Posted 4/11/2025
The Parents of Merakey Woodhaven
The Parents of Merakey Woodhaven was formed 50+ years ago by pioneers advocating for supports and services for their children and family members. Over the years, this collective group of people became and remain powerful voices at Merakey Woodhaven and in the entire IDD community. The group not only advocated for services and supports but aligned to raise funds for projects and events. They gave their time and financial resources, and they became allies and friends - many continuing their efforts even after their own loved ones had passed. The group participated in state-wide advocacy groups as well as the Merakey Human Rights Committee.
The Parents of Woodhaven, Inc. ensured that each individual, regardless of their family involvement, received the highest level of care possible, all the time. They have worked tirelessly over a lifetime and are part of the strong foundation that enabled Woodhaven to successfully operate for so long. In addition to meeting monthly and having weathered a pandemic, they attended every meeting regarding the closure of Woodhaven and posed thoughtful and relevant questions and ideas and suggestions as the transition has occurred. Last October, with the permission of the Merakey Board of Directors, they honored each and every staff person who worked with their loved ones. Most recently they came to gather to thank Paula Nerone for the administrative team’s support and loyalty to their loved ones. Thank you to The Parents of Woodhaven for their continuous support of Merakey.
Left to right are Neela Patel, Agnes Farne, Patricia Murphy, Linda Del Piano (Pres.) Russ Farne, Ellen Lube, Diane Allwein, Mike Starecky. Missing from photo are Diane Gawlinski and Tom McIntyre.
Phipps Conservatory Trip
Kregg, Jimmy, Jonathan, and Keith from Wildwood home along with staff Christian Cuspard, Jamie Pedaline and Wendy Pander visited Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh for their Spring Flower Show.
Sensory Pool
The sensory pool at the Patricia Hillman Miller Campus continues to provide a therapeutic and enjoyable experience for many individuals. Program Director Bizzy Hanniford and Assistant Program Director Adam Ryan are dedicated to developing this fantastic aquatic program, making it accessible and fun for everyone.
Spring Cleanup
On Saturday, April 5, Individuals and staff at Merakey AVS Verree Road joined other Philadelphia residents to participate in the 2025 Philly Spring Clean-up initiatives as part of Merakey’s corporate social responsibility program. The group loved the event and can’t wait to do this again next year.
Fun at The Circus
Individuals from New Ventures Day Program in Portage, PA recently had some fun at the circus. The group enjoyed seeing the clowns, horses, and wire acts.
Family Association
The Spring meeting of the Merakey AVS Western PA Family Association took place on April 6 with over 75 attendees, many of whom were new faces. The gathering featured guest speakers, including PA State Representatives Anita Kulik, Andrew Kuzma, and Dan Miller, who addressed family members' concerns regarding Medicaid, staffing challenges, and current DSP wages. They urged attendees to keep reaching out to their local representatives to highlight key issues and share their personal stories. The goal is to include more legislative speakers at future meetings. Additionally, updates were provided by Family Association Officers, M/AVS Senior Executive Director Roni Erath, and the Development Department.
The next in-person meeting will be held in fall 2025, where the group plans to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Terrible Towel®.
Equestrian-Therapy
A few individuals from the Slippery Rock area attend Equestrian Therapy at the Storm Harbor Equestrian Center at Slippery Rock University. Emily M., an individual who receives services and participated in the Transformation project, continues to volunteer at Storm Harbor. She assists some of her peers with the horses during Equestrian Therapy. Barb F., Louis B., and Fredericka M. also enjoy riding the horses.
Merakey recently lost a special individual. J.M., a Slippery Rock Community ICF Group Home resident, passed away on April 2. J.M. was an organ donor, and upon his death he was able to help individuals in need. His heart and one kidney went to someone living in Tennessee. His liver was received by an individual in Ohio, and his second kidney was gifted to an individual in Maryland. Several of our GH staff were with J.M. and participated in the Honor Walk for him when he left the ICU to go to the operating room. While at Butler Memorial Hospital, J.M.’s medical team were comforting and supportive of him and the Merakey staff. Everyone present at J.M.’s Honor Walk agreed it was a beautiful tribute to him.
