On the Horizon

8Tours are Exhilarating forClients and GuestsA tour of New Horizons is an exciting and awakening experiencefor both guests and clients.Many people who tour New Horizons want to stay even longerand the clients do not want them to leave because they havemade new friends.The parents of future clients, elected officials, civic groups,members of the community leave very impressed and inspired,and this includes the 483 people who participated in 95 toursjust last year.A delighted Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavskymade a $25,000 contribution; Ernie Smith became a boardmember, and Paul Elkins decided that New Horizons was thebest place for his daughter and has been a valuable volunteerever since.Many who take the 45-minute tour of New Horizons becomesupporters of the agency after they see Sam’s Café, the AchievementCenter classrooms and art center, Workshop and Job Club,and sometimes a group home.David R. Lillington the president of Spectrolab Inc., a Boeingaerospace manufacturing company in Sylmar, and several of hiscolleagues, decided they wanted to see the agency firsthand andwere greeted with open arms.“I was deeply impressed by the warmth of the welcome – bothfrom the clients and the staff,” said Lillington, whose companyreceived the 2011 Partner for Independence award from NewHorizons for providing support to the agency. “As soon as weentered the facility we were greeted by numerous clients whowere eager to show us what they were doing.”Many more impressive moments would soon follow for Lillington.“I was surprised by the degree of organization,” he said.“There were continuous activities taking place and everyoneknew they had a job to do. I was impressed by the very highquality of work in the Workshop.”The tour affected Lillington on many levels. “It was so gratifyingto see clients show so much pride in the value of the workingthey were doing,” he continued. “The staff clearly has a closebond with, and affection for their clients and it reflects in thesmiles on the faces of everyone there.”Jennifer Lopez, a community benefits manager at Kaiser Permanente,another major supporter of New Horizons, also loved thetour, especially Toastmasters and the Workshop.“I was totally immersed in the experience,” said Lopez, who asan instructor for the United States Adaptive Recreation Centerteaches people with developmental disabilities how to ski. “Thereis nothing like being there. It was totally mesmerizing.”Lopez found the Workshop to be an eye opener. “The businessplan focuses on productivity first,” she said. “It is usually notuntil afterward that the business partners learn about the backgroundof the clients.”There were many memorable moments for Lopez, however,one especially stands out. “Many clients remembered me whenI came back a second time and wanted to share with me theirKaiser Permanente experiences,” she said.After giving an estimated 175 tours in seven years, Holly Rasey,the development manager at New Horizons, has concluded thatguests have a similar reaction. “They are usually amazed becausethey had no idea that so much was going on at New Horizons,”said Holly Rasey. “All the clients look so happy and proud.”“It is important to see how we can help those who are intellectuallyand developmentally disabled and less fortunate thanourselves,” Lillington said. “It is important to see opportunitieswhere we can brighten their future and provide them withmeaningful opportunities to contribute to society.”For more information about the tours, contact Michelle Veals,Executive Assistant at New Horizons at mveals@newhorizonssfv.orgor (818) 221-0632.