For Immediate Release
March 7, 2006

Contact: Mary Tavernini
Phone: (906) 226-6200
E-mail: mta@mtazone.com

Pathways is Cooking… for a Cause

Marquette, MI: Doug Morton, Pathways CEO, was looking for the March 25 th fundraising event to be the kind of effort that wouldn't feel like a fundraising event. He was hoping for something that would be fun to do, in a place that would be fun to do it in. Dozens of ideas were presented and rejected before he found just the right combination of events to help support the “Ray of Sunshine” endowment, which is designed to serve adults with serious mental illnesses in Alger, Delta, Luce and Marquette Counties.

“We approached Don Curto and Scott Sult from the NY Deli and Italian Place to hold French and Italian cooking classes at the beautiful Citadel in Marquette during the day, and to provide a vast array of hors d'oeuvres with an international flair for the evening cocktail party. We were delighted when he agreed,” Morton stated. “We know we have all the elements of a great day of events in both the foods and the venue.”

The cooking classes, which now include New Orleans style dishes as well as French and Italian sauces, soups and entrees, will be held at 9 am and 1:30 pm. Each class will be limited to 25 students to allow the maximum interaction and special attention to each attendee. Tickets are $75.00 per person per class.

“I'm looking forward to watching and tasting, and being entertained by Scott and Don. They have put so much effort into making sure that no one will go from the event hungry or bored,” said Mary Tavernini, event coordinator from M. Tavernini & Associates.

“In addition to tasting the delicacies, sipping French and Italian wines and learning cooking tips, all the students will be eligible for a drawing for some exciting prizes, including a wine refrigerator and sets of stainless steel and copper cookware. We're also creating a custom recipe book from Don's favorite courses to give to all our guests.”

The cocktail party, featuring multiple hors d'oeuvre buffet stations and imported beer and wines, is planned from 7:30 until 9:30, and will include a silent auction of gourmet gift baskets, unique wines and other items donated by businesses in Marquette, Delta, Alger and Luce Counties. Tickets are $75.00 each, or $125.00 per couple.

All events will be at the Citadel, on the corner of Ridge and Blaker Streets in Marquette, near the Landmark Inn, and all proceeds will go toward the Ray of Sunshine Endowment, which supports adults with serious mental illnesses.

“Sometimes it just takes a little extra to make the difference between surviving and thriving,” said Dianna Seymour, Customer & Community Relations Manager at Pathways. “The Ray of Sunshine funds are designed to purchase items or services that make life a little easier, a little happier. This may include supplies for a favorite hobby, enrollment in an art class, or a bicycle to help with exercise and transportation. With this events proceeds, we hope to be able to enhance the lives of many of our customers and their families.”

For Immediate Release
November 10 , 2005

Contact: Mary Tavernini
Phone: (906) 226-6200
E-mail: mta@mtazone.com

Ray of Sunshine Makes Life a Little Easier for People with Mental Illness

Marquette, MI: Living with mental illness can be difficult, and the poverty associated with many affected by it adds more challenges. However, a group of Upper Peninsula volunteers in association with Pathways are working to make life a little easier.

They¹re raising funds for the Ray of Sunshine Endowment, which will be used to purchase items or services like supplies for a favorite hobby, enrollment in an art class or a bicycle for transportation or exercise.

"It¹s the extras in life that can make the difference from surviving to thriving," says Dianna Seymour, Pathways Community Relations Manager."This is especially important for people with mental illness who may struggle with feeling joy in every day living."

Pathways has served more than 6,000 adults in the last five years, and 63% of them have a family income of $9,000 a year or less. People with mental illness may have a difficult time finding employment or advancing in their job due to stigma associated with the illness or the effects of the illness itself.

"Sometimes people with mental illness need a little help with goals or direction in their lives," explains Ray of Sunshine Committee Member, Annette Grenier, of Marquette. "Ray of Sunshine will provide that little extra that they don¹t get from the mental health system."

More than 100 individuals and organizations have donated to the Ray of Sunshine Endowment. The fund balance is now $86,000 and growing. Once the goal of $100,000 is reached, funds will be disbursed. To grow the endowment, a number of fundraising activities are being held, including a holiday Avon fundraiser and a holiday steak fundraiser featuring Viau's steaks December 1 through 12.

In addition, golden Ray of Sunshine lapel pins are available for $10 or a pin and tie tack set for $15. The pins come in a gold gift box with an inspirational card explaining the special meaning behind the pin.

"I¹m looking forward to getting to our fundraising goal and when we can start helping out," adds Committee Member, Sandy Martysz, of Marquette. Other committee members are Pat Casteel, Cindy Collins, Brenda Crow and Barb Lehouillier of Gladstone; Trina Short of Rapid River; and Helen Waisenen of Marquette.

Pathways is the Community Mental Health agency serving Marquette, Alger, Delta and Luce counties. For more information about the Ray of Sunshine Endowment, visit the Pathways website, www.pathwaysup.org , or call Dianna Seymour at (906) 233-1288 or (888) 728-4929.

	Ray of Sunshine lapel and tie pins are sold to help support the Ray of Sunshine Endowment.
	Ray of Sunshine Committee Members at a work session at Pathways in Marquette wear their Ray of Sunshine pins and aprons. Pictured are Sandy Martysz of Marquette, Brenda Crow of Gladstone (from left in front), Annette Grenier of Marquette and Dianna Seymour of Escanaba (back).

Weaving Business Helps U.P. Disabled and Challenged Gain Employment Skills

Marquette, MI: Weaving, the act of interlacing threads, is not only what thirty artists with disabilities do in four studios around the Upper Peninsula, but is also a fitting metaphor for the other skills they develop in the process.

The weavers at Nordic Woven Originals (NWO), a program of Pathways, produce hand-loomed items in the tradition of folk arts brought to the U.P. by Scandinavian immigrants. The concept behind the program is to assist individuals touched by mental illness or developmental disabilities to develop work skills, gain confidence through responsibility, and contribute to and have contact with their local community.

"As our weavers take on greater tasks and responsibilities, they personally gain in both self-confidence and self-reliance," says Ann Streichert, Supportive Employment Coordinator for Delta County and NWO Program Manager. "Their increased work skills enhance their living skills within the community. It's a win-win solution for everyone involved."

Businesses that support NWO by selling their goods also help the community and individual artists. The product line features tote bags, "carpet bag" purses, rugs, pillows, table linens, coasters, hot dish pads and cedar sachets. NWO creations have won competitions and received awards at art shows.

Most importantly, these beautiful products help "weave" their creators into a working environment and society, at a pace with which they feel comfortable. Weavers are supervised by Pathways' Life Skills Technicians at each studio, who help the workers develop marketable vocational abilities. "This is particularly important in rural communities like those we have in the U.P., where employment options are limited," explains Streichert.

Celebrating Nordic Woven Originals' Scandinavian heritage, products will be displayed during Finn Grand Fest at the tori (market) in the Superior Dome. The booth will be open on August 11th
and 12th from 9 am to 5 pm; the 13th from 9 am to 4 pm; and the 14th from 9 am to 1 pm.

NWO Studios are located in Marquette at 401 W. Baraga Ave., (906) 225-7335; in Escanaba at 429 S. 10th St., (906) 233-1394; in Munising at 119 W. Superior St., (906) 387-4225; and in Newberry at 14126 W. County Rd. 426, (906) 293-3284. Call the studios to learn of local retail outlets, or phone Pathways at (888) PATHWAY.

	Nancy Raisanen weaves a placemat at the Marquette County Nordic Woven Originals studio. NWO helps Upper Peninsula residents with developmental disabilities and mental illness develop employment skills.
	A sampling of the fine woven products produced by Nordic Woven Originals in four Upper Peninsula studios. Items such as these will be featured at the Finn Grand Fest tori (market) at the Superior Dome in Marquette August 11-14.

Pathways to Serve Clients with Severe Disabilities

Marquette, MI: Pathways, the Community Mental Health agency serving Marquette, Alger, Delta and Luce counties, has announced a shift in the clientele it serves. Pathways is now exclusively serving those most in need—adults and children with severe disabilities, such as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, major depression and developmental disabilities, and people in crisis situations.

“Pathways is funded by Michigan’s Department of Community Mental Health, which has designated the funds be used for those most seriously in need of services,” explains Pathways CEO Doug Morton. “We continue to serve people with severe disabilities, with or without insurance, regardless of their ability to pay for services.” Pathways also will continue to work in conjunction with Marquette General Hospital to provide in-patient hospitalization and services.

People with milder, yet significant disorders or concerns such as mild depression, anxiety disorders, relationship problems and other disturbances will be treated by other community providers. Pathways will assist in locating providers in its four-county service area and will provide referral sources.

“This new mandate to treat the ‘priority population’ is part of a continuum of moving from institutionalized, state-funded care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled toward state and Medicaid-funded treatment within the community,” says Pathways Medical Director Dr. Joe Cools. “Our mission to provide quality services to those we are uniquely entrusted to serve remains the same, as well as our goal to help people not just live in the community, but to become a part of it as well.”

Pathways, which has received the highest accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), is part of the State of Michigan network of mental health agencies. More than 4,000 people in the central U.P. receive services from Pathways. The agency also provides 24-hour/7 days-a-week crisis support services.

Pathways employs a process called Person-Centered Planning, where people take an active part in their treatment, including creating a treatment plan that reflects their individual goals. Family and community also play important roles in helping loved ones and neighbors manage their illness and enjoy a better quality of life. Pathways promotes utilizing supports in natural, community settings that can increase independence and becoming a vital, active part of the community.

“Natural support from the community is more important than ever,” says Morton. “Neighbors, friends and family can support people with mental illnesses or developmental disabilities by accepting and including them in social activities. Employers can hire dedicated workers from our vocational services program. And everyone can better understand mental illnesses and developmental disabilities by learning more about them.”

The Pathways website, www.pathwaysup.org, offers educational materials, a service directory and other helpful items and links. For more information, call 1-888-PATHWAY.