Bancroft Honors Whole Foods Market

Kathryn A. DiCiano, longtime resident of Bellmawr

McCann Healey Funeral Home, Gloucester City NJ

Bancroft Honors Whole Foods Market

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Bancroft’s Employment Program honored local Whole Foods Market in Marlton, NJ.

Pictured above with Douglas (who is shown at far right) are his Whole Foods supervisors (seated) Ivy Flora and Jason Navilliat, and standing from left to right: Stephen Bruce, Anita Maria Garcia, Business Advisory Committee member Mike Tolen (behind Ivy), Victoria Sweeney, and Tim Marshall (holding balloons).

Haddonfield, NJ - September 16, 2010 –Bancroft’s supported employment program staff recently visited Whole Foods Market in Marlton, N.J., and honored the retailer for welcoming people with disabilities into its workforce.

“Bancroft’s mission is to help children and adults with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries

achieve greater fulfillment in their lives,” said Toni Pergolin, president of Bancroft. “As partners in our mission, both Bancroft and Whole Foods Market are committed to working towards helping the people we support learn new skills, participate in the community and be valued and respected members of our world.”

Bancroft and Whole Foods partnered more than a decade ago to provide vocational training and employment opportunities for the people the organization serves. Through Bancroft’s supported employment program, Doug Soddy of Voorhees, N.J., has worked as a customer service clerk at Whole Foods Market for almost six years. His responsibilities include bagging grocery items, putting away returns, helping customers to their car with their groceries and retrieving shopping carts.

“Doug is a terrific employee with an outstanding work ethic,” said Jason Navilliat, Soddy’s supervisor at Whole Foods Market. “Customers are always on the lookout for Doug when they come into our store. He has acquired quite a fan base.”

Bancroft adult programs also offer a wide range of day supports, transitional supported employment and competitive or supported employment for those served in both campus and community settings. Bancroft’s range of vocational training and employment opportunities is supported through partnerships with many community businesses. A Business Advisory Committee, made up of business and community leaders, helps to guide the organization’s programming to make sure it is meeting the needs of the local business communities.

For more information on Bancroft programs, call 1-800-774-5516 or visit www.bancroft.org.