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mother Arlene said. “This has been her
passion since she took her first cooking
class three years ago.”
Proceeds from the cookie sales will
benefit Next for Autism, a nonprofit that
creates and supports innovative programs
for individuals with autism and their fami-lies
nationally; and Coffeed’s longtime
community partner Community Main-streaming,
a Long Island-based nonprofit
that helps people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities lead meaningful,
productive lives within their communities
through individualized and person centered
supports for home and work.
“Julia has shown that it’s possible for
young adults with autism to learn skills that
could lead to purposeful work,” Next for
Autism President Ilene Lainer said. “Young
adults with autism face significant hurdles
to employment. They lack training and the
proper supports to help them thrive. That’s
the reason Next for Autism is intently fo-cused
on creating programs that empower
young adults with choices and opportunities
to fulfill their potential and become participat-ing
members of our community.”
Frank “Turtle” Raffaele and a group
of friends started Coffeed in 2012 as
a for-profit with a charitable component
with 5 to 10 percent of its gross revenue
going to charities such as the Refugee
and Immigrant Fund based in Astoria, the
New York Foundling, and City Growers.
In addition to supporting the charitable
organizations, Coffeed staffs its locations
with the people they serve.
“We are committed to hiring people
in the community with disabilities,” Raf-faele
said.
Each Sunday for the past six months,
Coffeed co-founder Abe King picks up
Maidman and other young cooks from
their home and brings them to the com-pany’s
industrial kitchen in Long Island
City, where they produce the cookies.
“Owners and managers need to realize
they are in a meaningful position that can
make a difference in the lives of this group
and at the same time bring tremendous
benefits to themselves and their busi-ness,”
King said. “People with disabilities
have tremendous untapped abilities. We
all have, or will have, disabilities at some
point in our lives and the humanity we
show others is what counts.” Julia Maidman and Coffeed are raising money for
autism charities with cookie sales until the end of April.
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