VISITS COOPER REGIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM IN UPLAND

For Immediate Release-- Montclair, California,-November 17, 2008 -- On Friday, November 7, 2009 the mission of PVW (Pomona Valley Workshop) to assist adults with disabilities reach their potential in vocational and socialization skills in order that they may achieve their highest level of employment and community integration was realized when nine people with developmental disabilities took an Omnitrans bus ride from Montclair to the Metrolink station and then boarded a train from Montclair to Upland to visit the Cooper Regional History Museum adjacent to the Upland Metrolink Station.  After the field trip, everyone enjoyed lunch at the local Jack in the Box.  This trip was taken in efforts to train class participants in public transportation as well as learn about history in the city of Upland.

 Once arriving at the Cooper Regional History Museum, a special guide, Lola Lowe talked to class members about the history of Upland, showed the group artifacts from local culture and shared wonderful stories about the special donors who have contributed so many interesting photographs and antiques to the museum.  All agreed it was an interesting and informative field trip.

Class participants learned the important skills of reading bus schedules, noting reference point signs and following directions to find out how long it takes to get to and from a destination.  Through PVW’s Supported Employment Services (SES) adults with developmental disabilities receive job training and employment services while learning the skills necessary to successfully enter the workforce.  SES focuses on a person’s abilities and provides the supports individuals need to be successful on a long term basis, on and off the job.  Class participants are eager to enter supported employment or move to a higher level of supported employment if already participating.

For more information about the Supported Employment Service program at PVW, contact Terri DiMarco, Director of Marketing and Development at 909-624-3555 extension 239 or email to terri@pvwonline.org for more information.  

PVW is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to serving adults with disabilities, enriching lives through vocational training, employment preparation and placement, specialties in Autism, senior citizen specialties and community integration opportunities. Established in 1966, PVW has evolved into a multifaceted organization with five major programs of service and a Thrift Store.  Almost 400 individuals with disabilities are supported each year through the exceptional dedication of staff and the outstanding leadership of the Board of Directors.

PVW is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation.  All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the IRS codes.

INLAND EMPIRE AKTION CLUB
INSTALLS NEW OFFICERS AT BREAKFAST HOSTED BY PVW AND
RECEIVES $1500 DONATION

Montclair, CA- On Wednesday, November 5, 2008 the local Inland Empire   Aktion Club, part of Kiwanis International, installed new officers for 2008-2009 at a breakfast hosted by PVW (formerly known as Pomona Valley Workshop).  This special installation event was called to order by Joel Haber of the Pomona Kiwanis Club.   A special flag salute was lead by Regan Timms and the invocation was given by Ken Stryker, both program participants of PVW and members of the Aktion Club.  Joseph Gonzales, also a member, led all breakfast attendees in an uplifting chorus  of "God Bless America".   

  Sharron Varga, the visionary and guiding force behind the start-up of the Inland Empire Aktion Club, introduced Kiwanis Division 15 Lt. Governor, Stacy Powell who then inducted the new officers for their 2008-2009 service.  The new officers include Peggy Mackey, President; Tina Myers, Vice President; Alex Gutierrez, Secretary; and Brenda Abrams, Treasurer. 

  The newly inducted officers provided an audience of over 70 with a review of Aktion Club accomplishments in the first six months of existence, presented by Alex Gutierrez and Tina Myers.   Brenda Abrams and Peggy Mackey then discussed future plans for the club and Peggy Mackey gave a special thank you to Sharron Varga for her vision for the Aktion club in her closing remarks.

  A special gift of $1500 was presented to the Aktion Club by Cindy Duncan, past president of the Chino Kiwanis Club.  

  The mission of the Aktion Club is to provide adults with disabilities the opportunity to develop initiative and leadership skills, serve in their community, integrate into society and demonstrate the dignity and value of citizens with disabilities.  The Sponsoring Kiwanis Organization is The Kiwanis Clubs of Division 15. 

  The objectives of the Aktion Club are the objectives of Kiwanis International, to give primacy to human and spiritual, rather than to the material values of life; to encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships; to promote the adoption and application of higher social, business and professional standards; to develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable citizenship; to provide a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render unselfish service, and to build better communities; to cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism, which makes possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and goodwill. 

  Aktion Club meetings are held the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 7:00 am at PVW,   located at 4650 Brooks StreetMontclair, CA  91763. Fo r further information about joining the Aktion Club, contact Lucy Yamas-Cortez at 909-624-3555 extension 232. or contact by email:  lucy@pvwonline.org.

CARF International announced that Pomona Valley Workshop (PVW) has been accredited for a period of three years for its programs of service, including Organizational Employment Services, Community Employment Services (including Job Development, Job Support and Job-Site Training), Community Integration, Older Adults Specific Population Designation and Governance Standards. The latest accreditation is the thirteenth (14^th) consecutive Three-Year Accreditation outcome that the international accrediting commission has awarded to PVW. 

This accreditation outcome represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization that shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF Standards.  An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation outcome has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable. President/CEO of CARF, Brian J. Boon, stated in his cover letter, “Please be advised that the CARF surveyors made no recommendations, which signifies that they did not identify any areas of nonconformance to the standards.  This is an extraordinary accomplishment, as only 3 percent of CARF surveys result in no recommendations.  Everyone involved in your organization should take pride in achieving this high level of accreditation.” 

Pomona Valley Workshop is a nonprofit organization serving adults who have developmental disabilities with offices located at 4650 Brooks Street, Montclair, CA 91763. It has been providing services throughout the Inland Empire since 1966. 

CARF is an independent, not-for-profit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966, as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. 

For additional information, contact Karen Jones, Executive Director, at (909) 624-3555, extension 223.

Montclair, Calif. – October 10, 2006 — PVW, formerly know as Pomona Valley Workshop, will celebrate 40 years of business at the Tastes of Tuscany Multi-Chamber Mixer on Thursday, October 19, 2006. Members of the Montclair, Pomona, Chino Valley, Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga Chambers of Commerce will be on hand from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm for the celebration that will include wine tasting, Italian food sampling, tours of PVW, a silent auction, and a cask & key drawing.

 PVW, founded as non-profit corporation by the parents of 15 developmentally disabled adults in 1966, has grown to serve more than 400 persons yearly through the Work Program, Supported Employment Services, the Adult Development Center and the ‘Round About Senior Services. Since its inception, PVW has focused on vocational training for developmentally disabled adult that primarily reside in Eastern Los Angeles County and Western San Bernardino County. 

 Through contracted packaging, assembly and production jobs, workers earn wages based upon Industrial Standards as outlined by the Federal Wage and Hours Laws for facilities serving people with disabilities. In addition, PVW assists developmentally disabled adults find work in businesses throughout the community as individual employees or in groups of three to five employees, called enclaves. Each work opportunity provides adults with disabilities an opportunity to move towards financial self-sufficiency and vocational and social integration.

 Contact Brandi Carter, Director of Marketing and Development, at 909-624-3555 x239 for more information about hiring or contracting with PVW or to learn more about the Tastes of Tuscany Multi-Chamber Mixer. Additional information is also online at www.pvwonline.org.

Montclair, Calif. – June 19, 2006 — The US Soccer Federation through Upland-based manufacturer, Sport Pins International, is sub-contracting the former Pomona Valley Workshop, now PVW, and its workforce of developmentally disabled adults  to assemble licensed lapel pin sets commemorating the US Soccer team’s 2006 FIFA World Cup bid.   PVW, a Montclair-based non-profit corporation that provides employment opportunities for the developmentally disabled, is assembling the entire lot of 500 limited edition pin sets prominently selling online at ussoccerstore.com, the US Soccer Federation’s online store.

“To be involved in an event of the magnitude of the World Cup is especially exciting and our disabled workforce should be extremely proud of the hard work they have done to prepare the Sport Pins for this event,” says PVW Executive Director, Karen Jones. 

The sub-contracted assembly job presents an opportunity for PVW to demonstrate the abilities of the developmentally disabled on a global stage.  “The abilities of our disabled workforce are truly amazing and I am very proud of them, showing the world once again that detailed and intricate jobs are not beyond the scope of their outstanding skills – skills they have successfully developed with the help of PVW in spite of their disabilities,” continues Jones.

Each set requires hand assembly that includes placing 25 pins around an official US Soccer Federation laser engraved serialized title plate in a hand-made walnut box.  Each box includes a team crest pin, a pin representing team Manager Bruce Arena and 23 numerically ordered pins with an action image, a replicated signature and jersey number for each US Men’s team member.  “We were able to accomplish our production needs by developing jigs and fixtures which help the consumers place the collector's pins in the designated location in the box without issue, says Carol Martinez, Director of Production Services, explaining PVW’s production process.

PVW satisfactorily completed the first order of 100 on June 12, completing assembly and delivery of the first 30 in less than one day and the total order in 3-days.   PVW begins assembling the second phase of the order on June 19. 

“We are always grateful for the opportunity to challenge our production capabilities with more detailed and intricate work. This type of challenge enables our consumers to develop new skills and enhance existing skills,” says Martinez.  “More importantly our consumers feel a sense of pride by being involved in a project of this scope.

We look forward to future contract opportunities of this nature through Sport Pins International.”

Developmentally Disabled Lead Fundraising for PVW

Montclair, Calif. – June 12, 2006 — PVW, a Montclair-based non-profit formerly known as Pomona Valley Workshop that provides employment opportunities for developmentally disabled adults, is hosting the Third Annual Walk for PVW to raise funds for their programs and services at Upland Memorial Park from 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. on July 1.

Leading the fundraising efforts are the developmentally disabled men and women employed and served by the organization’s programs, demonstrating that adults with down syndrome, autism and other illnesses associated with mental retardation can contribute to the workplace and the community.  In order to fundraise, individual program participants are seeking donations from family, friends and community members to sponsor their participation in the walk. 

With many program participants residing in and around Chino, Pomona, Ontario, Claremont, Upland and Montclair, support for the Walk for PVW’s participants is primarily local. Yet, by receiving sponsorships from family and friends from as far away as Pennsylvania, last year’s top fundraiser raised $550 for the organization’s programs and services. “I felt great.  I was so happy,” said the long-time program participant of her accomplishment.  “I want to raise even more than I did last year.” 

To sponsor a walker, volunteer or learn more about PVW’s programs and services please contact Brandi Carter by phone at 909-624-3555 ext. 239 or by e-mail at Brandi@pvwonline.org.