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Pathways to SuccessProgressive Dinner50th Anniversary & Car Raffle

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Employee of the QuarterHonoring an employee's work ethic, customer service, and professionalism.

CCCC 5th Anniversary Fall Festival Celebrating 5 years.

STEP Head Start PBIS Fall Kickoff Head Start kicks off the school-year with Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports.

Walk with EaseSTEP Office of Aging offers walking program for senior citizens.

Pumpkin GleaningAmeriCorps members team up with Central PA Foodbank to fight hunger locally.

Inside This Issue

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Progressive DinnerSTEP's Pathways to Success Progressive Dinner & Car Raffle.

Featured Article

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Employee of the Quarter July 1, 2016 - September 30, 2016 - Kim Andy

“Kim has been an outstanding STEP employee for nine and a half years. I would like to thank Kim for all of her

hard work and dedication in the many roles she has held.” Kristen Sweger, STEP Service Navigation Director

Success

Kim Andy was selected as STEP's Employee of the Quarter! Kim’s willingness to provide assistance and training to others within Service Navigation, STEP, and partnering agencies builds a positive environment that promotes teamwork. She assists with general resource and procedural questions, ClientTrack training, and serves at the Information Desk on an as-needed basis.

In addition to her Service Navigation duties, Kim had taken on the temporary responsibility of providing service to the numerous customers of STEP partnering agency, River Valley Health & Dental Center (RVH&DC). Although these responsibilities lasted much longer than anticipated, she continued to balance the workload of both positions while providing quality service to STEP and RVH&DC customers, as well as assisting her coworkers as needed. She willingly goes above and beyond to ensure that STEP customers receive the best possible service.

Pictured from left: STEP Chief Strategy Officer Terry Roller, Director of Service Navigation Kristen Sweger, Kim Andy, and STEP President & CEO Jim Plankenhorn.

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As a capstone to STEP's 50th Anniversary, STEP held its first Pathways to Success Progressive Dinner, hosting more than 100 individuals. The sold out event kicked off at STEP's RiverWalk Center where guests were welcomed by STEP President & CEO Jim Plankenhorn before boarding their shuttle for the evening, provided by STEP Transportation. Portions of the five course dinner were sponsored by Woodlands Bank, McCormick Law Firm, and Kohen Cleaning Service, LLC.

Progressive Dinner

Partnership

Engagement

Community Collaboration Pathway to Success .

WOODLANDSBANK

We’re Easy to Do Business With

McCORMICKLAW FIRM

The James

MOON & RAVEN Public House Kohen Cleaning ServiCe, llC

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Progressive Dinner

“The dinner and raffle were a perfect way to cap off 50 years of partnerships. Throughout the year and through

many events, we celebrated our successes by honoring our customers, staff, volunteers, retirees, donors, and

partners. We appreciate all who play and played a part in making STEP what it is today and what it will be for the

next 50 years and beyond.”Jim Plankenhorn, STEP President & CEO

Success

Community Collaboration Pathway to Success .

Local restaurants Moon & Raven, Le Jeune Chef, and The James hosted the event that concluded at the RiverWalk Center for a dessert buffet from Sprinkled Sweet. There, a winner was drawn for STEP's 50th anniversary fundraiser raffle, the 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible. The winning ticket, number 1031 held by Vince Matteo, was drawn by STEP founder Bill Nichols. Proceeds from the Progressive Dinner and Car Raffle will support the STEP General Endowment Fund, to help ensure another 50 Years of Partnerships.

Bill Nichols (left) drew thewinning ticket, announced by

Jim Plankenhorn (right) at STEP's RiverWalk Center.

STEP's Raffle winner Vince Matteo (left) is presented with the keys to his 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible by STEP President & CEO

Jim Plankenhorn (right).

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Five years has gone quite quickly with all the happenings at STEP’s Clinton County Community Center. To celebrate its 5th Anniversary, STEP hosted a Fall Harvest Festival on Thursday, October 27, 2016. The day’s events started at noon with a special "Let’s Do Lunch" program for seniors. During the lunch, Janaan Maggs from State Representative Mike Hanna's office presented a proclamation to STEP commemorating the occasion and offered a question and answer period for the attendees. Clinton County Commissioners and STEP staff were also on hand for the event. Other activities included a card party and crafts.

CCCC 5th Anniversary &Early Learning, Independent Living, & Community Collaboration Pathways

Partnership

Engagement

Office of Aging

Clinton County

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Fall Harvest FestivalEarly Learning, Independent Living, & Community Collaboration Pathways

“The Fall Harvest Festival celebrating the 5th Anniversary of the CCCC was just awesome, over 225 participants

engaged in a activities throughout the day! I am looking forward to what the next five years and beyond will hold.”

Rachelle Abbott, STEP Chief Operations Officer

Success

Late afternoon provided Fall Harvest Festival activities for the whole family. Various activity stations were set up throughout the Clinton County Community Center including: a pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating, healthy harvest foods, sweet treats from the 4 C's Café, sensory activities, games, and Zumba. STEP AmeriCorps was also on site, providing a story corner where each child was able to hear a story and pick out a book to keep from AmeriCorps' recent book drive service project, which collected nearly 3,000 new and gently used children's books.

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Early Learning Pathway to Success .

Over 100 children and their families attended the Head Start PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) Fall Kick-Off on September 28th at the Clinton County Community Center. The event engaged children and families in a variety of activities to promote social-emotional development based on three Program-Wide Expectations:Be Safe, Be Kind, and Be Responsible. PBIS promotes positive interactions and behavior in all settings. It provides a framework for parents and staff to work together to prevent and address challenging behavior.

PBIS Fall Kick-Off

Partnership

Engagement

The Lock Haven Shoe Bank

Annie Halenbake Ross Library

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Early Learning Pathway to Success .

“Our first Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Fall Kick-Off was a success. Staff, children, and

families succeeded in promoting our program-wide expectations: Be Safe, Be Kind, and Be Responsible.”

Janna Gohl, STEP Head Start Early Intervention & Mental Health Specialist

Success

PBIS Fall Kick-Off

STEP staff and representatives of many community agencies were in attendance to offer information to Head Start families, including STEP Head Start Policy Council, STEP Service Navigation, Lock Haven City Police, Infant Development Program, Inc., Keystone Central School District, The Lock Haven Shoe Bank, Clinton County Women’s Center, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Penn State Cooperative Extension, The Ross Library, and the Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services.

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Partnership

Walk with Ease Independent Living Pathway to Success .

“This program is proof of the power of group motivation. With varying ability levels and walks

ranging from ½ mile to 3 ½ miles, each person pushes to go a little farther each time. They hold

each other accountable and encourage one another.” Abbey Eschbach STEP Wellness & Nutrition

Initiative Coordinator

Success

This fall the STEP Office of Aging debuted "Walk with Ease," a program for older adults tolearn how to safely make physical activity part of their everyday lives. Hostedby STEP Wellness and Nutrition Coordinator Abbey Eschbach, Walk with Ease aims to reducethe discomfort of joint pain, increase balance and strength, and boost walking pace. Participants have become confident in their ability to be active while improving their overall health!

Office of Aging

Engagement

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Pumpkin Gleaning Community Collaboration Pathway to Success .

Partnership

EngagementMore than 6 billion pounds of fruits and vegetables go unharvested or unsold annually in the US, while individuals and families face growing problems obtaining healthy foods. For the second year, STEP AmeriCorps service members and community volunteers tackled this problem by gathering nearly 6,000lbs of pumpkins and squash from Carpenter’s Pumpkin Farm in Linden for distribution by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

The gleaned pumpkins and squash will be distributed whole in Fresh Express boxes from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank – Northern Tier Location. The Fresh Express program delivers perishable fresh foods directly to those in need. The pumpkins will come with a variety of nourishing recipes.

Independent Living Pathway to Success .

“I am excited to report that the gleaning at Carpenter’s Farm yielded 5,920 pounds of pumpkins and spaghetti squash. It

was another great turnout of volunteers, for the second year in a row. This is a great example of community members coming together in a collaborative way to fight hunger.” Eric Orndorff, Central PA Food Bank Regional Director

Success

Carpenter's Farm

Contact STEP at 570-326-0587 or www.stepcorp.org for information on how you can make an investment in your community.

Please consider making a contribution to STEP to help us help our customers. Visit www.stepcorp.org/Donate to make a secure donation via PayPal.

2138 Lincoln StreetWilliamsport, PA 17701Tel: 570-326-0587Fax: 570-322-2197E-mail: step@stepcorp.orgWeb: www.stepcorp.org

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Randall AllisonSusan BiggerRobert Cross

Maria GarlickRegan Garey

Leonora Hannagan

Jeffrey SnyderChairperson

Jeffrey Rauff Vice ChairpersonCarolyn Hawk

SecretaryAron Carter

Treasurer

Linda HessJack McKernan

Jackie OlivaLindsay Stamm

Amber Wilt

The mission of STEP is to engage diverse individuals, families, and communities in the pursuit of social and economic success.

Jim Plankenhorn, President & CEOTraci Lowe, Chief Financial Officer

Rachelle Abbott, Chief Operations Officer Terry Roller, Chief Strategy Officer

STEP, Inc. Board of Directors