Rauch is pleased to announce the 2016 Imagine Awards Leader honoree, Lucy VonRoenn. Lucy VonRoenn founded Sunrise Therapeutic Riding Center in 2005, incorporating the not-for-profit organization in 2006 and opening its Lanesville operation in 2007. Lucy is making real and significant changes in the lives of those she serves.
Read MoreAt the beginning of the summer, I started writing a list of the “Top Five Things I’ve Learned at Rauch.” I figured I would wait a few weeks before I finished it so I had more time. Now, my last day is today and what I’ve learned is that I can’t write a Top Five list. First of all, I can’t narrow it down. Second of all, every point I came up with essentially came down to the same thing—passion.
Read MoreVicki Pilcher has been the Wellness Coordinator at Rauch for two months now and is already working toward helping the program grow.
Before coming to Rauch, Vicki worked as a home care nurse. She said the type of environment home care fosters is actually why she wanted to become a nurse—to connect with patients and be able to have a bond with them.
Read MoreTo meet annual operating needs, Rauch must raise $12,500 in contributions from supporters like you this summer. Please donate today to help Rauch care for over 1,000 children and adults with developmental and other disabilities each year in your community, and help people like Phillip continue to dance.
Read MoreOne Southern Indiana will present its first Annual Non-Profit of the Year Award this year, recognizing an organization’s outstanding work within the community. Rauch, Inc. was chosen as one of the three finalists. Alongside Goodwill of Southern Indiana and Hope Southern Indiana, Rauch will be recognized at the One Southern Indiana Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18, where the winner will also be announced.
Read MorePhoebe Curry has been in the business for 33 years, first working at New Hope Services and then at Rauch Industries. As production manager, she oversees the everyday operations of daily production, clients, and production techs (PTs). Phoebe handles the job scheduling of PTs and clients, while ensuring deadlines are being met and everyone is working.
Read MoreEd began working at Rauch Industries in July 1994 - nearly 21 years ago! A lifelong Indiana resident, he currently lives in New Albany. Ed’s a friendly guy who has never met a stranger and loves to shake hands and talk. He loves movies and is often seen carrying them around, even at work. Ed can repeat, verbatim, many lines from his favorite movies. When he isn’t watching movies or working on the American Beverage Marketers margarita salt line at Rauch Industries, he likes to play video games, shop, look through magazines, watch TV, listen to music, and go to dances.
Read MoreWe all get busy, and most of us spend the day at work go, go, going! I'm certainly no exception. So, one of the things I enjoy about my job is that sometimes a person we serve comes to visit me, stops me as I walk through their area, or grabs me in the hallway. It forces me to take a "time out" and slow down, and I often learn something I didn't know before.
Read MoreTeressa Jackson, Rauch's Director of Development, is currently on a Rotary Group Study Exchange to Melbourne, Australia, where she is meeting with organizations serving disabilities. Her account from her vocational visit on February 27 follows.
I had another vocational day today, spending several hours at Arts Project Australia. Sandy, their Office Manager, graciously spent the morning with me, orienting me to their philosophy and approach, and Sim spent the afternoon orienting me to their curatorial practices, social media efforts, events, etc. Much like Rauch, Arts Project Australia was founded 40 years ago by a parent of a daughter with an intellectual disability. Myra Hilgendorf saw the artistic potential in her daughter, and became inspired. The project began by collecting and displaying art from institutions around Melbourne. This original collection is permanently housed in the organization’s archives.
Read MoreLast night, we had the pleasure of attending the Jeffersonville Rotary's Gold Leaf celebration. This event gives local non-profits the opportunity to celebrate the contributions of the many people in our community who put "Service Above Self".
At the event, we honored current Rauch Foundation Board President Dennis Ott. Denny has been involved with Rauch for 10 years.
Read MoreWe lost a good friend this week. As the world bid farewell to 2013, we parted ways with Diane, who touched our lives at Rauch on and off for the past fifty years.
Diane received Rauch preschool services, went on to attend school at Mt. Tabor, and later was a participating artist at Rauch's "A Place to Create" art studio, an attendee of ourAdult Developmental Activities program, and one of the first residents in our housing at Hawthorn Glen. Although she was born with Down Syndrome, Diane's parents, who loved her unconditionally, worked to ensure that her life and activities were happy and meaningful, including Girl Scouts and voice lessons.
Today, at Diane's service, many of our staff shared their sweet memories of her.
Read MoreEach year, we host a holiday celebration for participants in all our programs… the most genuinely and completely joyful day we have all year. On Christmas Eve, our clients and staff will gather atRauch Industries to dance, dine, and be merry… and yes, receive a small gift. Can you help?
Read MoreToday, Bettye (our CEO) and I attended The Arc of Indiana and INARF's Legislative & Critical Issues forum in Indianapolis. This annual gathering of disability service providers from across the state provides a time to look at data, trends, and legislation that is impacting or may impact our consumers. This is also a time to recognize a legislator who is doing good work to impact people with disabilities in Indiana.
We heard from Family & Social Services Administration Secretary Debra Minott and American Network of Community Options & Resources (ANCOR)'s liaison Diane McComb. Some food for thought we gained:
Read MoreI'm so tired. My day started two hours ahead of usual, and ended over two hours later. It involved spending over seven hours in the car on a drizzly day. I came home tired to a messy house and the prospect of another day of long hours in the car ahead of me. So, understandably, I started to feel a little whiny (you might have noticed!).
I decided I needed to do a little exercise (seeing as I had sat idle in meetings or the car nearly the whole day), and in the process, I took a step back. The part of my day which seemed like the biggest chore, the most mundane, the least interesting, was probably the most exciting and full of promise.
Read MoreLike all of us, the people Rauch serves have an array of interests, abilities, goals, and dreams. Staff members like Peggy Pinaire spend their days helping these individuals on their journey of expanding those abilities, enjoying these interests, and achieving their goals and dreams. Along this path, however, Peggy often finds that our clients give back just as much as they receive.
Read MoreI grew up in New Albany, and thought I was pretty familiar with Rauch when I came to work here. However, even with my knowledge of the agency and the community, there were some surprises. Probably the biggest one was that Rauch is one of only two American Sign Language interpreting agencies in the Louisville Metro area. Interpreting is our one program which serves both the Kentucky and Indiana side of the Ohio River. We are proud to help the members of the local Deaf community navigate school, medical needs, the legal system, the world of work, and more.
We recently received this testimonial from one of our Interpreting clients, and it touched my heart. I just had to share, and am grateful to Debbie for letting us:
Read MoreI was struck by something almost right away when I came to work at Rauch - how much the people in our programs enjoy having their photos taken. Many times, if they spotted me with a camera, they would ask me to take their picture. They would remember for weeks and ask me to print them a copy of it.
Most of the people we serve at Rauch aren't worried about their smile looking just right, sporting the latest fashions, or if the camera adds five or ten pounds to their frame. They take joy in the simple pleasure of having their image captured to keep for themselves or share with loved ones... something I've found to be incredibly refreshing.
Read More(adapted from a story written by Pam Sinsel)
Pam, a Rauch Supported Employment Consultant, first met John in late 2012. He was a very large fellow with piercing blue eyes and a somewhat disheveled appearance. He was very quiet and seemed guarded when speaking to her. At first glance, he appeared intimidating.
John wanted to work in food service. After several meetings and through setting small goals for him, his grooming improved. He became more trusting of Pam and began to share information about his interests and dreams, including that he enjoys photography and would like to eventually become a chef.
Read MoreSeptember 8 - 14, 2013, is "DSP Week". But what's a "DSP"? You may venture a few guesses:
Actually, in addition to being those things (and more!), DSP is the industry standard word for "Direct Support Professionals."
Read MoreDavid has a way with words. You never quite know what he's going to say, but you should be prepared that it might just melt your heart. Like the time he told me I looked tired (gee thanks) and that I "shouldn't work so much." Point taken. Or when he asked when their pool was going to be built. At the time, we weren't completely sure we were going to have enough funds to do so, and I told him that. His answer: "you should get somedonations." Point taken again (after all, that's my job!). One of my favorites, though, was when he spontaneously said to me when I was giving someone a tour of Rauch Industries,
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