Messages from the President & CEO

It can’t be said enough: at its core, Hillside’s work is a partnership. For nearly 188 years, our agency has helped generations of families overcome their challenges and thrive in their communities—but we don’t do it alone.

I was reminded powerfully of this idea of a shared commitment to our community on the morning of Tuesday, September 17, when B. Thomas Golisano announced that Hillside would receive a transformational $5 million donation.

Even with Mr. Golisano’s well-regarded reputation as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader, his decision to award a combined gift of $360 million to organizations across Upstate New York represents an extraordinary commitment to philanthropy as a visionary act of investment. Generous donations from individuals, corporations and foundations make it possible for us to meet the ever-evolving needs of those we serve—and touch more lives, every day.

As with every donation, this expression of trust in our work requires a commitment to use the donated funds wisely and transparently. Mr. Golisano’s gift will provide significant support in a major project that will help shape the future of the care we provide. I look forward to sharing more details on this exciting project in the months to come.

For now, the entire Hillside community deeply appreciates the partnership of Mr. Golisano—and every donor who shares our commitment to helping vulnerable children, adults and families achieve the stronger futures they deserve.

Thank you!

Maria Cristalli
President & Chief Executive Officer
Hillside

Back-to-school season is an annual tradition for every community, and every family. Even if you’ve never been a parent, the memories of this time of year—the eager anticipation of preparing for a new grade, new classes and new adventures—are powerful, and last a lifetime.

Of course, today’s school-age children and their families are experiencing these feelings in real time—and that includes the Hillside community! The teachers and teaching assistants in Hillside’s five schools are embracing another year of academic opportunity. Youth Advocates in our Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection program are back in the public schools where they work closely every day with middle and high school students. No matter the program or location, everyone is excited to form the new connections that make learning and discovery possible.

The young people and their families who partner with our staff face a variety of distinct challenges that can impact their academic experiences. We’re proud to be a part of their journey, and to help them celebrate their achievements during the year to come. We know that the children and youth in our programs are like any other students: their minds are curious, and they have extraordinary potential.

On behalf of every Hillsider, please have a healthy, happy and successful return to school. And as always, thank you for your support of our mission!

Maria Cristalli
President & CEO
Hillside

You’re about to hear a lot more about Hillside! A new advertising campaign is celebrating the commitment of our people and the achievements of those we serve.

The Stories of Hillside campaign has been in the works for a while: we wanted to identify the most compelling stories out of our thousands of engagements with youth, adults and families every year. The first two to be released are really special:

• Jai’Lynn and Autumn’s Story explores the connection between a Syracuse student in our Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection program, and the HWSC Youth Advocate who supported his success.

More Stories of Hillside will be released soon, and will be shared on our social media channels: Facebook and Instagram users will see them in paid advertisements, and the stories will also be featured in our own Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter and LinkedIn platforms.

The goal of this campaign is simple: we want you and your neighbors to see Hillside as we do! Every day, 1,700 Hillside employees support the life goals of nearly 9,000 youth, adults and families. Their deeply held commitment to our mission is inspiring—and by sharing that inspiration with you, we hope you’ll understand the importance of supporting our mission in any way you can.

I hope you enjoy these Stories of Hillside. As always, thank you for your interest in Hillside’s work!

Thank you,

Maria
President & CEO
Hillside

At Hillside, we know that creating and maintaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive community is a year-round commitment. There’s no shortage of opportunities to get involved—especially this time of year!

Every June, National Pride Month shows support and solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community. No matter what community you call home, you’ll find a Pride event: parades have already been held in Buffalo and Utica, and more events are coming this month to Binghamton, Jamestown, the Southern Tier, Syracuse, and Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Rochester has a tradition of holding a Pride Parade in July—our team is pictured below at the 2023 parade—and Hillside will once again march in that event on July 20. Join us!

Meanwhile, the national holiday of Juneteenth commemorates the symbolic anniversary of the end of slavery on June 19, 1865. Within Hillside, our Regional DE&I Committees organized a virtual event for all interested employees with a visiting speaker who will explore the legacy of that historic date.

In the communities we serve, events have been announced in Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo, and there’s sure to be a live or online Juneteenth celebration near you.

On behalf of all of Hillside, I encourage you to engage in your local Juneteenth and Pride Month celebrations. These events aren’t reserved for specific segments of our community—they’re an important way of bringing everyone together to salute and support our neighbors, our loved ones, and ourselves.

Thank you!

Maria Cristalli
President & CEO
Hillside

Of the many aspects of Hillside’s work, I’m always particularly excited to discuss our schools!

Hillside operates five 853 schools, certified by the New York State Office of Special Education to provide the state-approved curriculum to students in our residential and day treatment programs. These schools are located on our four residential campuses in Rochester, Auburn, and Bath; and at the Halpern Education Center in Webster, NY.

It’s truly commendable how Hillside educators bring their passion and dedication to every student.  Education is a powerful tool that can transform lives, Teachers and Teaching Assistants play a vital role in guiding students through their emotional and behavioral challenges while fostering a love for learning. Their commitment is invaluable in creating supportive and enriching learning environments for all students.

Hillside Teachers and TAs work closely with clinical staff to ensure that lesson plans are delivered in the context of each child’s therapeutic needs as well as the Individualized Education Programs that are established to set the students’ academic goals. It’s vital and deeply rewarding work, that’s embraced by our world-class Education teams who are as committed to their profession as they are to Hillside’s mission.

If you’re a Teacher or Teaching Assistant who’s exploring new employment opportunities, I encourage you to consider Hillside! Our teams were recently asked what they value most about working here, and their answers included the following:

• “Small class sizes,” with 6:1:2 or 8:1:2 ratios (Students to Teachers to Teaching Assistants) in every classroom
• “Fantastic starting compensation compared to public districts”
• “More support in the classroom from TAs, supervisors, and management”
• “Teachers and TAs have their own dedicated laptops, and every classroom has a Smartboard”
• “Greater opportunities for flexibility in planning and instruction”

Teaching is so vital to every community—and the Hillside community is no exception. For more information about openings in our Hillside schools, visit our Careers page today. And thank you as always for your support of Hillside!

Maria Cristalli
President & CEO