young adults and adults with challenges are capable of running their own businesses with the right support system,” said Linda Walder Fiddle, Founding Executive Director of the national 501(c)(3) organization.
“When the community was founded 30 years ago, we had a dream to provide a safe place to work and grow for those with disabilities. Today, we are expanding on that dream thanks to the support of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation,” continued Paholak with gratitude.
Since 1979, Triform has supported young people ages 18-35+ with special needs through the transitional years between youth and adulthood. Triform’s exceptional youth guidance and vocational programs assist these young adults in developing work and social skills and making critical steps toward adult independence. For more information about Triform and the Cookie Studio, visit www.triform.org and www.cookiestudio.com.
The goal of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation is to honor the individuality of each person with Autism throughout his or her life by creating opportunities for adolescents and adults to participate in the community that are suitable, stimulating and sustainable. For more information visit www.djfiddlefoundation.org.
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