Deb Rogan, the founder of Coffee for Good, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities by providing paid job training, has been honored with The Emmy Award by Hortulus of Greenwich.
The creation of The Emmy Award was inspired by the memory of longtime Hortulus member Emmy Ogden’s devotion to mentoring young people in horticulture and floral design. The annual honor is presented to members of the Greenwich community who demonstrate outstanding mentorship by inspiring love for nature, fostering creativity, displaying generosity of spirit and making a profound and positive impact.
Rogan, the 2024 recipient of The Emmy award, was looking for something “exciting and rewarding to do” when she became an empty nester. Witnessing her nephew deal with his own developmental disabilities inspired Rogan to create an opportunity for young people in similar circumstances to receive training and employment opportunities. Trainees at Coffee for Good are paid for kitchen and counter work. “We provide six to eighteen months of training and have placed twenty-seven young people in jobs to date,” Rogan said.
Rogan’s dedication has transformed lives, including that of Richard, a young man who found meaningful employment after a fifteen-year search. After his training at Coffee for Good, he was hired by a prominent local caterer who nicknamed him “the machine” because he is such a dependable, hard, and charming worker. Danny, another trainee, had watched his siblings embark on careers while he struggled to find even part-time work. Upon being hired by the Bruce Museum, Danny proudly told his mother, “Mom, I’m going to have a career.”
Rogan explained that work is very important to the developmentally challenged. “They are very loyal employees who love to work and find meaning in their jobs.” She said the goal is to place trainees “in part-time work at minimum, but we really focus on creating careers.” Finding support for the non-profit has been easy, Rogan said. “From the get-go people have been very helpful.” She added that volunteering for Coffee for Good is very rewarding. “We leave work with smiles on our faces.”
Past recipients of the Hortulus Emmy Award are Greenwich High School Science Teacher Bob Conlan, Greenwich Academy Preschool teacher Audrey Esmond, and Greenwich Country Day School Math teacher Jen Donnalley.
For more information, please visit https://www.hortulus.org/
