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Jewish Senior Life and Heritage Christian Services Announce Project SEARCH Intern Graduation

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 9, 2019 — Eight young adults with disabilities have graduated from a special work preparation program at Jewish Senior Life. Heritage Christian Services and Jewish Senior Life partnered to offer Project SEARCH®, a nationally recognized work preparation program for people age 18 to 35 who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. The B. Thomas Golisano Foundation brought Project SEARCH to the Rochester area and provided the essential funding to develop local partnerships.

“We are thrilled to be able to provide the program,” says Michael King, President and CEO of Jewish Senior Life, “and so pleased to partner with Heritage Christian Services to offer interns classroom instruction, career exploration and hands-on learning with mentors, empowering them to master skills needed for competitive employment.”

“People often think of a job as a way to get a paycheck, but it is so much more than that,” said Marianne Durrant, director of the Employment Alliance at Heritage Christian Services. “When you have work that means something to you, it opens the door to having more confidence, a sense of contributing and a new – more equal – level of socializing.”

Project Search intern Erica noted, “I have learned so much about the different types of jobs and the skills that I am capable of.”

Support from Heritage Christian Services was provided throughout the program, and additional supporting partners include the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Adult Career and Continuing Education Services – Vocational Rehabilitation and Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities.

Six of the graduates were hired by Jewish Senior Life. Jewish Senior Life will offer another internship program in the fall. For more information or to apply for the program, contact Marianne Durrant at mdurrant@heritagechristianservices.org or (585) 340-2009.

Please click here to watch the graduation video.

Contact:
Jane Knickerbocker, Vice President of Marketing
Jewish Senior Life
585-784-6366
jknickerbocker@jewishseniorlife.org

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