It’s May, which means it’s budget time again for both New Horizons and for the State. California Disability Services Association (CDSA), a statewide agency that provides advocacy and support to and for the disability community, reports that Governor Newsom released his May Revision to the 2023-24 state budget.
There’s a lot going on both the state and national level related to the disability field.
Every year during the month of March we join with so many others to recognize National Disabilities Awareness month in the hopes of raising awareness about individuals with developmental disabilities who engage in all facets of community life.
I’m pleased to report that New Horizons met all the noted milestones for compliance with HCBS’s Final Rule.
A new year is a time to regroup, re-engage and to set the stage for the year ahead. We’re excited and ready to do just that!
Greetings Family and Friends!
As they say in the South, it’s fall, ya’ll! With the advent of Fall and the changing of the season, I can’t think of a better time to be thankful as we head into the coming months.
In our Aug 2022 Newsletter, New Horizons CEO talks about exciting changes and opportunities at the agency.
In our July 2022 Newsletter, New Horizons CEO talks about where we are and where we’re going.
New Horizons has received full three-year accreditation from CARF!
Thanksgiving is always a good reminder to take a moment to express gratitude to those around us, especially to those who make the world brighter through their acts of kindness and compassion.
“Much like the change in the weather, things are changing at New Horizons as well.”
Members’ dreams come true as they secure jobs at McDonald’s, setting their sites on work and earning a real paycheck!
Donna Norum joins the New Horizons team as a welcome addition, bringing over twenty years of non-profit experience with her!
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” Abraham Lincoln
By becoming a Partner in Hope with a monthly donation to New Horizons, you demonstrate your support and encouragement of our members as they advance toward their goals and dreams.
This is more than just a Year End Appeal… It’s a story of GROWING HOPE!
We met our goal for this special project helping to prepare for the future, and bring beauty to our campus and the neighborhood.
“My 28 years on New Horizons’ Board has given me some of the most rewarding and fulfilling moments of my life.” – Sue Weitkamp, former board member serving from 1992-2020
CALIFORNIA BUDGET UPDATE!! California Governor Newsom has pledged to sign a new budget that eliminates ALL CUTS associated with our services for the next fiscal year! Thank you for your support!!
In response to the Covid-19 crisis, we have launched the Safer Horizons Fund. Our aim is to raise our $250,000 shortfall by June 30. If you are in a position to do so, we ask for your support for those in our care.
The following letter/testimonial was addressed to John C. Brauer, M.A., New Horizons’ President and CEO, on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. It expresses the heart of a father, and reflects why we do what we do… especially in times like these.
Exciting News… thanks to a generous grant from the Windsong Foundation, New Horizons will be launching a youth program targeting young adults, assisting them to choose, get and keep employment.
New Horizons is helping adults with disabilities train for jobs, and one program helps them get ready for at grocery store jobs.
Spectrum News 1 features New Horizons, Albertsons/Vons grocery stores, and the CA Department of Rehabilitation partnership on GoGrocery.
The ability to make an impact is what really drives me.
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we say good bye to the not-so-lazy days of summer, I am pleased to provide you with an overview of the many happenings here at New Horizons.
Since August of 2018, New Horizons, located in North Hills, California, has been offering its Employment Readiness program, creating better opportunities for adults with disabilities through job skills training. This program builds curiosity and empowers individuals for the work force.
On Thursday, April 17, 2019 New Horizons proudly received a special proclamation from the City of Los Angeles at the Los Angeles City Hall in honor of its 65th Anniversary.
Be a Hero of Horizons! Written by Frieda Gockel
New Horizons…my hero. They provide so much for my son whose disability falls on the autism spectrum. When my son was in high school we wondered if he would ever be able to get a job.
The holidays bring so much joy along with a desire to give in the spirit of the season. In the same way we like to give presents to others, our clients who came up with Holiday Angels feel the need to spread cheer, too.
As this year’s Direct Support Professionals week was celebrated from September 9 through 14, New Horizons took the time to also acknowledge our staff for the amazing job they do on behalf of our clients all year long.
On May 30, 2018 New Horizons TMA participants premiered their award winning films at the 3rd Annual MMTM film festival.
On Thursday, May 24, 2018, New Horizons celebrated the very best at our annual Above and Beyond Awards Luncheon!
After nearly 3 decades, Gary Montgomery and Judy Vanpuyvelde still find joy in volunteering with New Horizons clients; as New Horizons awards them with the Dignity, Love and Compassion award. See their video by clicking “Read More” below.
As a key element in its strategic approach to the agency’s future, the New Horizons Board of Directors has announced the appointment of John C. Brauer as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 11, 2018.
Twenty-five years ago New Horizons’ client Rowland Woods started working at McDonald’s Restaurant. And it became a match that was made to last. He applied for the job after gaining experience in Sam’s Cafe, the agency’s culinary program and banquet hall. He still remembers the day he started.
In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, on October 24, 2017 from 8:00am to 10:00am in Sam’s Cafe, come hear our distinguished panel of guest speakers, and learn about the benefits of hiring experienced and energetic employees with diverse abilities. #NDEAM
Dear Supporters of AB 279:
We worked as hard as we could to educate and persuade our legislature to pass AB279. But, ultimately, the Senate Appropriations Committee capitulated to a very powerful Governor who declared that he would not allow AB279 to become law.
Watch our films all Summer long on YouTube, and help us meet and win the contest! The Winner is calculated by the number of repeated views each film gets. We’re competing against 100 films. Help us be a winner!! We’re counting on you!!! Read more and view movies.
Thanks to a nomination by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-46), on Wednesday, June 28th, New Horizons was named a 2017 California Non Profit of the Year as part of California Nonprofits Day.
Dear Family and Friends:
I am pleased to share with you New Horizons’ Annual Report for fiscal year 2016.
Since 1954 New Horizons has provided programs and services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And while having been in existence for all these years, we learned early on that our outstanding achievements are directly correlated to the partnerships we have established with families and friends like you. Together we have empowered those we assist with the opportunity to live independent and fulfilled lives guided by their own unique desires.
On Wednesday, May 24, at CSUN’s Valley Performing Arts Center (VPAC), participants in New Horizons Technology and Media Arts program joined others in the community to celebrate Mitchell Englander’s Making Movies that Matter and Short Film Festival.
Congratulations to New Horizons Board Member Christine Ward for her SFVBJ’s 2017 Women in Business awards nomination,
In April of this year, our CEO, Cynthia Sewell, announced her retirement as of December 31, 2016, after a long and illustrious career. In July, The Board of Directors began a robust strategic assessment process to review all of the strategic options facing us, so we can continue to provide quality programs and services for our consumers now and in the future.
Five Thousand Thirty-Five. That is the number of donors who made gifts to us over the past ten years. Today, we ask each and every one of you reading this letter to either renew with a generous gift or join us with a first gift and consider yourself a valued New Horizons Champion.
Now airing every Tuesday night on the A&E Network at 10pm/9pm Central, the series on which New Horizons is proud to consultant highlights the outgoing personalities and amazing abilities of seven young adults born with Down syndrome.
Just a reminder that our cookies can be purchased at VONS Tarzana. Stop by 18439 Ventura Blvd in Tarzana and pick up a package or two.
New location with old friends, our 9th Annual On the Horizon Walk Fundraiser plans to be better than ever. Registration begins July 15 with a $35 per person donation.
The online auction will opened on Saturday, June 18th at 12:00 PM and bidding will continue throughout the Gala on June 25th, 2016 till 9:30PM!
On Saturday, June 4, 2016, about 40 National Charity League (NCL) members, a group made up of mother and daughter volunteers, participated in the annual Philanthropy Orientation Day. Lead by chapter liaison to New Horizons, Ms. Terri Zaelke, the organization presented New Horizons with a $25,000 check for the renovation of Sam’s Cafe’s bathrooms.
Daily News Article (5/13/16) – They’ve cooked up a sweet idea for raising money at New Horizons, the North Hills-based non-profit that helps individuals with special needs.
The agency’s clients, who have been baking New Horizons chocolate chip cookies for years, are now selling them at the Vons store at 18439 Ventura Blvd. in Tarzana and its sister Pavilions store at 6543 Platt Ave. in West Hills.
Dear New Horizons Friends and Family:
After 28 years of service at New Horizons, Cynthia Sewell (Kawa), our President/CEO, will be retiring, as of December 31, 2016. Please join me in congratulating her!
New Horizons is proud to recognize Chief Operating Officer Roschell Ashley for being honored by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal as a woman in business because of her outstanding achievements in the business community.
Galpin Motors presents… 13th Annual Gala Fundraiser, Mission: New Horizons! Save the Date: Saturday, June 25, 2016 from 7pm to 10 pm enjoy dinner under the wings of the Space Shuttle Endeavor at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.
Perhaps you’ve noticed certain changes happening around campus. Our “welcome station” manned by campus monitor Edgardo De La Rosa is located at our west gate entrance. Just steps away from the Administrative Annex building, it is one of the many additions that make our organization a safer place for our staff, consumers and guests.
Please call 818-778-4405 to join North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLACRC) and its co-sponsors, the Los Angeles Coalition of Service Providers on Friday, April 8, 2016, as they say “Thank You!” to our legislative officials for supporting the Managed Care Organization (MC) Tax reform bill linked to the $300 million in developmental services funding.
This photo was taken on Friday, January 29, 2016, as New Horizons Brite Lites visited Disneyland! This trip was made possible by Spectrolab employees who presented the tickets to the musical group at their annual holiday event.
Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday handed what health care advocates and supporters of people with special needs called a status quo budget proposal for the next fiscal year, with no new investments or restoration of funding to programs that help California’s most vulnerable.
On December 10th all across California people with developmental disabilities will be in the streets and in public meeting spaces along with their families, friends and those who serve them. This date was circled long ago for rallies to bring greater public attention to the plight of nearly 300,000 of California’s most vulnerable citizens.
New Horizons is proud to announce its involvement with A&E Network’s new ground breaking original docu-series “Born This Way,” featuring seven young people with Down syndrome.
New Horizons honored Gay Wane with the planting of a tree on the agency’s North Hills Campus.
The small ceremony, which benefited from a beautiful Southern California day, was
In August, when the Legislature’s special session on health care and developmental services was in still in session, we criticized Democratic leaders for not bringing forward good bills by their Republican colleagues. Now, with more than two months of hindsight under our belts, that obviously partisan inaction looks even worse. If Senate Bill X2-4, by Republicans Jim Nielsen and Jeff Stone, had passed and been signed into law, it would be well on the way to producing the desperately needed 10 percent increase in funding for developmental services that the Lanterman Coalition sought in the 2015-16 budget. Instead, Gov. Jerry Brown stiffed the developmental community in the regular budget process and punted to a special session, which has produced nothing.
On October 25, 2015 New Horizons welcomed friends and family to the North Hills campus for our 8th annual walk event. After being led in the Pledge of Allegiance by New Horizons client and Toastmaster Elizabeth Marton, walkers, who wore cool green tee-shirts, walked some 15 laps around New Horizons’ Workshop and Achievement Center buildings. Together they proved that wherever in the world we are, we can raise money to provide job training, homes, and confidence to people with special needs to help them fulfill their dreams and live better, more independent lives.
For nearly seven years, CEO Cynthia Sewell has been a co-convener of the Coalition of Service Providers. Involved are the following organizations: Villa Esperanza Services, ECF, Ability First, Tierra del Sol, UCP, Lincoln Training Center, Valley Village, Easter Seals, Jay Nolan, Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind, CLIMB, Pathpoint, Hope House, The Arc – Los Angeles & Orange Counties, The Arc – Ventura County, and TASC (THE Adult Skills Center). These are among the provider leaders in Southern California. The purpose of the Coalition is to advocate for the programs and services for persons with intellectual and other disabilities.
New Horizons President/CEO Cynthia Sewell pays a visit to our dear friend and donor Peggy Carr at her home in Henderson, Nevada on September 29.
I would like to thank all of you who advocated on behalf of a 10% increase in rates for service providers who work with individuals with special needs. This follow years of reduced and frozen government funding and the threat of looming costs that will be incurred from successive increases in the State and City of Los Angeles minimum wage.
John C. Brauer
