OUR HISTORY
Sunshine Village originated in greater Chicopee, Massachusetts when a group of concerned parents and friends of children with disabilities and supportive civic groups all pooled their efforts and resources to improve and expand previously inadequate facilities for the recreation, care and training of children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Under the guidance of its founder, P. Joseph Casey, the organization was officially established in 1967 as a private, non-profit, charitable corporation. Appropriately, Mr. Casey was the first president, with a board of directors comprised of leading citizens of the community. After several name changes in its earlier years, in 2004 the agency fully embraced its founding name and officially became Sunshine Village, Inc.
The organization quickly recognized the need for a diversity of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, beyond simple recreation and began decades of service provision – evolving to meet the needs of families in the Pioneer Valley.
HOW WE SERVE TODAY
Sunshine Village is presently serving over 400 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders who live and work throughout the Pioneer Valley through a variety of innovative day supports. Programmatic sites are located at the agency’s main campus in Chicopee, as well as in Agawam and Three Rivers. The agency’s commercial cleaning company – Westover Maintenance Systems – successfully employs an integrated workforce while the organization supports individuals in their own jobs and within group settings at local businesses.
At present, the organization provides a host of life, work and community engagement services and designs supports that continue to meet the needs of people with intellectual disabilities as well as people on the autism spectrum. With a theme of “work and earn, live and learn and work and grow”, SSV offers:
- LIFE ENGAGEMENT SERVICES (Therapeutic Day Habilitation Services);
- COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SERVICES (Community Based Day Services – CBDS): and
- WORK / EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
With a strong financial position, quality programming, experienced professionals and a reputable history, Sunshine Village continues to deliver on its promise of a GREAT day…where everyone SHINES!
Message from the Executive Director
Sunshine Village was founded in 1967 by a small group of parents who came together to create an organization to improve the lives of their children who had developmental disabilities. With the commitment of the local business community and civic groups, their dream was realized and has been sustained through good times and through times of crisis.
Their dream was to create a warm and welcoming organization that would improve the lives of their children – and other people’s children. Their dream was to found an organization that would be around for more years than them – and continue in their tradition of caring.
Their dream was, and is, Sunshine Village.
Throughout the years since 1967, Sunshine Village has achieved their dream in many ways. The agency has offered a variety of innovative programs designed to meet the ever-changing demands of our clients and their families – and our community. The organization provides a host of unique life, work and community engagement supports for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders – while also having the capacity to successfully serve people with significant challenges – cognitively, physically and behaviorally – and complicated medical conditions.
Nearly six decades after that group of parents came together, Sunshine Village is an award-winning agency, staffed by more than 250 caring, creative, steadfast, inventive, passionate and compassionate professionals – all working hard to deliver on the agency’s promise of a great day.
We believe that great lives are made up of great days, and a great day is a collection of small, proud moments. For some, it’s learning to write their name or to use a spoon. For others, it can be going to a job and taking home a paycheck. Whether it’s riding a bike, using a computer mouse, practicing yoga, or learning to shake hands, it all counts. We are dedicated to providing those opportunities, creating possibilities and celebrating victories, every single day.
Thank you for visiting our website – and please call us to learn more and visit our sites.
AND thank you for supporting Sunshine Village – where everyone SHINES!
Leadership and Management Team
Gina Kos, Executive Director
Colleen Brosnan, Director of Day Services
Jacquelyn Collins, RN, Director of Clinical Services
Christine Pollender, Director of Human Resources
Derek Scott, Chief Financial Officer
Franklin Siana, Director of Information Technology
MANAGEMENT and CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM
ADMINISTRATION
Corinne Dumont, Community Relations Manager
Jen Guzman, Client Relations Manager
Erik Houle, Transportation and Operations Manager
AGAWAM CBDS and DAY HABILITATION
Lisa Montero, Manager
Dawn Mattoon, Supervisor, CBDS
Cara Sullivan, CBDS
Erin Gonyer, Case Manager, CBDS and Day Habilitation
Allison Green, Case Manager, Day Habilitation
Jim Hitchcock, Case Manager, CBDS
CASEY CBDS
Brandee Baker, Program Manager
TerriLee Lavallee, Case Manager
Chris MacLeod, Case Manager
DAVIS / KNIGHTS DAY HABILITATION
Bruce Wood, Manager
Iris Sabater, Supervisor
Suzanne Wegrzyn, Supervisor
Romyr Martinez, Case Manager
Saleen Guyette, Case Manager
Jessica Smola, Case Manager
THREE RIVERS CBDS and DAY HABILITATION
Joyce Cormier, Manager
Heather Emerson, Case Manager, CBDS and Day Habilitation
WESTOVER MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS
Joe Hudyka, Manager
Nicole Phaneuf-Hunt, Case / Contract Manager
Board of Directors
Ernest Laflamme, Jr., Chairperson
Stephen Melnyck, Jr., Vice Chairperson
Michael Siddall, Esq., Clerk
Peter Benton, CPA, Treasurer
Marie Laflamme
Debra Schneeweis
Frank Stellato
Teri Szlosek
Accreditation
We are a non-profit organization operating with a budget that exceeds 16 million dollars, comprised of state, federal and private funding. All programs operated by Sunshine Village have received the highest level of accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), a national non-profit accrediting body, since 1986. Sunshine Village has been commended by state licensing as well as the national accreditation agency for our many strengths—most recently in the areas of financial accountability, employee relations, risk management, human rights and innovative service provision.
Awards
Over the years, Sunshine Village has been honored by numerous business and human service organizations for its success.
- “Employer of Choice” Award by the Employers Association of the Northeast
- “Humanitarian Award” by Jericho The Bureau for Exceptional Children and Adults
- “Nonprofit of the Year” Award by the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce.
Affiliations
Sunshine Village maintains memberships and members of the management team promote the organization and its mission through participation in business, non-profit, civic and trade organizations, including:
- Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce
- West of the River Chamber of Commerce
- Providers’ Council
- Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers
- Human Service Forum
- Employers Association of the Northeast
- Human Resource Management Association of Western Massachusetts
- MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board