O’Mara joins Franziska Racker Centers reps to support direct care workers: bFair2DirectCare Rally draws hundreds of supporters to Albany

In the photo above at the State Capitol, from left to right: Karla Kesel (Direct Support Professional), Nancy Corwin Malina (President, Board of Directors), Perri LoPinto (Director of Donor & Government Relations), Senator O’Mara, Annie Joyce, Lanny Joyce, and Dan Brown (Executive Director).
I proudly stand with them and their fellow direct service professionals from across New York State comprising the bFair2DirectCare grassroots coalition.

Albany, N.Y., March 28—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) joined Franziska Racker Centers Executive Director Dan Brown, Board of Directors President Nancy Molina, and other Racker Centers representatives who traveled to the State Capitol earlier this week to join a statewide “bFair2DirectCare Rally” in support of raising wages for New York’s direct service professionals.

O'Mara has long been a strong advocate and supporter of higher wages for New York’s direct service professionals.

"I appreciated this opportunity to meet with Franziska Rackers Center representatives.  I have proudly stood with them and their fellow direct service professionals from across New York State comprising the ‘Be Fair to Direct Care’ grassroots coalition.  I welcomed this week’s occasion to, once again, on behalf of our entire region, express our gratitude to the leadership and staff of the Franziska Racker Centers for all that they do to create opportunities for people with disabilities and their families.  It's important work and they carry out their mission admirably and effectively.  New York State should fully recognize their importance and value," said O'Mara.

Franziska Racker Centers is a voluntary not-for-profit dedicated to creating opportunities for people with disabilities and their families.  The organization currently serves over 3,000 individuals and their families with approximately 200,000 individual services at over 30 sites in Tompkins, Cortland, and Tioga Counties.  Franziska Racker Centers employs more than 750 area workers, making it one of the area's major employers.