LEGISLATIVE  RESOLUTION  commemorating  the  10th  Anniversary of ELMY's
Special Services on May 10, 2012

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that  the
quality  and  character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of  the
community and its citizenry; and
  WHEREAS,  Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly  proud  to  commem-
orate  the 10th Anniversary of ELMY's Special Services, to be celebrated
on Thursday, May 10, 2012; and
  WHEREAS, The seeds for ELMY's Special Services were planted  in  2001,
when  Ray  Knights,  a  compliance  officer  for a social service agency
offered to help a neighbor  find  regular  and  reliable  home  care  in
central Brooklyn for her developmentally disabled child; and
  WHEREAS,  As word spread through the community, more and more families
turned to Ray Knights for help; within a year, Ray Knights and a diverse
and dedicated group of  volunteers  were  providing  respite  and  other
assistance for dozens of families; and
  WHEREAS, In 2002, Ray Knights formally opened ELMY's Special Services;
and
  WHEREAS,  The  goal of ELMY's Special Services is to serve and support
individuals and families with mental and/or developmental  disabilities,
and to offer case management, day programs, residential service options,
evaluation and other valuable services to the community; and
  WHEREAS,  Working  out  of an office in Ray Knights' home and with his
team of volunteers turned employees, ELMY's Special  Services  began  to
expand  both  staff  and  services  to a growing number of families well
beyond the Brooklyn community; and
  WHEREAS, Today, with its  more  than  150  employees,  ELMY's  Special
Services  provides  educational,  residential, respite and other support
and services for more than 700 developmentally disabled children, adults
and their families in locations throughout the five boroughs and beyond;
and
  WHEREAS, Support and services provided by ELMY's staff  of  educators,
professionals and paraprofessionals include: weekly respite services for
families  and  caregivers;  overnight  respite offered outside the home;
holiday respite services providing day trips and other activities; after
school programs; and residential services providing group home and semi-
independent living residences; and
  WHEREAS, As ELMY's Special Services celebrates its first 10  years  of
service it remains committed to its founding principle that every person
regardless of his or her race, handicap or developmental level should be
treated with dignity; and
  WHEREAS,  It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to  our  atten-
tion,  they  should  be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause  in  its  deliberations  to
commemorate  the  10th Anniversary of ELMY's Special Services on May 10,
2012; and be it further
  RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to ELMY's Special Services.