One of our roles at Competitive Employment Opportunities (CEO) is to be the teacher. We strive to improve the quality of life for the individuals we serve by teaching them to be self-determined. We also try to break down barriers by teaching the community about the benefits of hiring an individual with a disability. At the end of the day, though, it is the staff of CEO who is educated in the most meaningful ways.
CEO recently started an eBay business in which people donate items to be auctioned online. The initial goal of this was to earn extra revenue to offset certain unstable funding sources. A second goal was to employ individuals with disabilities to operate that part of the business. As we focus on improving this venture, we are pleasantly surprised regarding the degree of generosity from individuals donating items and the impact CEO has on their lives.
Many of the donations we have received have been from people transitioning from their homes to smaller apartments or assisted living facilities. Knowing they trust CEO with belongings collected over a lifetime brings extra meaning to what we do. Furthermore, to know we are helping people with their life transition by accepting their donations increases our level of stewardship with some of their prized possessions.
We have grown, not only from those who made donations, but also from the individuals we serve. Two, in particular, have taught us the greatest of life’s lessons. Larry Mohney and Michelle Ellenberger were individuals served by CEO who passed away this past year. Both Larry and Michelle lived their lives with passion and self-determination, each in their own way. Their passing reminds us that it is life’s journey and how we conduct ourselves that is most important. The lives of Larry and Michelle are perfect role models to all of us regardless of our individual abilities.
Learning lessons in life can be both pleasant and painful. The important thing, though, is to learn from everything we experience. At CEO we take pride in being both the teacher and the student.
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SITE MAP | | 8384 Frankstown Rd., Pittsburgh, Pa 15221
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