Local Non-Profit Spreads Power of Possibility

On Thursday morning, Burlingame-based celebrated nearly 90 years of helping people of all ages with disabilities and their families during their annual Power of Possibilities Breakfast.

“It celebrates the accomplishments that we’ve made as an agency in the past year, and it highlights volunteer partners,” said Jeanne Berube, senior manager of corporate relations. “It’s a moving event, it’s an inspirational event, it’s an uplifting event.”

Community Gatepath is the largest provider of non-profit services to people with disabilities in San Mateo County. Their programs range from early intervention to transitional services for young adults to life skills development to vocational services.

The goal of Community Gatepath is to prepare children through adults with disabilities to become active members of their schools and communities under the catchphrase “Turning Disabilities Into Possibilities.”

It is the work Community Gatepath does with 8,300 individuals annually that is celebrated during the breakfast.

 “It allows us to share our story in the community in a very personal way,” said Berube. “It allows us to kind of highlight some of that impact that we have on individuals in a very special way.”

The breakfast draws about 500 people each year. Attendees range from community activists to families to local politicians, such as U.S.  Congresswoman Jackie Speier.

At the event, three partners are highlighted—a volunteer partner, a business partner and a community partner.

This year’s volunteer partner of note is Electronic Art.  Berube said for the past 13 years, the company underwrites a holiday party for the children receiving early intervention services, complete with Santa and gifts. Berube said the partnership has grown to include Electronic Arts providing employment for Community Gatepath members and doing matching gifts for donations.

The business partner highlighted this year is Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, which Berube said uses Community Gatepath’s landscape service.

“They’ve been an amazing supporter,” she said. “They’ve provided employment to individuals with disabilities…it’s been a great partnership.”

The community partner recognition goes to Nickelodeon, which Berube said first reached out to partner with Community Gatepath’s online presence, AbilityPath.org, to focus on including play for children with special needs in Nickelodeon’s annual World Wide Day of Play.

Lastly, at the breakfast the Neal Poppin award is given to a member of Community Gatepath who has overcome incredible hurdles. This year’s winner is Lucas Coulston, who was misdiagnosed as a child and moved from home to home until taken in by his step grandparents at the age of 16. He joined Community Gatepath’s Autism Works Program and is now employed at Century Theaters.

For Berube, the best part of the breakfast is “sharing the stories of the lives that Community Gatepath changes in our community,” she said. “That has the most impact.”

For more information on The Power of Possibilities Breakfast and to see a video on the speaker Steve Wampler, the first person with Cerebral Palsy to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, click here.