40th Anniversary Fidelity House 

Annual Meeting and Breakfast

December 7, 2011 at Diburro’s in Haverhill 9:00 AM

Featuring Special Guest:

 Travis Roy 

Travis Roy first put on ice skates when he was just 20 months old. As years passed, his love for the game of hockey quickly became a passion. In the fall of 1995 Roy accomplished one of his dream goals by earning a hockey scholarship to Boston University. At twenty-years of age he entered into his first collegiate hockey game. Eleven seconds into his first shift, his life changed forever as he crashed into the boards and cracked his fourth and fifth cervical vertebra, paralyzing him from the neck down.

Despite this ill twist of fate, Roy has continued to persevere and defy the odds. With an intense rehabilitation regime, he has regained some movement in his right arm. While coming to grips with his life as a quadriplegic, he returned to Boston University less than a year after his accident. Four years later, he graduated with a degree in public relations from Boston University’s prestigious College of Communication. In the storied history of BU Terriers hockey, Roy’s #24 is the only jersey to have been retired. 

Travis Roy Foundation

Here are a few takeaways from Travis’ presentation:

• Being your best at your profession, should always be one of your primary motivating factors.
• Professional challenges, chosen or not, should be viewed as new opportunities.
• Your ability to find solutions in times of adversity, are defining moments.
• Staying motivated in your job, requires setting goals and implementing incentives.
• Attitude is about perspective… how you look at things, more importantly, how you choose to look at things.

All Fidelity House staff, volunteers and 40th anniversary sponsors are invited to attend. For reservations, to donate or to hear more please contact: development@fidelityhhs.org

Sponsored By

More than 350 members of the Fidelity House (FHHS) community: individuals, families, volunteers and staff, gathered together on a beautiful summer day to celebrate 40 exceptional years of service and growth in the Merrimack Valley.

Our 40^th anniversary picnic and barbecue was generously sponsored by our corporate partner Sapphire Technologies/Randstad.  About 20 volunteers in blue Randstad shirts organized activities designed to accommodate those with and without disabilities including whiffle ball, limbo, mini-golf, face painting, Frisbee decorating, bean bag toss, volleyball and more.  A DJ contributed to the fun with festive dance music and he really got folks up off their feet! While those wanting to cool off could enjoy swimming or simply floating in the lovely pool.  All attendees received goodie bags from Sapphire as well as free raffle tickets for a chance at some terrific prizes. 

 The Rolling Ridge Center in North Andover provided a wonderful venue and a delicious spread for all to enjoy.  Everyone munched on hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon, salads and more and those with a sweet tooth were delighted by the large shared dessert table filled to overflowing with individual and family contributions as well as the fabulous 40^th anniversary cake! 

From beginning to end, everything ran smoothly. Everyone enjoyed being outside on a beautiful sun-shining day. There was shade, sun and picnic tables where groups gathered, relaxed and reminisced about past anniversary events and milestones at Fidelity House.  One mother expressed it this way “I am so happy to be here for this wonderful day. Over the years Fidelity House has done so much to support me, my son and our whole family.  But having a day like this, where we can be together having fun as a regular family, a day where my son is accepted for who he is makes all the difference.  This is a wonderful day!” The day was still filled with smiles and laughter as the buses, vans and cars pulled in, ready to take people home.

 Since 1971 Fidelity House Human Services headquartered in Lawrence, MA has offered individuals with developmental disabilities opportunities and supports to live rich and full lives within their own communities.  Established as a non profit agency 40 years ago in response to advocacy efforts by local families, we bought and renovated our first home on Haverhill St in 1972.  Since that day our goals have been the same: to offer supports and services in the three complementary areas necessary to empower individuals with disabilities to live a better life –family, home and community.

Today, Fidelity House serves more than 600 adults and children with developmental disabilities and their families throughout the Merrimack Valley. We manage 18 staffed homes with a 19th is now being built in Haverhill. Our homes are located in Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, and Georgetown as well as in Haverhill.