MONTVILLE PEC

About Us

Board of Trustees:

Chair: Peter Kearns

Morton Bunis, Debra Casha, Gregory S. Goldstein, Melinda Jennis

Officers:

President: Melinda Jennis
Vice President: Ellen Oxild

Treasurer: Michael Buonauro
Secretary: Melissa Benno

Program Coordinators:

Mentoring: Ellen Oxild

Project Win-Win: Jimmy Lee

Home-Based Buddies: Debbie Tabakin, Marlene Bassil

Pathways for Exceptional Children is a statewide organization based out of Montville Township, NJ. Pathways is devoted to our local community, but also places great priority on training communities throughout the state of New Jersey in our philosophy of the pyramid, which utilizes our Children Teaching Children Model within a continuum of programs for children starting at age 3 to adulthood. Our unique model has been recognized by many as the spirit of reform and acceptance that can redefine the future for people with disabilities.
Click here for a Pathways brochure.

Awards and Recognition

2009

The 2009 Health Award from GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare was given to Pathways on October 14, 2009 in recognition of the contribution that Pathways for Exceptional Children makes to the community. A framed certificate and check for $2,500 was presented to Melinda Jennis by Vice President Beverly A. McClafferty (left) and Executive Director John B. Clark (right) of The Calais Foundation, sponsor of the award category, and the GlaxoSmithKline Community Outreach Team at a ceremony held at their headquarters in Parsippany, NJ

Distinguished Service Award by the Family Resource Network was presented to Pathways in September 2009 in recognition of our collaborative efforts in bringing our Learning Through Life program to eight schools in Cumberland and Atlantic Counties. The Family Resource Network received a grant to implement the program using three curriculums: a) Community Resources & Healthy Choices, b) Money Management, and c) Vocational Skills and Choices, and effectively serviced a total of 182 students. Learning Through Life has now been adopted and funded by two of these school districts as a part of their curriculum.

The New Jersey Distinguished Agency Recreation Services Award by the New Jersey Commission on Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities within the NJ Department of Community Affairs was presented to Pathways of Montville Township and Summit at the Governor’s Conference on May 20, 2009 for developing outstanding recreation programs and services that demonstrate a commitment to the integration of people with and without disabilities and providing an exemplary model for replication by other agencies and organizations.

2008

Excellence in Programming Award by the New Jersey Recreation & Park Association was presented to Pathways on March 3, 2009 for building recreation and mentor programs in Montville Township and Summit. Pathways credited their success to the mentors, who have been instrumental in helping to include and befriend children with disabilities and their families.

2007

Organization of the Year by the Montville Township Chamber of Commerce was awarded to Pathways in March 2008. Melinda Jennis, President of Pathways, (center) expressed appreciation to the Chamber, Township Committee and the State of New Jersey General Assembly for recognizing Pathways' efforts and achievements toward helping all children, both with and without special needs, to reach success.

Distinguished Community Service Award by the Arc of Morris County was awarded to Melinda Jennis, President of Pathways, in May 2007 for recognition as an individual who has given countless hours of community service helping children with special need and their families in Montville Township and throughout the state of New Jersey. The Arc is dedicated to the care, support and advancement of people with mental retardation and their families.

2006

Daily Record recognized Pathways as one of the “10 Most Inspirational Stories” in Morris County. Pathways has become an inspiration by helping people focus not on differences, but rather on similarities, tolerance and acceptance of diversity.

2005

Outstanding Volunteer Community Service Award by the Volunteers of Morris County, Inc., was presented to Pathways in recognition of our time and efforts for the betterment of our community through volunteer service.

History and Background

Pathways for Exceptional Children was founded in January 2002. It is an organization devoted to advocating for educational and social reform for children with disabilities, providing parent and family support services and education, developing recreation and life skills programs for children with special needs, and providing community service opportunities through mentoring programs. The history of the organization includes the following accomplishments:

Initiated integrated recreational programs that have grown since 2003 from zero to 35 programs implemented throughout the year, serving approximately 350 children with special needs ages 3-21 throughout Northern New Jersey.

Developed a formalized mentor training program that has expanded from 14 to more than 1,500 mentors ages 8 and up since January 2003 in Montville Township. This program has resulted in thousands of community service hours earned by volunteers who have donated their time to mentor children with special needs through Pathways Home-Based Buddies program, recreational programs, and life skills and community activities. Pathways has expanded this program to a statewide level, training 3,500 additional mentors in other communities throughout New Jersey.

Led fund raising and grant writing efforts that produced over $750,000.00 that has been invested in helping children with disabilities acquire skills and/or participate in programs that will improve academic achievement, employability, and overall quality of life. Pathways wrote the New Jersey Department of Education grant designed to improve inclusive in-district programs for children with special needs. The Montville Township School District received this grant from the state for $350,000 on May 15, 2007.

Pathways for Exceptional Children has expanded its outreach at a grassroots level to communities outside of Montville Township by providing training classes and consulting services throughout New Jersey to help them duplicate the programs established here. We are working on projects to bring children from diverse communities together to work on social change to improve tolerance of diversity.