PARSIPPANY — Rep. Mikie Sherrill was recently honored as an AbilityOne® Congressional Champion of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. On Thursday, September 5, Rep. Sherrill visited Employment Horizons, a not-for-profit based in Morris County that assists individuals with barriers to employment. Also visiting the agency was SourceAmerica®, an organization that provides employment choices for individuals with disabilities through the AbilityOne nonprofit agency community. After a tour, the Congresswoman was recognized in a joint presentation hosted by these two organizations. Rep. Sherrill is now the newest member of the 160 certified Congressional Champions from 43 states and the District of Columbia, and the only current legislator in New Jersey to achieve such distinction.
After being presented with the award, Rep. Sherrill noted that, “Employment Horizons and the AbilityOne Program serve individuals with disabilities and other barriers through innovative programs and employment opportunities in the greater Morris County area. I am so honored to have received the AbilityOne Congressional Champion Award and am committed to making sure our constituents living with disabilities have access to employment opportunities.”
In order to become an AbilityOne Congressional Champion, the individual must demonstrate commitment to employment opportunities for individual with disabilities and publicly show their support. Earlier this year, Rep. Sherrill met with advocates of the AbilityOne Program from Employment Horizons in her D.C. office during SourceAmerica’s Grassroots Conference. She has also visited Picatinny Arsenal military base, an AbilityOne contract site. In addition, her office utilizes products that are manufactured as part of the program.
“Employment Horizons is honored to be a long-time partner with SourceAmerica and the AbilityOne program in ensuring employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Congresswoman Sherrill has been committed to services for individuals with disabilities since before taking office, and we were pleased to have her tour our programs and to present her with an AbilityOne Congressional Champion award in recognition of her support,” said Matthew Putts, CEO of Employment Horizons.
“As the congressional founders of the AbilityOne Program, Senator Robert Wagner and Representative Caroline O’Day, are no longer with us, support from current Members of Congress like Congresswoman Sherrill is critically important,” said John Kelly, Vice President of
Government Affairs for SourceAmerica. “We are happy to recognize her as an AbilityOne Congressional Champion today.”
The AbilityOne Congressional Champions Program was established in 2002 to honor representatives and senators who have demonstrated a commitment to constituents with disabilities and the AbilityOne Program. More information about the AbilityOne Congressional Champion Program is available online.
Established in 1974, SourceAmerica creates employment opportunities for a skilled and dedicated workforce of people with disabilities. SourceAmerica is the vital link between the federal government and private sector organizations that procure the products and services provided by this exceptional workforce via a network of more than 750 community-based nonprofits. Headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, SourceAmerica provides its nonprofit agency network with business development, contract management, legislative and regulatory assistance, communications and public relations materials, information technology support, engineering and technical assistance, and extensive professional training needed for successful nonprofit management. Visit SourceAmerica.org to learn more, or follow them on Facebook (@SourceAmerica), Twitter (@SourceAmericaUS) and LinkedIn (@SourceAmerica).
Founded in 1957, Employment Horizons, Inc. is the premier not-for-profit agency in Morris County that provides high-quality competitively priced services to the business community through its commercial operations. Simultaneously, the mission, to help people with disabilities reach their career objectives, is fulfilled. To learn more, please visit www.ehorizons.org.
The AbilityOne Program is one of the largest sources of employment in the United States for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. Approximately 45,000 people who are blind or have significant disabilities, including approximately 3,000 veterans, are employed at approximately 500 nonprofit agencies nationwide, across 15 time zones, from Maine to Guam. AbilityOne provided more than $3.3 billion in products and services to the federal government in fiscal year 2018. The Program operates at more than 1,000 locations, representing 40 government agencies, including more than 150 Base Supply Centers at military and government installations.
