A QUEENS COURIER SUPPLEMENT • SEPTEMBER 2015 B U S I N E S S • R E A L E S T A T E • H O M E I M P R O V E M E N T business for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 • bUsiness • the QUeens CoUrier 45 Human First: A Home from the Heart Spend a few minutes with Wafa Abboud and you will see that everything she does comes from the heart. It is what inspired a parent to approach her about starting an organization for the developmentally A pillar standing behind EIHAB Human Services (EIHAB) and its goal to “Empower, Instruct, Habilitate and Assist Better” those individuals with developmental disabilities and behavioral health challenges, is its founder and chief executive officer, Fatma Abboud. Even after her passing in May 2015, EIHAB—headquartered in Spring Gardens, New York—continues to beam with Abboud’s integrity as its professional staff carries out her lifelong mission to integrate those with developmental disabilities into the community and provide them with a better quality of life. Born and raised in Egypt, Abboud came to the United States to pursue her education and raise her family, ultimately earning a Master of Science degree in 1988 and the highest professional diploma in the field of special education in 1992 from St. John’s University. She began her successful career in human services by teaching at the City University of New York (CUNY) LaGuardia College in 1994. Abboud’s passion to empower individuals resulted with the formation of EIHAB in 1996. Under Abboud’s leadership, the nonprofit agency has grown from a small office once located at the Queens Developmental Disabilities Office to three office locations in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania – employing more than 500 staff members in total. The agency currently operates three Day Habilitation Centers, more than 45 Independent Residential Alternative Facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities, and a high school in Pennsylvania for teens with behavioral, learning and social challenges. EIHAB is a reflection of Abboud’s belief that every human being deserves the chance to succeed. The agency’s mission is to deliver genuine, caring and excellent service in the interest of helping physically and mentally challenged individuals to achieve selfreliance and become productive members of society. As part of this mission, Abboud continuously led her team to reach hard-to-serve communities while increasing public awareness of their needs. A true community leader, Abboud also volunteered her time to support health and community causes. She worked closely with the Egyptian Cancer Network, helping to further cancer education, research and care, as well as medical infrastructure EIHAB Human Services Promotes Better Quality of Life The Inspiration Behind EIHAB (continued on page 40) disabled, telling her “I have an autistic child and I’ve met so many people in this fi eld, and I’ve never met somebody like you. You do everything from the heart.” This encounter would be the foundation for Human First, Inc., a non-profi t organization that provides services to the developmentally disabled and their families. Ms. Abboud’s involvement with the developmentally disabled community spans 20 years, and through the years she witnessed the struggle families encounter when they cannot get services for their loved one. She started Human First in 2001 because of her desire to ensure the equitable distribution of services to the developmentally disabled. An idea stemming from the blessing of one parent has blossomed into an organization serving over 1,500 families throughout New York City and Long Island. But building an organization from scratch had its share of challenges. Ms. Abboud strategically established and built a reputation within the target demographic to attract clients and families to Human First. Further complicating the matter, Ms. Abboud had to overcome the inherent cultural biases associated with female CEOs. She recognized early on that she needed deliverables and standards to form the building blocks of her organization. Ms. Abboud does not shy away from challenges, and Human First followed suit by developing a reputation as an organization that prided itself on accepting the cases deemed “too challenging,” and for going above and beyond to deliver for clients and their family. “I challenge myself everyday not to lose sight of the mission,” says Ms. Abboud. “I am going to serve those whose cases are particularly diffi cult which others are reluctant to tackle.” These ideals were crystallized when Human First came to the aid of a Bay Ridge family seeking assistance for home modifi cations to accommodate their disabled child and, fi fteen years later, those ideals continue to serve as the guiding principle for Ms. Abboud and Human First. “We’re going to do it regardless of the hurdles before us.” The family of a 15-year-old Bay Ridge girl was referred to Human First by the State. They needed costly home modifi cations to accommodate their daughter’s medical equipment. The oldest of eight children, she was confi ned to a wheelchair and on a feeding tube. Her father and younger brother carried her up and down the stairs because the house was too small for a chair lift. For seven years, her father met with individuals and organizations that, while sympathetic, were ultimately unable to obtain the funding needed to make the home accessible for his daughter. When he fi nally met with Wafa Abboud, she assured him that her organization would complete the modifi cations within six months. To accomplish this, Ms. Abboud had to make the case that a one-time payment for the home modifi cation was in the best fi nancial interest of the State. At the time, the State fi nanced just 40% of the cost of the project, leaving organizations to pay the balance. If fi nancing could not be secured, families faced the diffi cult decision of placing their loved one in a nursing home, the cost of which would be covered by the State for the duration of the individual’s life. Ms. Abboud argued that the full funding of a one-time home modifi cation would be more cost-effective than the yearly fi nancing of an individual’s nursing home stay. The State funded the project and, six months later, the modifi cations were complete. Wafa Abboud and Human First delivered on their promise to this family after they spent seven years tirelessly advocating for their daughter. Word of this achievement spread and Human First quickly became known for making the seemingly impossible possible. After completion of the Bay Ridge home, Human First came to the aid of another family who needed assistance for a home (continued on page 2) Paying Tribute to EIHAB’s Founder Fatma Abboud
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