Wegmans Awards $30,000 to Happiness House for Transitional House Project

Happiness House/Finger Lakes United Cerebral Palsy, Inc. will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its new 5,300 square foot eight person transitional residence equipped with eight efficiency apartments at 5415 Independence Lane in Canandaigua tomorrow from 10:00am to 11:00am. The Golisano Foundation and Wegmans will be recognized at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. All are invited! Local legislators and community leaders will be attending the event as well as major sponsors and donors from the community.

A very generous gift of $440,000 was awarded to Happiness House to make this happen. This “one of a kind” transitional home will assist us in serving three young adults with disabilities and five adults with traumatic brain injury. This transitional home is unique because it is “non-certified”. Happiness House will ensure quality care, compliance and will utilize various funding streams in serving all eligible individuals with disabilities who will reside in this home.

“Happiness House is committed to providing lifelong opportunities for individuals with disabilities as they strive toward independence,” said Eileen Gage, Happiness House Board Chair and Vice President of Nursing at Finger Lakes Health. This residence is built upon five of the 30 acres of land which Happiness House presently owns adjacent and to the south of our facility at 5415 County Road 30 in Canandaigua, NY. Charles T. Graham, Founder and member of the Happiness House Foundation and Happiness House Board explains, “This home will be transitional in nature and will serve as a catalyst toward independence within their community.” Residents will volunteer, work or attend school outside the home.

“The Trustees of the Golisano Foundation are pleased to partner with Happiness House on this service model,” said Ann Costello, Director of the Golisano Foundation. “In tough economic times, we must look for alternative, cost effective programs that provide needed services at a lower cost. We believe this non-certified transitional residence could become a viable service model for the state and other parts of the nation. We applaud your vision and foresight.” Over the past seven years Happiness House has received approximately one million dollars from the Golisano Foundation to ensure high quality services for individuals with special needs,” said Mary Walsh Boatfield, Happiness House CEO. Special thanks to Guardian Industries, First Niagara Bank and to Frank Marianacci for their generous donations.

Happiness House- Finger Lakes Cerebral Palsy Association is a private nonprofit health and human service agency that has been serving communities in the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York since 1969. Today with sites in Geneva, Canandaigua, Gorham, and Waterloo, Happiness House offers an array of educational program, recreational and family support services for children and adults with and without disabilities who reside in Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties. On average Happiness House serves 1,000 individuals and their families each year.

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