October 31, 2022 - Bona Vista receives $25,212.79 donation from Tom and Karen McKinney, Wayne Mast, Stellantis, and Kokomo Grain. Stellantis owns crop acreage near their northern plants, ITP1 and ITP2, that they allow McKinney and Mast Farms to use to raise funds for a local nonprofit need each year....

Nov 19, 2021 - The holiday is very fun, but can be very expensive. If you are a caring individual looking for additional income, please check out the open positions available at Bona Vista Programs in both Kokomo and Peru. Right now we are hiring for a variety of positions...

Oct 29, 2021 - Are you a nurse looking for a more rewarding career path? You should definitely check out the nursing opportunities available at Bona Vista. Bona Vista is currently hiring for nursing positions in the residential department. Qualified applicants have a chance to work alongside an established team...

Oct 15, 2021 - The Early Childhood program at Bona Vista has a current need for a lead teacher and two assistant teachers in the Keys for Kids Preschool. Bailley Maxwell, early childhood director, is hopeful the program will be able to open an additional Infant & Toddler classroom for...

Sep 30, 2021 - Brittnee Smith, regional vice president, Business Development & Support Services at DSI/Bona Vista Programs, has been appointed chairwoman of the Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities for the 2022 year. ICC is Indiana’s early intervention council comprised of parents, providers and other...

Sep 16, 2021 - Hi, everyone. I’m Alika Altmiller, the new staff recruiter for Bona Vista! I am so excited to be a guest columnist this week and to tell you all about the amazing career opportunities our program has to offer! With fall quickly approaching, this is the perfect...

Sep 2, 2021 - Since 1995, Soupley’s Wine and Spirits has hosted The Greatest Spectacle in Tasting to raise money for Bona Vista Programs. This month’s golf outing increased the total amount raised to over the $1 million mark. Traditionally, the Soupley’s Greatest Spectacle in Tasting is hosted during the...

Aug 24, 2021 - A $10,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation will help Bona Vista Programs provide high school- and college-age students direct support professional training. A direct support professional is someone who provides services for adults with disabilities. Daily activities could mean acting as a classroom lead and...

Aug 11, 2021 - School has started back but summer isn’t over yet. We have an exciting grand finale for the season. Smith Financial presents the Soupley’s Wine & Spirits Birdies, Bourbons & Beers Golf Classic to benefit Bona Visa Programs on Aug. 27 at Wildcat Creek Golf Course. I...

Jul 28, 2021 - We’ve reached that point of the summer again, when we question how it flew by so fast and are cramming our last must-do activities into the remaining weeks. It’s Back to School season and, at Bona Vista, teachers are gearing up for an exciting year for...

Jul 14, 2021 - Thanks to a grant provided by Duke Energy Foundation, Bona Vista’s Pre-Employment Transition Services (or Pre-ETS) program is introducing a new curriculum to help prepare high school students for their post-graduation careers. There is an increasing demand for direct support professionals, known as DSPs, in the...

Jun 30, 2021 - Soupley’s Wine and Spirits will host the second annual golf event fundraiser with all proceeds benefitting the children and adults at Bona Vista Programs. Birdies, Bourbons & Beer Golf Classic is on Friday August 27 at Wildcat Creek Golf Course. We are excited for this year’s...

Jun 16, 2021 - One of the Bona Vista programs you see most in the community comes in the form of support provided to people with disabilities who are seeking a job. Our Workforce Diversity department provides many services for Bona Vista clients as they prepare for and enter the...

Jun 2, 2021 - I have heard so many wonderful stories from people I meet at Bona Vista, from clients we serve to families we work with. Perhaps one of the most moving encounters I have to share is from one of our own staff members, Racheal Lisby. In 2010,...

May 19, 2021 - One of the most important aspects of operating a nonprofit organization successfully is the support offered by the local community. I would bet my hat that all nonprofits you ask would agree. I know it is true at Bona Vista; we could never provide quality services...

May 5, 2021 - Everyone has a favorite teacher, a name that they’ll reflect on for decades after being in class. This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and at Bona Vista we are celebrating the preschool teachers on our early childhood staff. Whose life has not been touched by a...

Apr 21, 2021 - You know how there are people in every operation that work behind the scenes to support and oftentimes handle the integral details that keep the day running smoothly? Everyone encounters these people within an organization. This team of miracle workers makes up the administrative staff at...

Apr 7, 2021 - Along with the rest of the world, the clients at Bona Vista are excited to return to a little bit of normalcy as we come out of the pandemic. One of the activities that we have missed the most has been holiday gatherings and traditional events...

Mar 24, 2021 - The court is waxed, and the teams are warming up. The time is here. Clear your schedule Wednesday night, and join us for the Disability Awareness Basketball Game to benefit Bona Vista Programs. The annual event is coming to you virtually this year on March 24...

Mar 9, 2021 - March is Disability Awareness Month, and The Kokomo Post is helping increase support for Bona Vista as well as the people with disabilities in this community with a T-shirt. In January, The Kokomo Post began a charitable initiative to promote local nonprofit agencies. The 2021 CommuniTee...

Feb 24, 2021 - There is new hope for parents who have an infant or toddler and are seeking childcare in Kokomo. Bona Vista is adding an additional infant and toddler classroom to the Keys for Kids Preschool program. This new classroom will be structured like current infant/toddler classrooms, accommodating...

Feb 10, 2021 - In honor of Valentine’s Day, the staff at Bona Vista was asked what they love about their job and the agency. The response was overwhelming; so many people wanted to share their appreciation for their work and the people that we serve. Please enjoy some of...

Jan 27, 2021 - It’s finally here! It’s Viva Las Vista week at Bona Vista, and we are excited for our virtual casino night fund raiser event that will be streamed live online on Friday at 6 p.m. and is complete with your chance to win $500. The event is...

Jan 13, 2021 - A nonprofit’s greatest asset is people: the people who are served, the people who do the work, and the people who support the cause. Such agencies exist because of a need, and people invest their time and energy because of the effect these agencies have on...

Jan. 6, 2021 - The Kokomo Perspective asked leaders of the community’s nonprofits, small businesses, schools, colleges, and other organizations what they hope to see in the coming new year. While the leaders had various wishes, they’re all looking to brighter days in 2021. Bona Vista - "2020 has given...

Dec 30, 2020 - Amber Bell utilizes programs at Bona Vista to help her gain independence and focus on her many abilities. With the help of Bona Vista staff, Bell enrolled in the Excel Center, a tuition-free public charter high school for adults, a year ago and is now closing...

Dec 22, 2020 - Last week, the We Care board presented the checks to the nonprofits – Kokomo Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, Goodfellows, Mental Health America, Bona Vista, and Kokomo Urban Outreach – and they received a combined $465,000, up from $415,000 last year. We Care raised nearly $225,000 in...

Dec 9, 2020 - Bona Vista achieved a three-year accreditation from the respected Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities ( CARF ). Bona Vista undergoes a rigorous organizational survey by CARF to determine eligibility for accreditation. This achievement is recognized industry-wide for health and human services as the standard for...

Nov 24, 2020 - Do you know why we do what we do at Bona Vista? It’s for the adults who need our services and for the children who are thriving here. The people we serve enjoy books and board games in their classrooms, as well as playing various sports...

Nov 11, 2020 - You have probably heard about the renovation project that has been occurring at the Bona Vista Crossing location over the past few months. The interior space of this building previously housed the manufacturing division at Bona Vista Programs. The space was huge, open, and empty, but...

Nov. 4, 2020 - This past week Bona Vista children, adults, and staff enjoyed some of our traditional Halloween events. It was refreshing to kick off the holiday season with our much-anticipated Halloween festivities. With the safety precautions of masks and gloves in place, we were excited to host our...

10-21-2020, This month marks 75 years since the introduction of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month ( NDEAM ). Each October Bona Vista celebrates NDEAM, which is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). This year’s theme for the month is “Increasing Access...

Oct 7, 2020 - On Feb. 5 our world got a little brighter, a little stronger. Out of the most devastating circumstances developed a story of hope and strength and was born a set of twins named Barron and Lennox. As first-time parents, Morgan and Shaun didn’t expect anything unusual...

Bona Vista is celebrating a new opportunity for the WorkForce Diversity program through a recent partnership with the Literacy Coalition. The WorkForce Diversity division of Bona Vista’s community services helps individuals with disabilities with career placement. When Teresa began in the program in January she was seeking a new occupation....

This was the inaugural year for the Bona Vista Golf Classic, and our team was overwhelmed by the success of the event. Earlier this year we were forced to cancel the Disability Awareness basketball game and the 2020 Soupley’s Greatest Spectacle in Tasting, our largest fund-raising event, due to the...

Employees don’t get involved in providing services for Bona Vista without a personal investment in the mission of the agency. It is a line of work that can be challenging and rewarding but is almost always guaranteed to be emotional. When you work with the same set of persons served...

Last week was staff training week in the Early Childhood department at Bona Vista. One week a year, right before school starts, the department closes to the children in order to provide training to teachers and staff. “Teamwork among teachers is imperative in creating a positive learning environment for early...

This month we joined the trend by hosting open interviews. The event was such a success we have decided to offer it monthly. These hiring events allow interested applicants to arrive on their schedule, learn about our available jobs, meet supervisors, complete applications, and interview for open positions all in...

On Tuesday, June 9, 2020 Four County and Bona Vista Programs, Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). This agreement was made with the focus of providing employee wellness groups for Bona Vista staff. All employees will have the opportunity to join these groups virtually for an hour at a...

Brantley passes the torch to Tiffany Damitz! In my time at Bona Vista, I have written approximately 200 of these articles. This one will by far be the most difficult. It is the last one – for me. I have loved every single minute of my time at Bona Vista...

At the end of the day on Feb. 11, 2020, I had everything organized for my pending maternity leave. I was set to have my baby come into my life the next morning, and I knew I would be out of work for the next eight-and-a-half weeks. Since this was...

During a previous Disability Awareness Basketball Game, celebrity team member Shelly Wyman drives to the basket. This year’s event has been canceled, but the organization is still looking for much-needed funds to make up for the loss. The last time we updated you about our special events in April we...

Bona Vista’s staff recruiter, Marcy Kistler, uses the social media app Tik Tok to recruit new staff. Social media. There are people on both sides of arguments when you mention it, usually. Now, I’m not saying that every single person falls into one of these camps I’m about to mention,...

Each year, Bona Vista participates in Giving Tuesday for much needed support. You may have read my articles about it in the past. Last year, we partnered with Lewis Cass High School and their Champions Together program for students with special needs. Giving Tuesday is mainly done via social media...

It seems that if there are obstacles from a natural disaster that hits Kokomo, it also hits Bona Vista Programs. 100-year flood? Check. Tornado that leveled one of our buildings? Check. Tornado several years later that damaged several of our buildings? Check. What has always impressed me, though, is how...

The Early Head Start program at Bona Vista is home to something called the Kiddo Kloset. It is an incentive for families and parents to become more involved in our Early Head Start Program with their child(ren) while being given an opportunity to earn items from the Kiddo Kloset. We...

As you are aware, the coronavirus (COVID-19) is currently a local, state and national concern. Bona Vista has elected to take several precautionary measures in an effort to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus and other serious illnesses.  Communication will be maintained on an appropriate frequency as developments are identified...

I want to introduce you to a couple of our adults who have been with Bona Vista throughout their lives. They started coming to Bona Vista Programs as children in our preschool program and are now receiving adult services. It’s true! There have been many times over the past six...

In addition to displays by the seven elementary schools and Head Start preschool, Kokomo Schools community partners will be present to assist families. These community partners and schools include: Bona Vista, the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, On My Way PreK, the Kokomo Public Schools Education Foundation, Coyote Kids, the...

This year’s Viva Las Vista casino night was a success, held last Friday, to benefit Bona Vista Programs was the highest attended in the four years the organization has put on the event. That wouldn’t have been possible without every guest, sponsor, raffle donor, Kokomo Country Club employee, Bona Vista...

Each and every staff member (all 450-plus of us) play an important, distinct, and vital role in this organization. When one piece of the puzzle is missing, it’s not complete. We couldn’t do what we do without you! So, don’t think for a second that the work you are doing...

Are you currently searching for a job with an organization that has a long-standing history in the community where you live, work, and play? If you are looking for a meaningful and fulfilling career, then Bona Vista can help you find a position to meet your needs. Our staff recruiter,...

The long-term dream of We Care founders Dick Bronson, Charlie Cropper, and Jan Buechler has been realized with the purchase of a building. The board of directors of We Care purchased the former Aldi building on S.R. 931, and it will be used to conduct the annual We Care telethon...

After a year of fund raising, including the popular We Care telethon and the latest Wrap-Up auction, We Care officials presented checks to six area nonprofits today. The nonprofits – Kokomo Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, Goodfellows, Mental Health America, Bona Vista, and Kokomo Urban Outreach – received a combined $415,000,...

The relationship between small businesses (or companies of any size, for that matter) and nonprofits are mutually beneficial. Nonprofits ask for donations; companies respond by sponsoring nonprofits' important projects and events. For the past two years I’ve written about how you can be a difference-maker in the community. This year,...

Giving Tuesday is a national campaign that takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving every year. It is an opportunity for people to give back after days of shopping and buying. It’s a chance to show the non-profits in the community (or around the nation) that they are doing important work...

For the past three years, we have partnered up with the Kokomo Area Career Center (KACC) students in a variety of ways. Their work-based learning class assigns an intern to our development department, and we put those students to work. Each fall, they put on an event for adults with...

October is National Physical Therapy Month! Each year we want to take intentional time to celebrate Bona Vista’s extraordinary physical therapy staff and provide you some tips on how to keep your children active and promote physical activity during the fall season. The weather is turning colder. But, that doesn’t...

Peru, Ind. – Bona Vista Programs and Ivy Tech Community College are joining in an innovative collaboration to offer adult day habilitation services at the College’s Peru Instructional Site at 425 W. Main St. After the recent sale of Bona Vista’s Benton Street location, Ivy Tech’s Peru facility is now...

PLAY BALL — Bona Vista and the IU Kokomo baseball team joined together for the third annual Athletes for All Abilities baseball game last Sunday at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. Each person-served was paired with an IUK baseball player and showed off their skills on the diamond.

Did you miss our most recent free Positive Results for Kids Therapies Developmental Screening? That’s OK! You’re probably not alone. We always have people calling us after the fact because life sneaked up on them, and they forgot to schedule their appointment. Well, lucky for you, we have another option!...

Bona Vista has two prenatal specialists – Rebecca Ashenfelter and Vicki Petrowsky – who can meet with you at our center or in your home. All you have to do is call 765-457-8273 and ask for Rachael Lisby, family service specialist. She will set you up for a time to...

If you follow us on social media at all, I have no doubt that you have seen pictures of our staff and amazing volunteers working the concession stands at the Kokomo Jackrabbits games this summer! We have worked the stand 12 separate times, and I want to be sure to...

Seventy-five employees participate in Delphi Gives Back Day Delphi Electronics employees are used to working with each other inside the plant. The annual Delphi Gives Back Day on June 26 gave them a chance to team build outside the plant. Approximately 75 employees volunteered for the day. They tackled various...

It occurred to me recently that when I write about quality in our Early Childhood Education Center and talk about how we are a Paths to QUALITY Level 4. you probably don’t even know what that means. It’s OK! I didn’t either before I started working here. Paths to Quality...

If you follow any of Bona Vista’s social media, you’ve undoubtedly seen tons of pictures of children and adults doing art activities (and if you don’t, you should). Persons served of all ages and all abilities love to express themselves through the arts. Whether it’s painting, drawing, music, woodworking, singing, sewing,...

Bona Vista, a United Way of Howard and Tipton Counties partnership agency, received $17,259.75 with the help of Tom and Karen McKinney, their farm staff, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Pioneer HiBred, Austin Henderson (dealer), and Kokomo Grain.

Looking back through all of the articles I’ve submitted since 2016, I realized that I’ve never written a Greatest Spectacle in Tasting wrap-up…

Soupley's 25th annual Greatest Spectacle in Tasting took place Saturday on the grounds of Bona Vista Programs to benefit the nonprofit.

It’s National Teacher Appreciation Week! And, I’m not quite sure where to begin. Teachers, not just at Bona Vista, are so valuable. Honestly. …

Music Monday. Tasty Tuesday. Work together Wednesday. Artsy Thursday. Family Friday. These are all of the fun days planned for the week of Apr…

We hosted our 19th Annual Disability Awareness Basketball Game at Memorial Gym last Tuesday. It was nothing short of amazing.

2019 Disability Awareness Basketball! If you live in Indiana, the fact that it’s March probably brings one thought to the front of your mind – It’s almost college basketball tournament time! It’s not called Hoosier Hysteria because we are calm and quiet about our love for the sport, right? Make...

We are just coming off the heels of our Viva Las Vista casino night event, but there’s no time to slow down now. It’s full steam ahead into March! At Bona Vista Programs, March is a huge month. It’s not only the month we host one of our largest events,...

One of the things I love about working for Bona Vista Programs is that I know there is room to grow here. And, when I meet with new hires in orientation, I always make a point to tell them that.

All employees want to feel appreciated. It’s a natural human reaction not because we need the attention or want everyone to know what we have been doing, but it is nice when someone notices, validates your work, and lets you know they appreciate you.

All had fun at Bona Vista this Christmas! Well, it happened at Christmas. My most favorite day of the year at Bona Vista has come and gone. OK. That may be a slight exaggeration because there are so many amazing days here. Holiday party day is right up there at...

Kokomo, IN ~ The We Care Telethon is returning for the 46th year this weekend. Thousands of donated items will go up for bid. All of the money raised will go for a good cause. Starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7 and continuing until Sunday. The 48-hour telethon will...

A couple of weeks ago I told you about Bona Vista’s Sock Hop & Roll event for adults with special needs that will take place on Dec. 14 at UAW Local 685. Did you read about it? I don’t want you to miss out!

Get on the Medicaid waiver. That’s where. But what does that even mean? Why do you even need it? Medicaid waivers allow Medicaid (and not the parent or guardian) to fund supports and services for children and adults with disabilities. For example, if you have a child or adult with...

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is recognized nationally every October as a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities.

Bona Vista is jumping onto the Halloween scene this year at its newly-opened Respire House. “I want to share with our community what the Respite House is all about. This gives a chance for all to see the fun-filled activities we do daily as well as take a tour of the...

By the time you’re reading this we will be well on our way to recognizing (and high fiving) our Caregivers for the Developmentally Disabled (CDD) during National Direct Support Professionals Week (Sept. 9-15). While one week will never be enough to show them how appreciated they are, we are going...

Troy Bowers sees it and hears about it all the time: some people just don’t know how to treat or interact with a person with a disability.

When Maria Stark took a job at Bona Vista when she was 20, she didn’t realize she was starting a career. Now, at age 53, she looked back on why she stuck around.

The Bona Vista Bistro. You’ve heard me talk about them many times. They’ve won awards. They’ve had booths at community events. They’ve catered…

Make a mug! Bona Vista is going to do something it’s never done before. We hope to do it on a regular basis. We will host our first-ever B-cause It’s Art Halloween mug Bisque painting class. Proceeds will benefit the adults at Bona Vista Programs. On August 23 from 5:30 -...

Qualifying Howard County families eligible for preschool grants this year Qualifying families can send their 4-year-old to preschool at no cost to them. The On My Way Pre-K grant has expanded in to Howard County for the first time this year. Therefore children who qualify will be able to attend...

This month, it sounds like all we are doing is celebrating. And, that’s not too far from the truth! Last week I told you about Christmas in July to benefit our adult day service programs. It is still going strong, and we could still use your help. Check out our...

Who do you know that wants to find a job they love? Who do you know that loves people well? Who do you know that has a passion to serve others? Here’s what we are asking: tell the people you know that we are hiring, and we would love to...

Project provides housing for 13 intellectually-delayed and physically challenged adults. Through a project with Bona Vista, Kokomo expanded its housing offerings and improved a public amenity all at once. Last week public officials, community members, and Bona Vista leadership came together for two ribbon cuttings: one for the new and improved...

Brianne Boles has already worked in several departments throughout the agency. She knows the leadership staff. She knows the administrative staff. She knows the people we serve. She knows the ins and outs of the daily grind. She knows this community. She knows the nature of organizations like ours (and...

After a thorough interviewing process by Bona Vista’s Board of Directors, it was decided on May 11, 2018 that Brianne Boles will be taking on a new role at Bona Vista as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

April 8, 2018 - The Betsy Mason Memorial Scholarship was established in December 2002 to assist students pursuing a degree in speech pathology. The annual scholarship will be awarded this spring. Applicants must reside in Howard or surrounding counties and be accepted into a Speech and Hearing Program at the...

April 4, 2018 - April is Autism Awareness Month. There are so many forms of Autism that professionals have deemed it a “spectrum disorder.”

March 23, 2018 - Regardless of title, we all make a difference. The work we do is not easy. Yes, we have a lot of fun moments. We also have a lot of trying moments. It’s how we work together across the board that makes those moments less stressful. It’s...

March 7, 2018 - Vivaaaaaaaaa Las Vegas! There’s a good chance at some point in your life you’ve heard that Elvis Presley song. If not, go to YouTube and look it up. You can thank me later when it’s stuck in your head for the rest of eternity. What does that...