Hello, again– Less than a week from the Boston Marathon now and I am so excited for the day! I was able to get in some trail runs during a recent trip out west. Though the pace was slow, there was a lot of elevation gain to train my legs for Heartbreak Hill!

At the start of April, I was invited to spend the morning at the Price Center and saw the dedication of the staff who made sure that all were included and able to participate in a fun community activity. I am so thrilled to be fundraising on behalf of this incredible program. Please consider a last minute donation to The Price Center to support my run in the 129th Boston Marathon this coming Monday April 21st!

 

Happy running!

Olivia Carrick

 

The Price Center is implementing an ambitious strategic and operations plan for 2025 to 2028 that will enable us to grow to a $20 Million organization. This plan involves expanding our programs, purchasing new group homes, growing our philanthropic support, and pursuing excellence in all areas. To accomplish our goals, we will be focusing on 4 key pillars of our success.

 

Quality

 

We are building a solid infrastructure to support and uphold quality, effective programs and services. This goal focuses on the alignment of programs with The Price Center’s mission as well as expanding on current and creating new programs

We will:

  • Establish a Quality Assurance Department
  • Break down silos between programs
  • Deliver exceptional programming that is “person-centered”

 

Culture

 

We strive to be an employer of choice, attracting the best human services staff to provide the best care to our individuals. We will further enhance and elevate the employee culture of excellence through improved training, professional development, and support.

We will:

  • Introduce wellness programs to support mental health and work-life balance
  • Improve the partnership between Human Resources and Programs
  • Offer enhanced leadership, agency, and staff training with a Human Rights framework that incorporates our agency values

 

Compliance

 

We emphasize delivering exceptional programming that maintains compliance with the state and accreditation organizations, especially achieving high grades for our Department of Developmental Services licensing. This will preserve the sustainability of our entire organization and the community we serve.

We will:

  • Develop audit tools, schedules, and processes to achieve high marks in accreditation
  • Build agency knowledge around compliance and audit processes
  • Monitor and maintain key performance indicators

 

Fiscal Responsibility

 

We aspire to be progressive and forward-thinking in developing financial models that support our strategic growth while incorporating our programming and administrative goals.

We will:

  • Support growth with projections and analysis
  • Improve the efficiency of functions with tech-based solutions
  • Reduce costs while maintaining quality

Being a child psychologist for Boston Children’s, Olivia Carrick knows the importance of providing resources to people with disabilities. When it came time for her to run her 16th marathon, she knew that the Boston Marathon had to be for that cause. 

“I was so impressed by the diverse programming [at The Price Center]”, Olivia said. “The staff was so supportive, and everyone looked so happy to be there. [I was] so eager to support The Price Center!” 

Having worked with our community, Olivia had always been aware of what The Price Center was, but had never had the opportunity to come see our programs in action. After expressing her interest to run for The Price Center at the 129th Boston Marathon, she came in to get the full Price Center experience. Olivia says she knew how important our work was and how excited she was to support us this year. 

“I have seen and felt frustrated by the difficulties to finding appropriate supports for kids with developmental disabilities,” she said. “It becomes even harder for adults, we transition our patients from pediatric care to adult care, and it’s so much harder to find that appropriate support. I was just so impressed with The Price Center…I couldn’t believe all of that was happening in one spot. I was so excited to be part of that.” 

Apart from tackling her 16th marathon, a feat that not many people can say they’ve accomplished, Olivia is excited to go into this marathon with a strong partner in Price. She shared that she’s already bragged to her colleagues about being The Price Center’s runner, and that she hopes to create some really fun events and opportunities with our individuals leading up to race day. 

“For this Boston Marathon, I’m really looking forward to collaborating with the programs and feeling proud of who I’m running for,” she shared. “And, obviously, finishing!” 

Beginning in March, you can follow along with Olivia’s journey as she trains for the Boston Marathon! You can look for her blog posts on The Price Center’s website and socials. 

We hope you will join us in welcoming Dr. Olivia and wishing her the best of luck on this road to the 129th Boston Marathon! 

Visit our fundraising page on the GivenGain platform here.

 

Dear Price Center Community,

I am honored to serve as the CEO of The Price Center (TPC), a role I stepped into with a deep commitment to advancing the quality of services and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including Autism. As I reflect on my first 100 days, I want to take this opportunity to share the progress we have made together and our vision for the future.

 

Strengthening Our Culture

At the heart of our work is a culture of compassion, respect, and empowerment. Over the past few months, I have prioritized open communication, collaboration, and transparency to ensure that every individual we serve, their families, and our dedicated staff feel valued and heard. By fostering a person-centered approach, we are reinforcing our mission to enhance lives and promote independence.

 

Elevating Quality and Compliance

Quality, compliance, culture and fiscal responsibility are the cornerstones of providing exceptional care. In my first 100 days, we have assessed our current programs, identified areas for improvement, and implemented best practices to enhance service delivery. We have strengthened our quality assurance measures and reinforced compliance standards to ensure we exceed regulatory expectations while maintaining the highest level of ethical and professional integrity.

 

Building a Stronger Team

A strong, unified team is essential to achieving our mission. I have focused on professional development, team-building initiatives, and fostering a positive work environment where employees feel supported and empowered. From launching leadership trainings to reinforcing our commitment to continuous learning & continuous improvement , we are investing in the growth and well-being of our staff.

 

Strategic Planning for the Future

Long-term success requires a clear vision and strategic direction. Over the past three months, I have worked alongside our Board of Directors, Senior Leadership Team, and listened to this community’s input to develop a comprehensive and robust 3-year strategic plan that will catapult us from a $13M organization to a $20M organization. The plan includes, but is not limited to:

  • Purchasing 5 new residential group homes in the next 3 years, addressing unmet community needs, and fostering innovation across programs and operations, including supporting those turning 22
  • Expanding and enhancing our Day Habilitations, Specialized Supports, Community-Based Day and Employment programs, allowing us to serve more individuals
  • As part of Year One of our strategic vision, we will be implementing a RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) program to enhance behavioral support services. In conjunction with our focus on supporting our individuals to thrive at The Price Center, we are also launching our Positive Behavior Support (PBS) program to ensure individualized, evidence-based interventions
  • Restructuring our Human Rights Committee to safeguard the dignity and rights of those we serve
  • Introducing a Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) program to ensure safe and effective responses to challenging situations
  • Enhancing brand awareness to increase community engagement and advocacy

 

Looking Ahead

These first 100 days have been a time of learning, growth, and action. However, our journey is just beginning. We will continue to build on this momentum, listening to our community, refining our services, and working together to create a future where every individual with IDD including autism receives the highest level of support and opportunity.

Thank you for your trust, partnership, and dedication to our shared mission. I look forward to the next phase of our work together and the impact we will continue to have on the lives of those we serve. Please join me in creating an inclusive society where our uniquely abled individuals thrive at The Price Center. 

Sincerely,

Abigail Parrilla, CEO

Thank you to our Spring Sponsors!

We are so grateful to all of the loyal friends, families and organizations who made a gift to the spring sponsorship appeal. Just as it is for the butterflies represented in our sponsorship levels, this spring is a time of hope and transformation. Your contributions will help us to emerge stronger than ever and make lasting impacts in the lives of the individuals we serve.


Zebra Swallowtail Sponsors 

Gerald and Sandra Fineberg

Gwendolyn Fineberg

Michelle Fineberg and Eric Levin

Industrial Boiler & Mechanical Services, LLC

Richard and Rosalyn Slifka

The Village Bank

Red Admiral Sponsors 

Theodore and Cynthia Berenson

Irwin and Roberta Chafetz

Karner Blue Sponsors 

Bailey Foundation

Jeffrey and Nancy Bilezikian

Dan and Norma Frank

Andrew and Lisa Majewski

Janie and Jeffrey Plank

Blue Morpho Sponsors 

Jeffrey and Mandy Bass

Chestnut Hill Realty

Jerry and Jan Feldman

Joan and David Genser

Deborah Gordon

Rabbi Joshua and Dr. Mara Hammerman

Barbara H. Lloyd

Zachary and Alissa Rosenberg

Richard and Jerome Tuck

Painted Lady Sponsors 

Leonard and Sara Aronson

David and Judy Brezniak

Laura Duffy

Paul Fragala

Charles and Jane Johnson

Krauss Dermatology

Michael Magerer

Edward and Sydell Masterman

Pageo Fine Jewelers

Traynor Family Foundation

Amy Troubh

Tiger Swallowtail Sponsors 

Marianne and Michael Arcieri

Robert Barney

Joe and Janice Castiglione

Sen. Cynthia and Harvey Creem

Bette and Philip Gladstone

Annette and Irving Itzkan

Arthur and Abby Kalotkin

Patti and Francis Kelleher

Suzanne Cook Kinsellagh

Judith Kreitzer

Marianne Lochiatto

Miriam and John Macht

Patricia and James Matthews

Edward and Ann McLean

Diane and John McNamara

Mort and Sarah Orlov

Stephen and Margaret Raskin

Bella Shapiro

Ronald Tiberi

We are thrilled to receive a grant from The Cummings Foundation to support our mission of empowering individuals with disabilities. The grant will be used to enhance our programming, including improving and expanding our remote learning initiatives. The Cummings Foundation supports non-profits in the communities where the staff and clients of Cummings Properties live. Their continued commitment to supporting local communities allows our individuals to explore new opportunities in the areas they live and work in. As a non-profit The Price Center relies entirely on the generosity of its friends and community partners.

Thank you Cummings Foundation!

 

 

 

The Price Center to Receive a $20,000 Donation from the Cummings Foundation from Cummings’ “Make a Difference with Special Donation Program

Newton, October 5, 2023 – The Price Center is set to receive a $20,000 donation from the Cummings Foundation, an institution that supports a limited number of national and international organizations through invitation-only grants. The donation was made through the Cummings Foundation’s “Make A Difference Dollars” (MAD$) program.

Click Here to Read the Full News Release

 

The Price Center Is Awarded a $100,000 Cummings Grant

Funds Will Help to Expand Remote Learning Initiatives

Newton, June 2021—The Price Center is one of 140 area nonprofit organizations that received grants between $100,000 and $500,000 from the Cummings Foundation. The Price Center was selected from among 590 applications to the foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program. The center will receive $100,000 payable over the next three years.

 

Click Here to Read the Full News Release

 

cummings grant collage

The Price Center is a Busy Community!

There’s never a dull moment at The Price Center! We believe that a thriving community is an informed community. To stay up-to-date on what’s happening in and around The Price Center, check out our updates below. 

You can also sign up to receive our newsletter and receive updates on all the latest from The Price Center right in your inbox by contacting communications@thepricecenter.org.

 

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