Around Town
By Carolyn Schuk

Jane Pauley Salutes HOPE Services

Award winning broadcast journalist and author of the best-seller "Skywriting: A Life Out of the Blue," Jane Pauley was the keynote speaker last week at HOPE Services annual Rise & Shine fundraiser at the Santa Clara Convention Center, Mission City Ballroom. About 500 guests turned out for the event, according to event chair Jenny Luciano, raising about $80,000 for the non-profit's comprehensive portfolio of services for 2,500 developmentally disabled children and adults throughout Santa Clara, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.

Ms. Pauley is no stranger to disabilities. A late-in-life diagnosis of bi-polar disorder has made her a highly regarded advocate for mental health, children's health, and education issues. 

Founded in Santa Clara 58 years ago, HOPE makes supported employment a cornerstone of its program.

As well as operating several businesses, the entrepreneurial non-profit partners with local businesses and government agencies to employ HOPE clients - including Safeway, Tyco Electronics, US Geological Society, Lawrence Livermore Labs, J Lohr Winery, City of Santa Cruz, Charles River Labs, and the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey. One of HOPE's claims to fame dates back to the 1970s when the agency's work centers packaged the Pet Rock.

These employers note that HOPE clients are among their most, dedicated, reliable and productive employees. Recent studies by the disability advocacy group TASH (www.tash.org) report that supported employment programs generate an average annual net benefit to U.S. taxpayers of about $3,000 a year.

Recently, HOPE launched two new programs: E-Waste to Wages and Project Search.

E-Waste to Wages collects e-waster at partner sites - schools, businesses, public agencies - and sells it to a state-approved refinery (ensuring that no material goes off-shore). The revenue then pays for HOPE Clients to work at the partner's site. For example, if a school has to cut its janitorial staff, HOPE clients will perform janitorial services equivalent to the amount of income generated by the partnership's e-waste collection.

Project Search provides employment training and internships for individuals with significant disabilities. This will give clients marketable skills that build a resume, and employers benefit from a skilled, reliable workforce.

For information about a business partnership with HOPE, contact John Koncoli at (408) 761-5156. For other information about HOPE Services, visit www.hopeservices.org, email info@hopeservices.org or call (408)748-2850.