Hillside

Celebrating Our Homes Away From Home

Technology Helpdesk — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 18:40:22 +0000

Many people think of Hillside in terms of our residential campuses that provide temporary 24/7 care to youth experiencing an array of challenges related to serious emotional disturbance or other mental health conditions. For some others, we’re best known for community-based programs that work together to provide broad supports for complex concerns facing youth, adults and families.

Meanwhile, one of our least-known programs operates from individual homes right in communities like yours. Hillside’s Developmental Opportunities Services are dedicated to delivering long-term supportive care to individuals diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

In 10 group homes located in neighborhoods throughout Western New York and the Finger Lakes, Hillside’s DO Services teams form lasting relationships with the young adults in our care, and with their families. Unlike a residential campus, residents in these group homes usually stay for years: they attend school, engage in community activities, and learn adaptive skills that support their long-term growth and development. Our group homes are special places where remarkable things happen every day.

Our most recent Stories of Hillside video looks at one example of the many young adults and families who have found invaluable support through this impactful program. I hope you’ll take a look, share this wonderful story with your own community, and consider supporting Hillside in any way you can—with your partnership, great things can happen.

Thank you for your interest in our mission!

Maria Cristalli
President & CEO

The post Celebrating Our Homes Away From Home appeared first on Hillside.

A New Name, and a Vision for a Vital Campus

Technology Helpdesk — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 19:04:27 +0000

Last autumn, entrepreneur and philanthropist B. Thomas Golisano changed the nonprofit landscape of Upstate New York. Hillside was the grateful recipient of a $5 million donation from Mr. Golisano, part of his unprecedented $360 million combined gift to 82 upstate organizations—and continuing a lifetime of philanthropy that has exceeded $900 million to eminently worthy causes.

In an August 26 ceremony, we formally launched a project that will forever recognize Mr. Golisano’s support, while using some of those funds to bring critical improvements at a vital Hillside site.

Hillside’s array of services includes a robust mix of community-based, educational and residential treatment programs, with residential treatment provided at four campuses in Rochester, Chili, Bath and Auburn, NY. The Chili-based Crestwood Campus, which opened in 1960 and joined our agency in 1999, serves the region’s youngest children—beginning at age 5—who have been diagnosed with Severe Emotional Disturbance and a range of other challenging conditions.

Crestwood staff do life-changing work, but their campus needs help in order to meet the evolving needs of those we serve. A three-year project with a total estimated cost of more than $7 million will bring new and renovated cottages, enhanced green space for stronger therapeutic recreation opportunities, and a host of other improvements that are research-proven to increase the level of care we provide.

A kickoff ceremony on August 26 celebrated the kickoff of this exciting project, and offered an ideal moment to announce an important change: Hillside’s Crestwood Campus is now the Golisano Campus at Crestwood, a name that honors Mr. Golisano’s extraordinary generosity while preserving the Crestwood identity that has represented hope and healing for generations of children and their families.

In the weeks and months to come, I’ll share much more about this project, its impact, and how you can be a part of its success. If you’d like to join us today with a gift, please visit Hillside.com/donate or contact Chief Advancement Officer Calista Amering at 585-256-7515.

We’re forever grateful to Mr. Golisano, and to the entire community that shares our commitment to children, adults and families. Thank you for your interest and your support!

Maria Cristalli

President & Chief Executive Officer

The post A New Name, and a Vision for a Vital Campus appeared first on Hillside.

Hillside Announces New Campus Identity & Transformational Three-Year Project

marketing — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:58:35 +0000

In an August 26 ceremony, Hillside announced the official renaming of its Crestwood Campus before an audience of elected officials, donors and community partners, youth and families, and staff and agency leadership. The new campus name, Golisano Campus at Crestwood, honors the extraordinary generosity of entrepreneur and philanthropist B. Thomas Golisano while preserving the legacy of the programs and staff that have represented hope and healing for generations of children and their families.

In September 2024, Hillside was the grateful recipient of a $5 million donation from Mr. Golisano, part of his unprecedented $360 million combined gift to 82 upstate organizations—and continuing a lifetime of philanthropy that has exceeded $900 million to date.

During the August 26 ceremony, Hillside President & CEO Maria Cristalli unveiled the new name on signage that has been installed at the campus entrance. “For decades, the name Tom Golisano has been synonymous with entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Both of those ideologies are rooted in a shared commitment to supporting the strength and vitality of our growing and evolving community,” Cristalli said. “Our new campus name honors the deep and enduring commitment of Mr. Golisano and the Golisano Foundation to Hillside and the children and communities we serve, that will literally change lives.”

“Tom Golisano and the Golisano Foundation are proud to support Hillside in providing life-changing services to children and families who need them most. The Golisano Campus at Crestwood will be a place where children receive not only critical services, but also the comfort, stability, and opportunities they need to heal and grow,” said Golisano Foundation Director Erica Dayton. “By supporting this transformational project, we are investing in the strength and well-being of young people who deserve the highest levels of care and the brightest possible futures.”

The ceremony also launched a three-year, $7 million Transformation and Modernization Project at the campus that will bring new and renovated cottages, enhanced green space for stronger therapeutic recreation opportunities, and a host of other improvements that are research-proven to increase the level of care provided.

The newly named Golisano Campus at Crestwood opened in Chili in 1960 and joined Hillside in 1999. Children served on campus range in age from 5 to 14 years, with an average age of 12 and diagnoses including Severe Emotional Disturbance as well as high levels of anxiety, depression, intellectual and developmental delays and other obstacles.

Through Hillside’s on-campus combination of 24/7 residential treatment and day treatment services, these children receive the highest levels of care. Last year, 93 percent of children in residential treatment were eventually discharged from the campus to less intensive services, on their path to healing and recovery.

“Our community, our state and our nation are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis,” Cristalli said. “Dozens and counties and school districts, and countless families, look to this campus for critical services that they can’t easily find anywhere else. The stakes are high, and our standards of care must be high as well.”

The Golisano Campus at Crestwood is one of four Hillside residential campuses. The agency’s 1,600 employees also support youth, adults and families at neighborhood group homes and community-based programs through Western and Central New York.

Other lead supporters of the three-year project acknowledged at the ceremony included The Davenport-Hatch Foundation, The Charles Fund, The August Family Foundation, Liz August, The Bonadio Group, Reliant Federal Credit Union, The Mendick Foundation and The Muller Foundation.

The post Hillside Announces New Campus Identity & Transformational Three-Year Project appeared first on Hillside.

Helping Youth Find Hopeful Futures

Technology Helpdesk — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:49:43 +0000

Hillside’s commitment to serving youth, adults and families requires an equal commitment to evolution. Adding or expanding programs must be done carefully, and only to meet the recognized needs of the communities we serve. Strategic program development allows us to ensure the best possible outcomes while maintaining fiscal sustainability.

One exciting example of a “new” Hillside service is actually a returning program. Some years ago, Reinvesting in Youth (RIY) supported effective community-based alternatives to detention for Rochester youth. Funding reductions forced us to close the program for a time in 2019, but in 2023 Hillside re-launched Reinvesting in Youth in Syracuse, as part of the NYS Project RISE (Respond, Invest, Sustain, Empower) public safety initiative.

The Syracuse iteration of RIY maintained the core principles of the original model. RIY staff work with youth ages 12-17 and their families, when the youth are at risk of or are currently involved in the juvenile justice system.

A Case Manager connects the youth to positive community resources, including family and other informal supports, while assisting program participants in navigating the judicial system.
Enrolled youth are connected to a Community Asset Navigator, who helps the youth engage in activities that build and sustain positive relevant community connections.
Our Family Peer Advocates use personal lived experience to help the entire family develop the supports necessary to navigate the unique challenges they all face. Peer Advocacy is rooted in Hillside’s bedrock philosophy of family-driven care.

RIY’s goal is to support youth in making choices that help them avoid detention, and to remain focused on a positive and constructive future without being forever defined by past unfortunate decisions.

Following the success of this program in Syracuse, Hillside is expanding RIY’s reach with a return to its Rochester roots. This summer, Reinvesting in Youth will resume service to Monroe County youth and families, funded by the Monroe County Department of Human Services. We’re grateful for the opportunity to bring this proven program to more young people and families in need.

You can be a part of the success of this program, and Hillside’s mission. Find out more about career opportunities at our agency, or donate today to advance our work and help more youth and families thrive. Thank you for your support!

Maria Cristalli
President & CEO

The post Helping Youth Find Hopeful Futures appeared first on Hillside.

Three Distinguished Leaders Join Hillside Board of Governors for 2026 Fiscal Year

marketing — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:10:10 +0000

Hillside, one of the country’s oldest continuously operating child-and-family services agencies, has announced that (pictured above, from left) Liz Roaldsen, Dr. Deborah C. Stamps and Carol Tegas have joined the agency’s Board of Governors in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.

Liz Roaldsen has served since 2023 as senior vice president of operations and customer experience at Paychex, where she oversees 6,000 employees serving the needs of 800,000 business customers. Prior to her current role, her three decades of financial leadership experience most recently included serving as head of enterprise business services at HSBC. where she was responsible for operations including global client service, credit and lending, and frontline tools to support clients across segments and channels; and as executive vice president and head of global operations at State Street Corporation in Boston. A Chartered Financial Analyst, Ms. Roaldsen holds an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a BA in Accounting from Belmont Abbey College. She has served on the non-profit boards of Year Up, Cradles to Crayons, and Hope and Comfort.

Deborah Stamps, EdD, MBA, MS, RN, GNP, NE-BC, CDE®, FADLN, FAAN, has almost 40 years of progressive healthcare leadership and is an internationally recognized authority on workforce development, diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, nursing education, and leadership. She is founder and chief executive officer of Deborah Stamps Consulting, LLC, and previously served in an array of nursing and leadership roles at Rochester Regional Health including Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Diversity Officer and founding president of the Rochester General College of Health Careers. Dr. Stamps is a 2023 Academy of Nursing Fellow, the recipient of the Center for Nursing NY’s Veronica M. Driscoll Award, and a 2024 inaugural Fellow in the National Black Nurses Association’s Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing. Dr. Stamps has held board positions at the YWCA, Planned Parenthood, St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center, and the International Collaboration for Community Health Nursing Research. Her educational experience includes an AAS degree in Nursing from Monroe Community College, a BSN degree from SUNY College at Brockport, MS and the Gerontological Nursing Practitioner at Nazareth University, an MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology, and an EdD from St. John Fisher University.

Carol Tegas is CEO of the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System, which collaborates with clinical and community organizations on areas including Medicaid redesign, healthcare system transformation, and improving health outcomes. As CEO, she also operates its Workforce Investment Organization, with a newly launched $118M NYS Career Pathways Training Program, while also administering the NYS-designated Greater Rochester Health Home Network. She has more than 35 years of experience in healthcare and non-profit strategic planning and governance, including most recently serving as executive director of Rochester Community IPA, a network of over 3,000 physicians and providers. Ms. Tegas holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from St. John Fisher College, and past credentials as a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor. She currently is on the boards of the NorthStar Network Healthcare Business Academy Board of Advisors, the Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative, Ronald McDonald House and the Council of Agency Executives.

“The contributions of our Board of Governors are critical to Hillside’s long-term strategic direction,” said Maria Cristalli, Hillside President and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re privileged to add the talents and perspectives of these accomplished professionals to our Board, where they will provide support to Hillside’s mission of service to youth, adults and families.”

Hillside’s Board leadership for the agency’s fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, will include James C. Haefner, Chair; Caroline A. Critchlow, EdD, Vice Chair; Christopher B. Eckert, Treasurer; Anne L. Komanecky, Secretary; and Jill Knittel, Past Chair.

The post Three Distinguished Leaders Join Hillside Board of Governors for 2026 Fiscal Year appeared first on Hillside.

Camp Possibilities Opens for Summer 2025 with Fun-in-the-Sun Kickoff Day

marketing — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:21:12 +0000

The 2025 season of Hillside’s Camp Possibilities kicked off this week with a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by weather-appropriate indoor and outdoor activities for the kids in attendance. For more than 30 years, Camp Possibilities has offered youth served by Hillside with all the recreational opportunities available at any day camp, including a pond for canoeing, kayaking and fishing; nature trails for hiking; a barn for arts and crafts; plenty of green space for sports, games, and exploration, and so much more.

Camp Possibilities is the only camp in Monroe County with programming designed for children with developmental disabilities as well as emotional and behavioral challenges. Every summer, children served by Hillside come to the Henrietta, NY-based camp to enjoy the simple pleasures of outdoor play. Camp Possibilities employs clinical, medical, and therapeutic recreation professionals, as well as traditional youth development staff, to fully support engagement and safety. Activities are designed to accommodate all levels of physical and emotional capacity for participants.

The 2025 season of Camp Possibilities will serve more than 300 youth, all made possible in part by generous corporate sponsors including KeyBank, Harris Beach Murtha, Freed Maxick, WTW, and CPL, as well as our longtime supporters at the Rochester Female Charitable Society.

To learn more about Camp Possibilities, watch this Stories of Hillside video.

Community support keeps #HillsideStrong! You can make Camp possible with a generous donation. Please give today!

The post Camp Possibilities Opens for Summer 2025 with Fun-in-the-Sun Kickoff Day appeared first on Hillside.

2025 Summer Meal Program

Technology Helpdesk — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 19:56:07 +0000

Free Summer Meals across New York, Maryland, & around the country

Learning and good nutrition do not end when school lets out. The USDA Summer Nutrition Program for Kids helps provide nutritious meals to children so they are better fueled with healthy food to learn and grow. This summer, youth ages 18 years and younger can receive breakfast, lunch, or snack at no charge served at community recreation centers, summer school locations and other neighborhood sites around New York State, Maryland and throughout the country. Persons over 18 years’ old who are physically or mentally disabled and participating in a public or nonprofit private school program established for children with these disabilities may also participate in this program. Online resource: Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov)

Find the location and meal times that work best for you

Text Option: Text “Food” to 304-304 to find summer meal sites.
In Spanish: text “Comida” to 914-342-7744.

Call: USDA National Hunger Hotline Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET: In English at 1‐866‐3‐HUNGRY (1‐866‐348‐6479)
In Spanish, call 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273)

EBT Program: If a feeding site is unavailable to qualifying families, a federal program is available to help low-income households with children purchase food over the summer when school is out of session and children can no longer rely on access to free/reduced price school meals. Additional information can be found at the following websites:

Within New York State: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/summer-ebt/
Within Maryland: SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov) and follow information about accessing SUN Bucks for your state.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The post 2025 Summer Meal Program appeared first on Hillside.

A Celebration of Staff, Families and Community at Hillside’s 188th Annual Meeting

marketing — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 17:50:15 +0000

Hillside staff, leaders, Board of Governors members and community partners came together last night for agency’s 188th Annual Meeting, a heartfelt and fun evening that looked back on a successful year, celebrated our people who made that year happen, and looked to an exciting future.

One highlight of the night was the presentation of the Chair’s Award to Jerry Ippolito, Director of Property, Food Services and Safety & Security. A 15-year Hillside veteran, Jerry used his speech to accept the award on behalf of all of Hillside — our program and support staff, our donors, our community partners and especially the youth, adults and families we serve.

Other highlights included:

A stirring invocation and blessing by Christine Wagner, SSJ, who spoke of Hillside’s earliest days and the agency’s connections to the Rochester Female Charitable Society and other noteworthy community organizations;
A family perspective delivered by Amanda Marie, who described the journey she experienced with her young daughter Emma — who joined Amanda for the evening — a journey that led to Amanda joining Hillside as a Family Peer Advocate;
Remarks by Hillside President & CEO Maria Cristalli that described exciting progress in new community-based programs, the latest updates around the major transformation project in the works at our Crestwood Campus, and the 25th anniversary of our Developmental Opportunities Services program;
Appearances by past Hillside leaders Dennis Richardson. former President & CEO; and Clyde Comstock, former Chief Operating Officer;
and a sampling from the Stories of Hillside campaign, which has garnered nearly 6 million video views in social media since the campaign’s launch in July 2024.

Join Our Team! Hillside is hiring in all the regions we serve. To find an opportunity that matches your skills and interests, visit Hillside.com/careers today.

The post A Celebration of Staff, Families and Community at Hillside’s 188th Annual Meeting appeared first on Hillside.

Nursing is a Passion at Hillside

Technology Helpdesk — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:05:07 +0000

There are so many dimensions to the work we do at Hillside! In our most recent podcast, I was privileged to sit down for a conversation with two members of our Health Care Services team—another critical area that contributes to the interdisciplinary care we provide to youth, adults and families.

Our Health Care Services department is comprised of more than 100 staff, most of whom have chosen nursing as a career and a passion. At Hillside, Registered Nurses, Nurse Managers and Licensed Practical Nurses collaborate every day with direct-care teams in our residential treatment and community-based programs—making regular connections with youth on our campuses, in group homes and in the community, to ensure that each individual’s varied needs are met.

Every day as a Hillside nurse is different than the one before: Our nurses must be multi-faceted, bringing an active mix of professional skills along with emotional intelligence and a passion for working with youth who have experienced trauma.

As Ann Cott, our Executive Director of Health Care and Integration Services, mentioned in the podcast, part of what drew her to Hillside following years spent as a nurse in a hospital setting was the opportunity to expand her skills and enjoy new areas of professional growth. Ann calls Hillside “a unique and interesting place to be a nurse and build your career,” and I couldn’t agree more.

If you’re an RN or LPN, I hope you’ll consider joining our team. Hillside is hiring for a variety of specific placements in different programs and locations in the regions we serve. To learn more about opportunities as part of Hillside’s Health Care Services team, please visit Hillside.com/careers today.

Thank you as always for your interest in Hillside!
Maria Cristalli
President & CEO

The post Nursing is a Passion at Hillside appeared first on Hillside.

Fore! Hillside’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament Returns June 9 to Monroe Golf Club

marketing — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 22:40:15 +0000

Mark your calendars: Monday, June 9 has been reserved for Hillside’s annual Charity Golf Tournament, returning to Monroe Golf Club in Pittsford, NY.

Attendees at the 2025 Tournament will enjoy 18 rounds of competitive play, with slight enhancements to the schedule including:

10:00am – Registration and continental breakfast
11:30am – Tee time for the shotgun start
12:00 to 3:00pm – Lunch during play
4:30pm – Awards, cocktails and a hors d’oeuvres reception

Monroe Golf Club is recognized as one of Western New York’s premier private clubs. The award-winning 18-hole course, designed by Donald Ross, is currently ranked among the “Top 100 Classic Courses” by Golfweek magazine.

In addition to the friendly competition, a silent auction and prizes are planned throughout the day—with all proceeds to benefit Hillside programs.

Corporate sponsorships and foursome slots are available; for information or to register online, visit Hillside.com/golf today.

The post Fore! Hillside’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament Returns June 9 to Monroe Golf Club appeared first on Hillside.