Building Pathways Foundation, Inc. is a Non-Profit company that wants to make a difference in teens and adults who have unique abilities. We want to teach them valuable job, life, and social skills so they can achieve independence.
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We are their bridge to great potential.
Our Vision
Building Pathways program helps teens and adults with unique abilities gain the life, social, and job skills needed to be a valuable contributor in their community.
Our Mission
Building Pathways is a safe transitional program for teens and adults with unique abilities that provides social, life, and job skills training. We partner with businesses and are a bridge to help these individuals be able to live and work independently.
Let us be that safe place to help you grow and learn!
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We are a 501(c)(3) Public Charity all donations are tax deductible.
Testimonials:
The Do Good Challenge with Vanessa Echols
Building Pathways Story
Building Pathways Foundation was created to fill a gap in our community. Patty Myers saw a need in her local community where kids in school weren't learning enough with life and social skills. She saw other teens/adults that had exited school just sitting at home and not working or able to live on their own. She saw where employers were willing to employ differently abled individuals, but these adults struggled to get through the interview process as well. Ms. Patty said, "That needs to change!" These individuals need a bridge of support to help them achieve these goals, this is where BP came to be.
Building Pathways Foundation was created in January 2018.
They did all the training programs in a 3/2 house located in Winter Garden.
They first began offering Summer Camps in June and July.
BP added Social Skill classes on Tuesday and Saturday.
The Day Program then began in August of 2018.
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In August 2020, BP purchased a home in Ocoee to be able to serve more individuals with learning differences. We added an affordable girls supportive housing option. Up to 4 young ladies are supported by the help of a Resident Assistant.
We reached our next goal in opening our affordable guys supportive house this past August 2021.
Our next endeavor we want to do in 2021 is open our Pathways Market and Flower shop to help employ individuals and also give them job and social skills training.
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Our full model is:
1. Training House -includes Social Skill Classes, Day Program, and Summer Camps
2. Guys Affordable Supportive Housing
3. Business where they can work and also the proceeds will help fund scholarships and pay fees for all the training programs
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Once all these have been implemented and are running then Building Pathways Foundation wants to expand and do this same model in another city in the Greater Orlando area.
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Patty Myers, Executive Director/Founder has a son who is 22 years-old that lives with Autism and she wants to make a true difference in the lives of our kids that are teens and adults who CAN do it. She wants to give them the tools for them to live and work on their own or at the least teach them the life skills needed to be able to take care of themselves (laundry, cooking, hygiene, budgeting) even if they are still living with their families.
Patty can't do this on her own though. This is especially the case after she lost her husband Tony in September of 2021. She needs help.
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She needs businesses to partner with BP to be job sites.
She needs donations to help pay for the training materials and weekly group meals.
She needs monthly supporters.
Building Pathways Foundation goal is to be a program that is free or nearly free to all participants and we can't do that without our local community support.
To help fulfill our full mission to the community we need your help and
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We are celebrating our 7th year and we can't wait to
see the growth that this year will bring.
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For more information about Building Pathways Foundation (501c3 public charity) please contact Patty Myers at pmyersbuildingpathways@gmail.com.
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Patty Myers, BA, BCaBA
Executive Director of Building Pathways
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Patty is the mother of 2 children, Chelsea and Charlie. Charlie was diagnosed with Autism in 2004. He is 22 years old. He lives in the guys supportive housing.
Patty graduated from King University with her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and then received her BCaBA (Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst) certification through Florida Institute of Technology.
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Patty is the author of Autism Is A Blessing which was first published in 2008. Her son accompanies her to radio, television, and various speaking events to share their book and journey with autism.
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She has volunteered her time to help fellow parents of children with special needs understand their child's rights regarding services and supports. Her passion and heart for children and adults with special needs is evident in all that she does.
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She previously was the Founder and President of a PT/OT/ST Therapy Company (All Southern Care Rehab) in Fort Lauderdale for over 9 years and then was the Principal for over 8 years at The First Hope of The First Academy (private Christian school for students with unique needs). She is currently the President/CEO of Pathways For Life Academy in Winter Garden, FL (www.pflacademy.com) where she serves students with learning differences incorporating life and social skills integration for Middle and High Schoolers.
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She is also a contributing author in the Special Needs Parenting Blog with Key Ministry. Patty wants Building Pathways to be a safe place for teens and adults with unique needs to come and learn the skills to be able to live and work on their own.
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Patty has been married to her husband Tony for 31 years + 2 in heaven and lives in Winter Garden, Florida. They were honored to receive the Heart Award from the Florida Network on Disabilities for the work they do to help Floridians with disabilities. Tony passed away in September 2021 and it has been a difficult season for her. The BP family misses Mr. Tony.
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Contact Patty at pmyers@building-pathways.com
Tony Myers
Vice President
1966-2021
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Mr. Tony was a huge light in our programs.
Besides being Ms. Patty's husband, he was our resident handyman which included: Lawn Man, Our Fixer Guy, BP Bus Driver, Uno Champion, and our Best Jokester. He was a great mentor in all our programs and loved to have fun teasing others.
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He was a great friend. He was a person who filled in for dads as needed. He gave great hugs. He cheered all the kids on to excel and grow. He was so much fun!
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Mr. Tony will be missed so much but he wants us to keep working hard to make him proud.
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Francheska Gonzalez
Lead Teacher for Day Program
Social Skills Classes and Summer Camps
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We are excited to have Ms. Francheska as our Lead Teacher in both the Day Program and Summer Camps.
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Francheska has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and currently she is working on her Master's in Special Education.
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She was a leader in an inclusive after school program. Francheska also tutored and mentored students at other after school programs and worked on GED prep and educational goals.
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She has a heart to work with special needs teens and adults. Francheska has an older brother who has disabilities that she has helped over the years.
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She is married and has 2 daughters. She moved from Connecticut in the last year. She is pursuing her Master's in ABA.
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Contact Francheska at fgonzalez@building-pathways.com
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Carey Fromberg
Program Assistant
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Carey has worked in the medical field for the past 25 years. Carey found her love and passion for the Special Needs Community through her daughter who is currently pursuing a Masters in Speech Pathology. Carey and her daughter have volunteered with the Special Olympics, Down Syndrome Foundation and the Best Buddies Organization together for the past 6 years.
Carey obtained her RBT certification so that she could continue to help and support persons with unique abilities in all walks of life. Carey is married and has 3 adult children. Her 2 boys have recently married and her daughter attends UCF. Carey is excited to embark on this new journey as a Program Assistant for our Day Program and dreams of meeting each and every one's needs so that she can best serve them.
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Contact Carey at cfromberg@building-pathways.com
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Matt Buchanan
Resident Assistant for the Guys House
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Matt has the lead role in mentoring our guys in the supportive living house. He is our Resident Assistant.
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He also is a Lead Teacher at The First Hope for over 10 years. Matt takes pride in investing in the lives of those he serves always with a wonderfully positive spirit.
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He loves to workout and sometimes a Dr. Pepper. Matt also likes spending time outdoors.
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Contact Matt at mbuchanan@building-pathways.com
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Janet Lamb
Behavior Analyst
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Janet is well respected in her field and has worked with all ages for over 20 years as a Behavior Analyst.
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She brings fun to helping these young men and women excel and grow.
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Janet puts tremendous effort and heart in all that she does to invest in their lives as well as helps train families as well.
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She helps support at the Guys House, Social Skills classes, and the Day Program. Janet brings fresh ideas to motivate our participants and residents to help themselves and work towards independence.
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Contact Janet at jlamb@building-pathways.com
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Connor Rowe
Substitute and Volunteer
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Connor has helped the last 2 summers for our Summer Life and Social Skills Camp. He volunteers with Social Skills and substitutes with other programs.
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He loves gaming and spending time with friends.
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Connor loves helping our participants gain the skills needed to live and work on their own.
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Tiffaney Schrimsher
Volunteer
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Tiffaney assists in all areas of our programs- Social Skills Classes, Summer Camps, and our Day Program.
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She has experience as a para in a private special needs school. She has a heart to help kids grow and learn independent living skills.
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She is married and has 3 children. For years she has advocated for her son with unique challenges.
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