Best
Buddies Jobs congratulates Colleen Moriarty for 15 years of employment at
United Talent Agency
One
person can make a difference. Just ask Best Buddies Jobs participant Colleen
Moriarty.
Colleen
has the distinction of being the first participant in the Best Buddies Jobs
program in Los Angeles. Colleen was hired in 1997 by United Talent Agency (UTA)
in Beverly Hills to work in their mailroom. In April 2012 Colleen celebrated
her 15th anniversary at UTA. Colleen’s early success set a great example which
helped the Best Buddies Jobs program secure additional employer partnerships,
thereby enabling dozens of people with disabilities to work effectively in the
community.
“It
feels wonderful. It feels great,” Colleen explains. “It feels like I have
somewhere to go when I get up in the morning. I love it!”
Colleen
works full time in the mailroom at UTA, and has cultivated long lasting
friendships with many co-workers and executives on staff.
“I want
to thank Michael Conway for helping me to get this job, and for supporting me.
He is a wonderful person inside and out, and whatever he does means a lot to
us. I also want to thank my boss Carlos. You are such a great boss. You are one
of a kind.”
Not only
is she a hard worker, but Colleen has also become an incredible fundraiser for
Best Buddies Jobs.
“When
Colleen got started collecting donations for the 2012 Best Buddies California
Friendship Walk, she would call me on my cell and say “Oh my gosh, Rachel, you
won’t believe it. I’ve already filled one whole page!” Best Buddies Jobs
Supervisor Rachel Spooner recalls. “I could tell that she wouldn’t stop there.
She was determined to keep going. You have to respect someone with that kind of
drive. ”
Team
Colleen, supported by dozens of her co-workers, executives, and even the UTA
Foundation, led the agency to win the Top Corporate Fundraiser Award with
donations exceeding $5,000 dollars. Colleen accepted the award on behalf of
UTA.
“I knew
that they would be behind me. It makes me feel wonderful. It makes me feel like
they really love me here.”
During
her speech Colleen also thanked her sister, Frances Kirkland, for all of her
help and support throughout the years. Frances has been an active Best Buddies
California Board member, and credits UTA for embracing social inclusion 15
years ago when they hired her sister.
“Colleen was used to going to work every day before
moving to California. Due to the death of our parents, her whole life
changed. She gave up her job at City Hall in Stamford, Connecticut (which
she had for 9 years) and moved across the country. So, getting the job
grounded her in Los Angeles and gave her a purpose and a new focus, “ says
Frances. “UTA are the torch bearers of the Best Buddies Jobs Program in
Los Angeles. When Michael Conway said "Yes" to hiring Colleen,
without knowing it, he and UTA set in motion the embrace of the program by the
entertainment community. And, for that, BBCA will always be forever
grateful!”
Although
April has been a huge month for Colleen, she is not done celebrating major
milestones this year. In May Colleen will turn 50. She plans on having a
birthday party with friends and family, and is happy with where she is in her
life.
“I have
great friends. A wonderful family. I have a great sister (Frances) who’s
supported me and helped me. Thank you, Frances, for sticking by me. You’ve done
everything that you can for me.”
