Employers provide key to making dreams come true

NAWILIWILI — Thirteen community employers were honored for providing purpose and meaning to the lives of Friendship House members, Thursday evening.

Dave Jordan, vocational coordinator for Friendship House, said the event was the 10th Annual Employers Award Banquet hosted by Friendship House to show appreciation and honor the employers who employ Friendship House members in their organizations.

“Last year, more than 45 percent of our membership was employed,” he said. “Together, those employees earned approximately $250,000.”

Jordan said the celebration of employers is run with Friendship House members present and joining their employers for dinner and fellowship.

Duties for the banquet are handled by Friendship House members, including The Friendlies, a band made up of Friendship House members, providing pre-dinner music in the resort’s grand ballroom. Event emcees and one of the guest speakers of the night were also members of Friendship House.

Jerry Collado and Becky Lange shared the microphone as event emcees with Suzette Racca providing the blessing. Nancy Dacosin was one of the night’s keynote speakers, speaking on behalf of Friendship House.

Chuck Brady, the human resources director for the Marriott ‘ohana, was the other keynote speaker, representing the employers.

Friendship House and the Kaua‘i Marriott partnered 10 years ago to start and build a successful transitional employment program that has served many members on Kaua‘i, states a Friendship House newsletter.

“Our partnership with the Marriott here on Kaua‘i is one that we truly appreciate and value,” Jordan said.

The Kaua‘i Marriott transitional employment program has been involved in helping other clubhouses in other countries and states get their own transitional employment programs started.

“We believe that meaningful work is the key to living healthy, vibrant, happy and empowered lives,” Jordan said. “Work gives our lives purpose and meaning.”

He said because of the employers, Friendship House members have important work to do each day and good reasons “to crawl out of bed and get involved in life.”

“These beautiful, enlightened employers make dreams come true for our members,” Jordan said. “The banquet is just one way we thank them for these opportunities.”

Katie Vercelli, the Friendship House director, said the event would not be possible without the help of The Kaua‘i United Way and the Edene and Antone Vidinha Charitable Trust.

Employers awarded include the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club, Safeway Stores, the Kukui Grove Cinema, St. Michael and All Angel’s Episcopal Church, the Kapa‘a Big Save, Kaua‘i Kookie Kompany, Home Depot, Olympic Cafe, Pono Cleaners, Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering, Peer Coaching, Bright’s Enterprises, Famous Footwear and Larry’s Construction.

Friendship House is a Clubhouse Model Psychiatric Rehabilitation program established in 1988 which provides mental health services to adults with serious mental illness.

The transitional employment program at Friendship House is geared for adults who are striving to become more productive self-sufficient members of Kaua‘i’s community, and bridges the gap between the pre-vocational work units of the clubhouse and competitive employment.

Under the program, a Friendship House staff member will initially learn the job and determine its suitability for transitional employment at no cost to the employer.

That staff member will then train a club member on the job, adding to productivity for the employer, until the member can successfully handle the job alone.

Through their transitional employment opportunities, club members gain the confidence, skills and job references that enable them to move on to independent employment.

For more information on Friendship House, or the transitional employment program, call 821-4480.