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November 28, 2007
Clubhouse of Lehigh County Honors Area Businesses at Fourth Annual Employer Recognition Dinner

Allentown—Clubhouse of Lehigh County, a program administered by Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network to provide vocational rehabilitation to persons with mental illness, recently honored seven of its partners from the business community at its fourth annual employer recognition dinner.

Clubhouse of Lehigh County is a vocational rehabilitation program based in Allentown, which offers persons with mental illness a safe healing environment. Each member is given the opportunity and support to explore his or her personal and vocational potentials. In 2007, Clubhouse of Lehigh County successfully found employment for 151 members who earned a total revenue of $472,400 in wages.

The following employers were honored for their commitment to providing Clubhouse members with opportunities for employment:

Ritz Barbecue
For more than five years, Ritz Barbecue restaurant of Allentown has been actively involved in a successful partnership with Clubhouse of Lehigh County. Owner Jeff Stinner has employed six Clubhouse members who take part in the food preparation and overall operation of the restaurant. Stinner currently serves as chairman of the advisory board for Clubhouse of Lehigh County.

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania
The Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania (GSEP) serves more than 50,000 girls ages 5 through 17 in Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, and Philadelphia counties. Their regional Lehigh Valley office has employed six clubhouse members since July of 2004. During the past three years, Clubhouse members have participated in several areas of clerical support for The Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania including filing, stapling, collating and managing daily paperwork for the organization.

Ahart’s Market
Ahart’s Market is a full-service grocery store in Allentown. Bob Brown and Lori Harding are managers who have welcomed six employees from Clubhouse during their three-year partnership. During that time, Clubhouse members have served in several areas of the market including the produce section, the deli and the bakery, and have also stocked shelves and run the cash register.

Quizno’s
Quiznos is a chain of fast food restaurants with several locations throughout the Lehigh Valley. Clubhouse has partnered with Paul Klotz, who is the managing partner of two Quizno’s locations in Allentown. There are currently three Clubhouse members employed by Klotz, who have participated in the janitorial and dishwashing needs of the facility.

The RePlace
The RePlace Discount Store, a part of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network’s Work Services, offers products for purchase at significant savings while providing meaningful employment and training to people with disabilities and other employment challenges. Eddie Irizarry is the warehouse manager and has enlisted the services of four employees from Clubhouse. Current Clubhouse members have performed clerical duties including data entry and paperwork, while others have participated in janitorial needs and sorting through donated goods.

Cintas Corp.
Cintas Corp., a work uniform and custom corporate apparel company in Emmaus, began partnering with Clubhouse of Lehigh County in March of 2006. Ashley Fleming, plant manager, currently has three Clubhouse employees on staff. These members take part in the folding of uniforms, towels, aprons and other Cintas apparel.

Good Shepherd’s Work Services
Good Shepherd’s Work Services Division has been providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities since 1958. Work Services offers transitional employment services, a workshop, and temporary employment services and also operates three thrift stores. Both Greg Cunningham, director of Production Operations, and George Wells, director of Transitional Employment, have played a crucial role in the successful partnership between Work Services and Clubhouse of Lehigh County. Currently, there are a total of 29 Clubhouse members employed at Work Services. All members take an active roll in the material handling, mass production and packaging of products being packaged in the Work Services warehouse.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a nationally recognized rehabilitation leader, offering a continuum of care for people with physical and cognitive disabilities and specializing in assistive and rehabilitation technology. More than 36,000 people come to Good Shepherd each year for specialized programs in stroke, orthopedics, brain injury, spinal cord injury, pediatrics, amputation and more. Good Shepherd provides rehabilitation services in 7 eastern Pennsylvania counties. Good Shepherd operates 14 outpatient sites, 4 inpatient sites, a long-term acute care hospital, 2 long-term care homes for people with severe disabilities, an independent living facility, a Work Services division that provides employment training and job placement and a lifestyle products store called Rehability. Good Shepherd was founded in 1908 when The Rev. John and Estella Raker invited a disabled orphan named Viola into their Allentown, Pennsylvania, home. Good Shepherd is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. For more information, visit www.goodshepherdrehab.org.