Download a PDF of the report here - United Cerebral Palsy

ANNUAL
REPORT
2012
In Remembrance: Nina Eaton
On March 30, 2012, United Cerebral Palsy
(UCP) and the entire disability community
was saddened to lose one of its founders,
Nina Eaton, an emeritus member of the UCP
Board of Trustees and a longtime supporter
and advocate for people with disabilities.
“Nina was so much a part
of our history and our lives.
The lives of individuals with
disabilities will be forever
enriched because of her
legacy.”
Eaton’s lifetime of advocacy began with
the birth of her son, Leonard Eaton, who
was born with cerebral palsy in 1941.
Together with other parents of children
Stephen H. Friedman
President and CEO, UCP of
Suffolk.
with disabilities, including UCP founders Leonard and Isabelle Goldenson, and
Jack and Ethel Hausman, Eaton helped to lay the foundation for a far-reaching
organization that has enhanced the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities.
More than a half century later, UCP is an international network of nearly 100
affiliates milions of people with disabilities every year.
“UCP was deeply saddened
to lose such a tremendous
advocate in Nina Eaton.
Her life’s work has been
integral to advancing the
civil rights movement for
people with disabilities. Nina
was an amazing woman is
greatly missed by the entire
UCP family and disability
advocates alike.”
Stephen Bennett
President & CEO of United
Cerebral Palsy
Best known for her tireless lobbying, which led to regional and national
expansion of community-based services for people with disabilities, Eaton
also helped to educate communities about cerebral palsy, which, like most
developmental disabilities at the time, carried significant social stigma. Eaton
remained an active leader in the disability community, and served on the Board
of Directors of UCP of Suffolk for the past 20 years. She also served on the UCP
national Board of Trustees and most recently as an emeritus board member.
Each year, UCP honors an affiliate with the Nina Eaton Program of the Year
Award as part of the UCP Awards for Excellence. The UCP affiliate award winners
are honored for making an extraordinary contribution to the quality of life to
people with disabilities through the delivery of state-of-the art direct services
in the affiliate’s community. Award recipients are chosen based on affiliates’
ability to enable the individuals served to become more independent, productive
or integrated into the family or community, and the programs stand out as a
model worthy of replication by other UCP affiliates. Eaton loved the Awards for
Excellence and served as the presenter for many years.
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