Skills of Central PA, Inc.
An Overview

President and Chief Executive Officer: David M. ("Mike") Rice, Ph.D.

Chairman of the Board: Craig J. Rolish, Chief Executive Officer, NORCAM

Corporate Office Address:
341 Science Park Road Suite #6
State College, PA 16803
Phone: (814) 238-3245 Fax: (814) 238-5117

Mission:
Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Inc., a private, non-profit human service organization, is committed to creating opportunities and providing support for individuals who need specialized services to acquire the necessary skills and experiences to participate in all aspects of personal and community life with dignity and respect.

Background:
Founded in 1960 in Bellefonte, Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Inc. is one of the oldest and largest non-profit human service organizations in central Pennsylvania. Skills serves nearly 1300 individuals with disabilities in 14 counties, and employs approximately 900 staff.

Funding:
Skills receives financial support from many sources as listed below. Funding may vary by county and program. For more information on funding, contact Skills' corporate office.

1. Area School Districts
2. Blindness and Visual Services (BVS)
3. Contracts and Sales
4. Human Services Development Fund (HSDF)
5. Office of Medical Assistance (MA)
6. Office of Mental Health (OMH)
7. Office of Mental Retardation (OMR)
8. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)
9. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA)
10. Private and Corporate Donors
11. Private and Public Grant Money
12. United Cerebal Palsy
13. United Way
14. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development


Access Information:
Employment, admissions, facility usage, the provision of services, placement, and follow-up of eligible individuals shall be made without regard to age, sex, disability, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religious creed, or communication abilities. For more information, contact Skills' corporate office or contact the Centre County Base Service Unit of The Office of Mental Health/Mental Retardation at (814) 355-6786.

For further access information, please contact one of the following Skills locations in Centre County:

1. Corporate Office
341 Science Park Road, Suite #6
State College, PA 16803
Phone: (814) 238-3245 Fax: (814) 238-5117

2. Employment, Residential and Adult Training Services
2437 E. College Avenue
State College, PA 16801
Phone: (814) 234-2330 Fax: (814) 234-0817

3. State College Industrial & Janitorial Services
2593-1 Clyde Avenue
State College, PA 16801
Phone: (814) 231-0820 Fax: (814) 231-0830


Opportunities to Get Involved:
As a non-profit organization, Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Inc. is always grateful for offers of support. We often rely on the community's generosity to accomplish our goals and this begins at the top with our volunteer board of directors. There are several ways in which to become involved with Skills. Below, we have listed a few. We always welcome suggestions and offers of assistance to better support the people we serve. Please don't hesitate to call Skills' public relations and marketing coordinator, Katherine Fagan at (814) 238-3245, ext. 314, if you would like to discuss an idea with us.

1. Speakers Bureau
The speakers bureau is a community resource for information about Skills and issues relating to disablities. Essentially, the speakers bureau is a group of individuals who are willing to speak to community groups about topics relating to disabilities. When Skills receives a request for a speaker or a media spokesperson, we contact an individual from the Speakers Bureau. To be a Speakers Bureau volunteer you do not need to have any previous experience, nor any specific area of expertise. Often organizations requesting a speaker simply want to know more about the issues surrounding disabilities; they want to understand your experience as a family member of an individual with a disability. Many are looking for opportunities to support people with disabilites in their community. If you would be willing to speak to civic clubs, students, and other organizations about your experience or about a specific topic relating to disabilities, please call Skills' public relations and marketing coordinator.

2. Advisory Committees
To ensure our programs and services are meeting community needs, we encourage members of the community to provide their input by participating on advisory committees. If you are interested in serving on a community advisory committee, please contact the Skills vice president in Centre County, listed below.
Steve Martynuska
Vice President, Centre County
Phone: (814) 238-3245

3. Volunteering
Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Inc. has many volunteers. Although we do not have a formal volunteer program, we can always use a hand. Our current volunteers lend their time and skills in any number of areas including getting together with an individual Skills serves for social activities, providing legal advice, helping with light maintenance at our community homes, participating in our adult training services, helping coordinate special events and much more. If you have a few hours to spare and are interested in helping out in some way, we will be pleased to discuss your areas of interest and to find a meaningful volunteer activity for you. Please call the public relations and marketing coordinator for more information.


The Skills Foundation:
The Skills Foundation was established in 1988 to offer individuals, corporations and foundations the opportunity to support Skills in its mission to support people with disabilites. Contributions to The Skills Foundation allow Skills to provide services which may not be financed by other funding sources. When needs arise, they are considered for funding through the foundation on an individual basis. The foundation manages grant monies, in-kind donations, and is registered with the State of Pennsylvania. Donors have two primary options for giving: 1) endowment and 2) special projects. All contributions to The Skills Foundation are tax deductible. For more information about The Skills Foundation, see Page 3, now under construction.


Other Pages about Skills:
1. Employment Services
2. The Skills Foundation
3. Adult Training Services
4. Vocational Training Services
5. Janitorial Services/Mobile Work Force
6. Community Homes
7. Lifesharing Thru Family Living
8. Supported Living Services / In-Home Support Services
9. Pennsylvania Locations
10. Skills and Friends Social Club

For information about Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Inc., go to www.skillsofcentralpa.org