Ann Barone, operations account manager at Opportunity Enterprises, Inc. (OE), found her niche in helping to create versatile opportunities for people with disabilities through the humble art of volunteering.
Barone spent the first chapters of her life exploring her potential across the world. Barone, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, moved several times with her family before obtaining her degree in political science at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1988. Despite a strong drive to pursue sales and retailing, Barone first took a detour to pursue a career in fashion design at the Paris Fashion Institute in Paris, France.
While abroad, Barone realized her talents were better spent in organization and management. Rather than designing the latest fashion, Barone returned to the U.S. to pursue a string of nationwide management opportunities before settling in the Bay Area in northern California as a retailer and pharmaceutical salesperson. After a decade out west, Barone and her husband relocated to Valparaiso to be closer to both sides of their families.
“I had decided to have a family and be a stay-at-home mom to my two boys when I joined a local philanthropic sorority called Delta Theta Tau,” said Barone. “It was associated with Opportunity Enterprises because they helped plan and organize the Opportunity Enterprises Gala, which is always the biggest fundraiser of the year. I went from volunteering for a few years to becoming the chairperson.”
OE is a non-profit established in 1967 in Valparaiso that focuses on creating inclusive and equitable opportunities for people of all abilities through workforce opportunities and skill set building programs. OE’s Pillars of Potential program is tailored toward assisting adults with various disabilities within safe spaces to learn educational, daily activities to build self-sufficiency.
Barone’s first volunteer experiences with OE started in 2007 with its now-closed division known as All About Kids (AAK), which offered speech, physical, and occupational therapy to infants and toddlers with or without physical or developmental disabilities. Barone served as a volunteer for almost 10 years before being invited to work in OE’s development department.
In 2020, Barone took on her present role as the operations account manager at OE. Her position handles the three social enterprises for OE. The first, SecureShred, aims to ensure confidential document destruction and electronic recycling. The second, Do Goodies, promotes an inclusive workforce through the production and selling of fudge, popcorn, nuts, and gift sets. The third, The Clean Team, specializes in commercial cleaning services, such as trash removal and floor care.
“We have 350 staff and we serve 1,000 people throughout Northwest Indiana each year. 50-60% of our employees have a disability, which is far from the national average. Only 1 in 5 people nationally with an intellectual or developmental disability have a paid job, so when you shop at one of our social enterprises or use our services, you’re supporting our mission to create opportunities for people of all abilities,” said Barone.
Barone has great pride in the community’s support of OE’s mission through fundraising and utilizing the social enterprises. The strong work of the OE workers and supporters led to retailers like Meijer and Von Tobel adding Do Goodies’ products to their shelves.
On October 23, 2023, OE achieved enough support to open its $6.7 million project to serve individuals with disabilities and their caretakers. The Lakeside Respite, located in the new Markiewicz Center, provides attendees temporary relief from everyday stresses. The new facility is even fit with a 400-square-foot wheelchair accessible treehouse overlooking Lake Eliza in Porter County.
“It’s such a wonderful place! It gives the caretakers a break for a few hours to up to two weeks. For young children and adults who have never been physically capable of going in a treehouse, they experience thematic bedrooms, a gorgeous, accessible kitchen and stove top, and even a game room,” Barone said.
The OE Lakeside Respite Center serves Lake County and Porter County from its central location.
Delta Theta Tau will also continue to host the largest fundraiser of the year for OE.
“This year’s gala is at the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City. It’s on Saturday, May 11. It’s typically our most attended event. There are over 600 people. Guests and industry leaders attend for a gourmet dinner, music, and a live and silent auction. It allows us to introduce our programs and services to the community and show our generosity,” Barone said.
This year, outside of the gala, Barone is most excited to experience the growth of OE’s social enterprises, especially as OE plans to expand their vision and services to South Bend, Lafayette, and other remote locations.
“I just love being able to introduce these great businesses and products to people, not just locally in Northwest Indiana. I find it so exciting just to talk to people about what we do, and there’s so many people that just don’t know what we do. I just want to keep sharing about our mission,” Barone said.
Outside of her commitment to OE, Barone also spends time as a six-year member of the Kiwanis Club of Valparaiso to help give back to the community through donations and grants. She is also on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Porter County Recycling and Waste Education on behalf of her passion for inciting positive change for the environment.
For more information about Opportunity Enterprises, Inc. visit www.oppent.org.