Home Service Program of the 
Cerebral Palsy Associations

In the late 1940's, parents of children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities were constantly frustrated by the lack of services to meet their children's special needs. A number of these parents banded together to advocate for solutions and founded United Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State, Inc., (UCPA/NYS). Upon sharing their mutual concerns, it became apparent that hundreds of people with disabilities were homebound due to a lack of knowledge and experience in providing for their needs and that ultimately, the heaviest burden of day-to-day care was borne by families in their homes. Hence, UCPA/NYS resolved to seek out and develop the necessary array of community-based services to support persons with disabilities and their families.

On March 15, 1964, representatives of the New York State Elks Association and the UCPA/NYS met to discuss a joint venture that would benefit children and adults with disabilities and their families. As a result, the NYS Elks Home Service Program was adopted as an Elks Major Project. Since that time the New York State Elks Association has contributed over $10 million to the UCPA/NYS for the Home Service Program including $460,000 in the last year.

On the local level, Cohoes-Waterford Lodge has remained active in its overwhelming support of this program.

Annually, at Easter, the Auxiliary of the Lodge visits the local CP center where smiles are abundant as the children are entertained by a visit from the Easter Bunny.

In 2000, under the direction of Paul C. and Tanya Galarneau, an annual golf tournament is sponsored by the Lodge.  It has since grown to include over 100 participants and  contributes over $3000 to this most worthy cause.

To learn more about the Elks involvement in this program, as well as to read about the New York State poster child pictured at the top of this page, visit http://majorprojects.nyselks.org/.

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