Family, Friends, and Colleagues

On October 20th, I turned 70 years young.

The biggest question I get asked today is why I am still working. I have enjoyed this career and am thankful for the opportunity that presented itself in 1977. It all started when I was 26 years old, working as a receiver at a small electronics distributor in Burlington, MA. That led me down the path to where I am now, currently working for a wonderful company with great people who make it easy to continue. With that said, I am preparing to retire at the end of 2021.

As I prepare for retirement, I know many of my friends and family would like to help me celebrate this milestone. My wish is that you will all help by supporting my efforts to raise $10,000 for autism, by running a 5K. I have never run a 5K, but since moving to the West Coast, I have taken up running. The race will take place on June 6, in Massachusetts. My intent is to complete the race in less than 30 minutes, a lofty goal for someone who will be going on 71 and has never run in a road race!

My oldest grandson Shane has autism and attends a school called Crossroads (https://www.crossroadsschoolma.org/). Crossroads’ mission is to provide individualized, comprehensive education and related services to students with autism to enhance the quality of life and improve independent functioning, so they may achieve their full potential. I have seen this firsthand with Shane and witnessed his progress since attending Crossroads. The vision of Crossroads School is to ensure every student graduates more skillful, confident, productive, and independent than when he or she first arrived. This includes preparing students to transition to less restrictive school settings and to adulthood with the ability to be productive members of society. This is my hope for Shane.

Crossroads, like all human services organizations, was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, the organization quickly shifted to providing remote school services and telehealth home-based services. While their efforts were noteworthy, many families, including my own, faced unforeseen challenges due to the disruption in routine. In addition to communication challenges, individuals with autism often have a strong preference for structure and routine, making the pandemic a significant challenge for this community. We were fortunate to have home-based services resume in-person in June and the school re-opened in July, eventually increasing from one day of in-person instruction to two, then three, and finally full-time instruction on February 1! Increasing instruction at the school required a lot of planning and reconfiguring offices into student learning spaces to ensure social distancing was possible, while still providing their high-quality educational services. I am incredibly grateful for how hard the team at Crossroads has worked to support my grandson Shane, and my daughter Tina.

This year’s goal for Crossroads is to raise $47,500. Funds raised by this event are important to Crossroads to ensure they can continue providing the best services and supports to individuals with autism. This year is an especially big year for Crossroads, as they complete a new Strategic Plan and prepare to expand their programs beyond their school and the home-based services. So here is the challenge…I have developed hundreds of contacts over the 43 years I have spent in this industry. I’m reaching out to YOU, in hopes, you will find it in your heart to donate to this cause. A few dollars from each of you will allow me to reach my goal. I will match dollar for dollar the first $2,500.00 donated. So please click on the link to learn more about the Crossroads and donate to my retirement gift, which I would love to give to this wonderful organization.  

Donate or join our team here (virtual or in-person):  

https://secure.qgiv.com/event/9a5affd/account/1078101/

I’ve seen the impact Crossroads has on families, I’ve seen the progress Shane has made, and I am committed to helping them expand services so other families may benefit. With your support, we can enhance the lives of more people with autism.”

I hope you will get in on the fun and make a difference while helping me raise funds and awareness for individuals with autism at Crossroads.

Best,

Tony