Welcoming Remarks

The event got kicked off by Jerry Pilkington, AEI's CEO & President giving a welcome message thanking all who attended and a recap of our past fiscal year. This was followed by Attleboro Mayor, Cathy DeSimone and Senator Paul Feeney, who were in attendance, to get up and say a few words about AEI!

Due to popular demand, Tell Sellers returned for lots of laughs with his comedy routine!

The Alves Award

Each year this award is given to a program participant who is competitively employed in the community. It is dedicated in loving memory of John Alves, whose commitment to our mission enhanced the lives of so many. For 14 years, John's service on behalf of our program participants was an inspiration to us all.  This award is given to an individual who exemplifies the ideals by which John lived.  

This year's award goes to DOUG TOUPIN! Click here to read comments from Doug's employer.

Excellence in Direct Care Service Award

This award was established in 2010 through an anonymous endowment gift.  The awards are given to staff in recognition of outstanding service. Recipients are nominated by program participants, service providers and their peers, and award recipients are chosen by a committee.

Family Supports

"I'm happy to announce that the 'Excellence in Direct Care Service' Award in our Family Supports program goes to DUWARD SAYGBE!

This nomination is a testament to his unwavering dedication, compassion, and positive impact he makes with the individuals he supports.  Duward adapts to support the needs of the individuals and the agency.

Duward is honest, trustworthy and a strong advocate. If you are looking for honest feedback, he is the one to ask, just prepared for the answer! If you need someone to cover a shift, he is the one for the job. If you need someone to take on a challenging task, he is the one to go. Thank you Duward for your commitment to teamwork, for the fantastic support you continue to provide, and for being the right one for the job!"

-- Martha Rubi-Rapoza, Director of Family Supports

Day Programs - North Attleboro

"Our next Excellence in Direct Care award is being given to a staff from our North Attleboro Day Habilitation program. Our team consistently describes this person as a great staff. Our members love him. Every day at 9am, his group can be seen heading to their classroom, if we walk into the room at 9:15, he is in the circle leading his group in a relaxing exercise session, if we look out our window at 9:30, he is heading for a community outing, and if someone is having a particularly challenging moment, we just turn around and there he is ready to provide support and assistance.  You may be quiet, but what you do speaks loudly. We see you, we thank you, and we acknowledge your excellence, JASON SEPE!" -- Traci Cabral, Director of Day Programs

Day Programs - Mansfield

"Imagine what one person can do has unspoken qualifiers. Imagine what one person can do when staff care deeply, and when staff see beyond today, to what can be tomorrow. Our next Excellence in Direct Care award is being given to a staff at Mansfield Connections. She is determined, resilient, calm, and undaunted. She used those strengths to bring dignity, consistency, and a sense of belonging to individuals who significantly struggled during their transition to adult supports. Because of her understanding, persistence, and consistency, they are now happy, friendly, well-regulated, and highly visible community members. You played a major role in changing lives. We recognize your excellence and are grateful for your commitment to bringing visions to life. Thank you, KATELYNN COLPITTS!" -- Traci Cabral, Director of Day Programs

Employment Services

"AEI has a secret sauce. As an organization, we possess this combination of great facilities, amazing staff and leadership, and participants we will all go to the ends of the world for.  Staff at AEI are extraordinary.  I am proud to work among a group of people who care so deeply about their work and the people they support.  To be singled out among the staff at AEI is truly a distinction because all we have are great staff! Those receiving this award tonight join an elite alumni association.

PASS is geared toward a very specific segment of the Autism community who do not have intellectual and developmental disabilities. The wide variety of day programs available to most do not meet the need of young adults who just need to build confidence and life skills and develop a social network with a safety net. When PASS was starting in 2024, we all understood that building social confidence has a direct impact on employment, and employment also builds social confidence so the Employment team assigned Brendan Byrne as our liaison.

At PASS, we are Peer Leaders.  This position requires each of us to just be ourselves and lead and teach by example. Brendan has engaged his whole heart in creating an atmosphere of comradery, respect and growth. He leads both participants and Peer Leaders by example. And yes, Brendan is working the employment angle...hard! You can't whisper thoughts of finding a job without getting the Brendan grin and "so tell me what you're thinking" chat! Brendan leads employment discussion groups, has created a volunteer opportunity and placed numerous PASS participants in employment. He has helped people build their confidence by connecting them with a peer group.  Brendan gets that sometimes people just want to BE among people that make sense to them. He creates an atmosphere where skill building can happen at the same time video games are being played, that life skills can be built around a grill or a shread meal, and that being active can be taking a hike or running on a treadmill but it can also be playing Body, Body, Body.

It is my true honor and privilege to present Brendan Byrne with the Excellence in Direct Care award!

Staff Longevity

5 Years: Kelly Vandal

10 Years: Kellie Dugan, Nana Ewiafom & Nichole Gary

15 Years: Brenda Perez

25 Years: Wendy Harrison

30 Years: John Raposa

40 Years: Jerry Pilkington

Community Advocate Award

This award is given annually to an individual or entity who has gone above and beyond in their support for our program participants and people with disabilities in the community.  AEI proudly recognizes recipients for partnering with us to provide opportunities for individuals of all ability levels with cognitive challenges to become contributing members of society and achieve their life goals.  

This year's award was given to SHAW'S!

Ernest Augat Award

At every critical juncture in AEI's history, Mr. Augat or the Augat Foundation was there to support our vision for the future.  We proudly present this award to keep Mr. Augat's spirit alive and to remind us all of the man behind the name.  Beginning in 2015, each year we select an AEI participant who embodies the qualities which lead to Mr. Augat's success and made him a well respected and revered member of our community. Those qualities are strength in the face of adversity, humility, generosity, and a strong sense of character.

"As we present the Ernest H. Augat award, we are also taking this time to remember and honor the life and triumphs of John Underwood.  John was funny, determined, generous, and kind, strong and resilient.  Like Mr. Augat, John was well-respected and revered member of the community and always advocated for others.

Despite suffering from debilitating seizures that impacted his daily life, John had an active social life and full work life. He was a skilled archer and horseman, avid sailor and deep sea fisherman, an environmentalist, community volunteer, camper, and traveler. John was also a successful business owner.  He operated John's Dream Ice Cream securing as many as 100 charitable events a year. He greeted everyone with a smile and was an expert at working the crowd. John Underwood was an engaging participant, faithful service partner, entrepreneur, and role model. His legacy, John's Dream Ice Cream, lives on. Inspiring others to rise above the struggle. To imagine, share and achieve their dreams." -- Traci Cabral, Director of Day Programs

Closing Remarks

Gary closed the night with a big announcement introducing our next big project, our new building in Plainville, which will house the Mansfield Day Habilitation program which will relocate there, a new CBDS program, our employment and Pre-ETS staff, and our CBDS Without Walls program. The new building will feature larger classrooms, a sensory room, larger cafeteria, teaching kitchen, enhanced nursing suite, gym and outdoor recreation area. 

Check out our PLAINVILLE PROJECT & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN!