T H E
S U S A N
S E A M A N S
Legacy Campaign
Susan Seamans has been an outstanding leader for more than 25 years and a true inspiration for all of us at P.G. Chambers School. Her contributions have been integral to our success and continuity. Of the many initiatives that Susan has championed, she has chosen three for her legacy to P.G. Chambers School: • The Early Intervention Program: Serving Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and their Families • LEAD: The Leadership Exploration and Development Program
Susan Seamans
• Keeping Promises: The P. G. Chambers School Endowment Fund
The Early Intervention Program: Serving Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and their Families Long before the federal government mandated services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, Susan Seamans was a member of the New Jersey Early Intervention Coalition, a group of 21 directors of early intervention programs focused on securing a state mandate that would provide early intervention services in New Jersey. As a result, New Jersey passed legislation that would support a family-focused, statewide system of early intervention services, through contracts with those 21 service providers, preceding the federal mandate by 10 years. Over the years Susan has seen the program change and grow, and she has always maintained a
LEAD: The Leadership Exploration and Development Program
philosophy of team-based, familydriven services and the vision of the original group of providers: that every child born with a disability or developmental delay needs support and intervention. Funding for early intervention services has been a challenge since its beginning. Through Susan’s leadership and commitment to infants, toddlers, and their families, she has, each year, sustained our funding by securing grants, contracts, and private contributions; and, through thoughtful growth and conservative spending, has always put quality before quantity.
early intervention services
“ Providing
for very young
children with disabilities is simply the right thing to do.” -Susan Seamans
Susan, recognizing the need for future leaders of P.G. Chambers School, and the enormous talent within the staff, established The Leadership Development Program. The 2012 pilot provided training, mentoring, and learning opportunities for all staff members under the premise that “leadership is for everyone”. The project has been immensely successful in creating an enriched program for the organization, becoming an integral part of staff professional development. With this clear vision for building leadership in the organization, Susan intensified the program in 2013 as the initiative evolved into the Leadership Exploration and Development Program (LEAD), providing training to 29 outstanding
staff members in the past five years. Innovation projects developed by LEAD participants have strengthened both direct services to children, our specialized services, and outreach to the community.
leadership initiative,
“Through our
we will
build a strong, competent, and compassionate force of leaders to drive our mission, and not only prepare our students for the world, but change the world for our students.” -Susan Seamans
Keeping Promises: The P.G. Chambers School Endowment Fund
“As funding declines and
the endowment fund
needs grow, it will be
— our investment
in the future — that will provide the necessary financial support for the school. This, above all, is my highest priority for the future of P.G. Chambers School.” -Susan Seamans
For more than 60 years, the school has kept its promise to children with disabilities and their families by providing the highest quality special education and therapy services and helping thousands of children become ready and eager learners, active members of their communities, and confident young adults. Financial realities and the current economic climate are challenging our ability to keep our promises, with special education funding in jeopardy at the national, state, and local levels. At best, funding is flat, while the number of children with significant disabilities is steadily increasing. Susan has addressed this threat through exceptional efforts for cost-containment strategies and
increased efforts toward successful fund development. To help fund current and future programs, and augment our annual fundraising, Susan has also successfully built the endowment from less than $1.3 million to $14 million in the last 25 years. While seeming large, this sum could potentially only support the school for one year, should all outside funding go away.
Officers of the Board of Trustees
A strong endowment fund will safeguard the quality of education and therapy services that children and families have always received at P.G. Chambers School, guaranteeing that we can continue to meet the intensifying needs of children with significant, multiple disabilities and their families for decades to come.
Anthony Bonanno Patricia Chambers Jerry DeFrancisco Lesley Draper Eric C. Elbell Abbey Horwitz Walter Kneis Susan Lodge Joseph Longo Aftab Malik Peter Porraro Gabriel Sasso Steve Tuttle Steve Vittorio
Unjeria C. Jackson, M.D. President Thomas J. Walsh Vice President Lori Solomon Vice President and Treasurer Susan Seamans Secretary and Executive Director Board of Trustees
HONOR SUSAN’S LEGACY TO HONOR SUSAN WE ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER MAKING A LEGACY GIFT THAT WILL CONTINUE, BEYOND THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT, SUSAN’S LIFETIME EFFORTS IN INITIATING AND GROWING VISIONARY PROGRAMS AND ADVANCING THE SCHOOL’S EXCELLENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION THAT SHE HAS WORKED SO TIRELESSLY TO ACHIEVE. YOUR GIFT WILL PROVIDE FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DISABILITIES, GROW THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND MEET THE FUTURE CHALLENGES AND NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
15 HALKO DRIVE, CEDAR KNOLLS, NJ 07927 973.829.8484 WWW.CHAMBERSSCHOOL.ORG