Each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) invites us to celebrate the achievements of individuals with disabilities in the workforce and to reaffirm our commitment to creating inclusive, supportive employment opportunities for all.
At Venture Together, employment has always been more than a paycheck; it’s a pathway to independence, self-confidence, and community connection. Through our Employment Services, we help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities discover their talents, build skills, and thrive in workplaces across Rockland County and beyond.
A Legacy of Opportunity: The Just-A-Buck Story
Earlier this year, Venture Together’s Employment Services team marked the bittersweet closing of Just-A-Buck, a Venture-operated dollar store that, for more than 10 years, provided meaningful employment and training for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Just-A-Buck was more than a store; it was a place where people gained their first work experience, built lifelong friendships, and found pride in their accomplishments. We remain incredibly proud of every individual who was part of the Just-A-Buck team and the foundation it created for so many successful careers that followed.
When the store closed, our dedicated staff worked closely with each employee to ensure smooth transitions and new opportunities. Many former team members have moved into exciting new chapters of their professional journeys:
Tiffany now works at Dollar Tree in Nanuet, where she uses her retail expertise from Just-A-Buck — and enjoys the independence of driving herself to work.
Melissa joined Family Dollar in Spring Valley, mastering a new POS system and thriving in her new environment.
Vladimir found his dream job with Venture Together’s janitorial service, where he takes pride in keeping our sites spotless and sparkling.
Chris is excelling at Old Navy, showing his skills and precision as part of a program for young adults with disabilities.
Anthony and Christine are now valuable team members at ShopRite locations in New City and Stony Point, proving every day that ability and dedication go hand in hand.
Meagen found a perfect fit as a culinary aide in the Orangeburg School District, bringing joy to students each day — and loving her well-deserved school breaks!
Shawn and Kevin have also found success in food service and retail, continuing to grow and learn in supportive, inclusive workplaces.
And for others like Lee, Jeffrey, Denis, Peter, and John, Venture’s Pre-Vocational Program has provided continued skill-building and volunteer opportunities at community sites such as People to People, The Sharing Shelf, Birthright, American Legion Posts, The Spring Valley Food Bank, The Salvation Army, and The Equestrian Center. Their work continues to make a meaningful impact throughout the community.
Decades of Dedication: Celebrating Employment Anniversaries
Additionally, we take this month to celebrate work anniversaries. This year, we’re proud to recognize a group of remarkable employees whose careers have spanned years, and even decades, of achievement:
Thomas Boyatis, 44 years at Macy’s, beginning when it was Bamberger’s at the Nanuet Mall in 1981.
Joseph Cetrone, 38 years with the County of Rockland, proudly maintaining local cemeteries and equipment.
Glenn Semco, who thrives at Rockland Country Club and takes pride in his seasonal work and friendships.
Christopher Hooper, 25 years at Stop & Shop Nanuet, known by name to nearly every customer and employee alike.
Bernadette McClarty, 20 years at Target Palisades, keeping every towel folded and every brand in perfect order.
Robert Hyon, 16 years at the Town of Clarkstown Personnel Office, keeping things organized and birthdays remembered.
Abbey Yacopino and Mark Litwak, 14 and 13 years respectively at Unidine Services in Sparkill, serving with warmth and reliability.
Michael Stach, 13 years at Johnny Rockets, mastering nearly every role on the team.
Percy Brill, 10 years at ShopRite Stony Point, where he enjoys the independence of walking to work and taking on a variety of tasks each day.
And many others, including June Cohen, Michael Garkowski, Don Reyes, Robert Tassone, Katy Sanchez, John Doonan, Alan Selliti, and Yelena Hanley Hora, continue to build their skills and contribute to our local workforce with pride and purpose.
Inclusion at Work:
Each of these stories reflects the same truth: when the people we support have opportunities to work, to be valued, and to belong, entire communities thrive.
Venture Together’s Employment Services continue to partner with local businesses to create pathways to meaningful, competitive, and supported employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are grateful to every employer, supervisor, and co-worker who helps make inclusion possible and make Rockland County a better place for all.
Together, we’re not just working — we’re thriving through employment.
