Newtown Resident Chairs New Board Of Trustees

For Ability Beyond Disability

By Nancy K. Crevier

Newtown resident Gail Hamaty Matthews has been elected chairperson to the newly formed board of trustees for Ability Beyond Disability, a service organization that provides comprehensive home, health, and rehabilitation services to individuals whose independent living skills are impaired by disability, injury, or illness.

Founded in 1953, Ability Beyond Disability is headquartered in Bethel and Mount Kisco, N.Y., providing services throughout Connecticut and along eastern lower Hudson Valley in New York. The organization serves more than 1,800 people with disabilities.

Introduced five years ago to the organization through colleagues, Ms Matthews was so impressed that she felt compelled to learn more about Ability Beyond Disability. “I wanted to help,” she said.

In the last five years, she has gone from serving on the board of directors to being named chairperson for the board of trustees. She and her husband, David, co-chaired the 2006 gala, the organization’s largest yearly fundraiser.

She believes it is her passion for the mission of the organization that led to her selection this fall as chairperson for the board of trustees.

“I have endless energy for the organization, and I believe that I was elected because of my ability to collaborate with the board members,” said Ms Matthews. As an estate planning attorney, she also brings an area of expertise in special needs that parlays nicely into the organization, she said.

Prior to September 2007, Ability Beyond Disability was governed by one board of directors. “The decision to split the board into two bodies with two distinct personalities was undertaken to help us better address the complexities of the many challenges human services faces today,” said Ms Matthews.

“The board of trustees is vitally different from the board of directors. The trustees are in charge of fundraising, managing the endowment, and also preside over the annual meeting,” she said. The board of directors focuses on building services, financial oversight, and recruiting and hiring employees. “[Splitting into a board of directors and a board of trustees]  was a natural evolution that allows people to be placed where they can most effectively be utilized,” said Ms Matthews.

One of the most important items with which the new board of trustees has been charged, she said, is that of “minding the gap between the diminishment in state funding and the critical need to build and maintain services.” Ability Beyond Disability is state funded, but also relies on the generosity of public and corporate donations to continue to give the nationally, regionally, and locally recognized high percentile of care for which it is known.

“We have received the highest accreditation from the state for the homes we service,” said Ms Matthews. Only 12 percent of funds received goes to the administration of Ability Beyond Disability.

New to the board of trustees this year is a form of fundraising called “third-party fundraising.” Volunteers for Ability Beyond Disability will reach out and recruit members of the community, friends, and family for volunteer services through smaller, more intimate group settings, she said. Ranging from wine tastings and cookie exchanges to dinner parties, third-party fundraising is a way to introduce others to the organization in a less intimidating venue than something like the yearly gala, which attracts more than 600 people.

“The gala, themed ‘It Will Be Rainbows,’ is scheduled for April 26 at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury,” said Ms Matthews. The event, chaired this year by board of trustee and board of directors member and chairperson of the governing committee Mark Zimmerman and his wife, Donna, is hoping to attract standing-room-only numbers of attendees, Ms Matthews said.

“We are also encouraging 100 percent board participation from the financial perspective for the first time this year, to demonstrate commitment,” Ms Matthews said.

“I’m pleased to serve on the board of trustees,” said Ms Matthews.

For more information or to donate online to Ability Beyond Disability, visit AbilityBeyondDisability.org.