Since 1972, Strawberry Fields has helped better the lives of individuals who have “developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and mental illness.”
The organization assists each individual “to grow, make choices, and be a valued and contributing member of our community.”
On Jan. 23, the State Theatre hosts “Strawberry Fields Forever” — an evening of Beatles music performed by local artists. The concert event benefits the theater and also Strawberry Fields.
Strawberry Fields CEO Cindy Pasquinelli sat down with Town&Gown to discuss her involvement with the organization and the benefit concert.
T&G: How did you get involved with Strawberry Fields?
Pasquinelli: I started at Strawberry Fields as the director of mental-health services 20-some years ago and became the CEO after I had done that job for a few years.
T&G: Can you talk about the work Strawberry Fields does?
Pasquinelli: Strawberry Fields is a local private nonprofit, and we provide three types of services. The first is early-intervention services for babies birth to 3 that have a delay or disability. A trained therapist goes out and works with the family in the home in that program — that would be speech therapists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. We are on track to serve over 200 children in this service [in 2015]. The second type of service that we provide is mental healthy services, and we provide case management for children and adults that have mental-health concerns. We also operate three residential programs for adults with mental illness. The third service we provide are residential services for adults with intellectual disabilities. We operate 13 homes in the State College area.
T&G: What has been your greatest accomplishment with this organization?
Pasquinelli: The growth. Being able to develop and implement services for people that have needs. Many people have these needs if you consider that one in four people are affected by a mental-health problem themselves or have a family member that is affected. We have all been touched by this.
T&G: Can you talk about the benefit concert?
Pasquinelli: We are so excited about the benefit concert in conjunction with the State Theatre. This is the second year we have partnered with them to do this benefit. This year, it is called “Strawberry Fields Forever” because all the bands are going to be singing songs from the Beatles. It is going to be fabulous! It is all local bands that come in and do songs all night long.
T&G: What do the proceeds go toward?
Pasquinelli: We raised money last year that supported a store that some volunteers recently opened for us called Scraps and Skeins. It is a reuse recycle store for everything fabric and sewing, and these volunteers started this store as a fundraiser. What evolved from it is our mental-health consumers volunteer there and learn job skills. It’s sort of a hidden benefit and it has really been great. Some of the proceeds from the event last year supported the start-up costs of that store.
