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Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we reflect on this past year, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for the dedication and resilience of the Pathlight community. From our devoted staff to our generous donors and partners, every person has played a vital role in ensuring we continue to provide exceptional care and support to the individuals and families we serve.
One of the highlights was the overwhelming success of Let’s Dance!, which not only raised $72,000 to support our programs, but also was truly an example of our mission in action. We finished the fiscal year with the exciting three-month Eagle Challenge. Thanks to the generosity of the Eagle family, we were able to leverage the incredible support of our community, increasing donor participation and achieving new fundraising goals. These critical funds will continue to fuel our mission, enabling us to reach even more individuals in need.
Pathlight’s mission has always been rooted in empowering people to live full and meaningful lives, and this year has been no exception. We’ve continued to innovate, adapt, and grow—always keeping the well-being of those in our care at the forefront of everything we do.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I extend our deepest thanks for your unwavering support. Together, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive future for all.
Warmly,
Denise N. Cogman
We are very grateful to our community of donors who help sustain our work year after year. Some of them have been making gifts to Whole Children, for example, since its start 20 years ago. One such couple is Elaine Brighty and David Cox of Amherst. Their son, Kevin Cox, is a teacher at Whole Children, teaching Minecraft, Legos, and Dungeons & Dragons, as well as helping with the theater program. Attendees at the 2022 Wonkavengers production will remember him as Loki, a role he brilliantly stepped into with only a few days notice after the original actor was ill.
Kevin, 39, began as a volunteer at Whole Children after graduating from UMass and “that just changed his life,” said Elaine. “Then he was the first kid with autism who was hired as a staff member. He’s part time, about 10 or 12 hours a week, but it’s his lifeline. He’s so happy when he can come in. During the pandemic when remote teaching was available that just saved him too.”
Elaine feels very strongly about how Whole Children and Milestones support the participants in their individuality. “I’m still in awe of this setup for the kids and for the adults who use these services,” she says, “because it’s not always the neurotypical person in charge. So much of life for kids with autism and Down syndrome, it’s somebody else’s ideas you are supposed to conform to, and it’s painful to watch that. In these programs it’s about having interactions that encourage you to be able to go out and be who you are, and to know that you’re accepted. I must admit that the plays have been some of my favorites—the joy is so palpable.”
Over the decades, Elaine and David have increased their yearly gift. When asked about this, Elaine says, “Pathlight is definitely an organization I want to support and luckily, I am retired and comfortable enough that we can. We know supporting kids with neurological differences is so critical for everybody because it’s making sure that they can grow as much as they can and have a world that is so supportive. They can interact with the rest of the community in ways they couldn’t before.”
Elaine says that she often has had people ask her advice about family members with disabilities or on the autism spectrum needing suitable programs. “I’ve been particularly pleased that people talk to me because they know about Kevin and wonder what to do with their kids or their nephew. I always tell them about Pathlight.”
With the generosity of the Eagle family, whose brother is served in our residential program, Pathlight ran a 3-month challenge campaign to boost donor support and engagement. The Eagle Challenge was a success on several levels. Although we didn’t quite reach our ambitious original goal, Mark and David Eagle awarded us with a most generous gift of $60,000 in recognition of how our community stepped up to show their love for Pathlight at a crucial time.
Some highlights from the challenge:
- 28% of all gifts were the second gift a donor made in FY24.
- We also saw a jump in our monthly donors by 40 percent!
- Donors we hadn’t heard from in a while reconnected with us, accounting for 18% of gifts.
- Many new members joined our community of donors; 13% of all gifts were first-time gifts.
Many donors left notes with their gift that told us how much Pathlight and its programs have meant to them, and we treasure those words.
Grants provide key support for Pathlight, demonstrating funders’ confidence in our ability to meet the needs of our community with high-quality programs. In FY24, Whole Children and Milestones were awarded grants from The Emily List Fund and Northampton Arts Council for the theater program and from Newell Mansir Children’s Fund and Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts for general support. In addition, Whole Children received a pledge for a 3-year grant from the United Way of the Franklin and Hampshire Region. Pathlight received a grant from The Irene and George Davis Foundation for general support. Whole Selves, our healthy relationships curriculum, received a 2-year grant from Westfield Bank toward its workbook project. We are grateful to these funders for their commitment to our mission.
Darren FUNd spreads happiness
The Darren FUNd has one goal—to honor the spirit of Darren Harrington by bringing happiness and fun to people served by Pathlight. The FUNd was first established in 2007 and has been supporting individuals served by Pathlight in so many ways. This year, 22 grants and $16,377 were distributed.
One recipient was Diego, who used funds for an amazing three-day trip to New York City. He enjoyed the sights of Manhattan, took a swim, and had a great time hanging out with his caregiver Alex, roommate Cody, and friend Nathan, who is also served by Pathlight.
In addition, caregivers connected to the Family Based Living program were each given a $50 gift card in appreciation of the care they provide every day. Recipients used the funds for activities such as a mother and son outing, theater tickets, savings toward a trip to Nashville, and more.
The Darren FUNd is the embodiment of Darren’s sunny disposition and loving spirit as it continues to brighten the days of those served by Shared Living and AFC. Even through tough times, let’s remember to ask ourselves Darren’s favorite question, “How ’bout be happy?”
The Donald Fletcher Scholarship, aimed at supporting employees pursuing higher education, was awarded to two Pathlight employees for the first time since its inception in 2018. On June 5, the $5,000 award was split between Ian Coyne and Adamaris Torres.
“Supporting Pathlight employees through this scholarship program is crucial for both their personal growth and our organization’s success,” said Pathlight Board President Denise Cogman. “This award not only helps employees achieve their academic and professional goals but also strengthens Pathlight by fostering a motivated and well-equipped workforce.”
Adamaris Torres, a direct support professional at Pathlight for over a year, has been helping individuals in their daily lives. Ian Coyne has over eight years of experience in the human services industry and has been with Pathlight for three and a half years.
The scholarship was established in honor of former Pathlight executive director Donald Fletcher, who was a strong advocate for education and staff development.
Pathlight’s Autism Connections organized another successful autism conference on April 10, 2024. Titled “A Whole Life: The Empowered Journey,” this 33rd annual gathering was held at the Sheraton Springfield Hotel. The 350 attendees were individuals with autism, family members, educators, and professionals from across Massachusetts and surrounding states.
The keynote speaker, Jennifer Brunton, Ph.D., gave a talk on “Amplifying Acceptance, Building Independence: How #ActuallyAutistic Perspectives Provide a Strong Foundation for Growth.” People lined up to get their signed copy of her book #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Advocacy.
Everyone spent a day learning from expert speakers on topics ranging from early diagnosis to sexuality to meaningful employment. Attendees were able to make use of a sensory friendly room at the hotel, featuring dimmed lights and sensory gadgets.
Among the standout sessions, Jaqueline Williams-Hines spoke candidly about the challenges faced by autistic people of color, intertwined with issues of violence and racism. The session took a personal turn when she introduced her son Joshua, who shared his experiences and passion for dance, giving a voice to his own journey.
Between breakout sessions, attendees enjoyed lunch and visiting a variety of exhibitor tables highlighting supports and services throughout the valley. We are grateful to these exhibitors and to our corporate sponsors for their support of this event.
From thought-provoking discussions to personal stories and professional insights, the conference was not just a day of learning but a step forward in empowering and understanding the diverse lives within the autism community.
Mark your calendars, the next Autism Conference will be held April 2, 2025 at the Springfield Sheraton!
Education beyond the classroom: Whole Selves in action
Whole Selves, our healthy relationships curriculum, keeps growing and adapting, giving students the tools to build fulfilling, healthy, and safe relationships with others—and with themselves. Over the past year, we’ve trained 15 educators and brought the curriculum to 88 students across several Hampshire County schools. In addition, 10 individuals received personalized, one-on-one sessions designed to meet them exactly where they are.
This year marked a return to form for Whole Selves. After refining materials and lessons in FY23, our educators focused on core skills like active listening while embracing more spontaneity in their approach.
A highlight this year was our summer session at Pathlight’s Inclusive Community Center, where students from Frontier Regional High School’s transition program visited. They joined Milestones Day participants for games and music, getting a real feel for life after high school.
Whole Selves Educator Brian Melanson also led two breakout sessions on sexuality at the 2024 Autism Conference, sparking open, empowered conversations.
This year marked the triumphant comeback of Let’s Dance!, featuring 11 talented dance teams comprised of Pathlight individuals and esteemed community members, including Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra of Northampton, and State representatives Lindsay Sabadosa and Shirley Arriaga.
Together, we successfully raised over $70,000 to bolster enrichment programs for those supported by Pathlight, all through the transformative power of dance.
One of our dancers, Sydney Meininger, said, “With having a disability, through Pathlight, I have gotten to do so many amazing things that I never thought I would be doing. I had the best night of my life, getting to be my true self, getting up on stage, and showing the crowd what I got. This was a night I will never ever forget!”
One audience member praised us, saying, “You can’t find that kind of generosity and sheer joy onstage, even on Broadway.”
Another said, “Let's Dance is truly the most uplifting fundraiser there is. The connections between the dancers and coaches are beautiful to witness, and the chance to see so many individuals with disabilities claim their moment in the spotlight is something that never grows old.”
Our efforts in marketing Let’s Dance! 2023 earned us the Communicator Award for Campaign-diversity, equity and inclusion. We love bringing the joy and fun of this wonderful event to a larger audience.
The Whole Children and Milestones theater troupe along with the Joyful Chorus wowed audiences in Spring 2024 with Barbie's Dream House of Horrors, their original mashup of Barbie and Little Shop of Horrors.
The show was so highly anticipated that we sold over 250 tickets for the event. That’s two sold out audiences!
Whole Children and Milestones puts on a magical, musical, theater play each year. From the script, written by students and teachers, to the original choreography, and the handcrafted costumes, their hard work paid off with 5-star performances.
