November 19, 2013

by: Renee Canfield

Harry Balch

In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, UCP of Greater Cleveland is spotlighting Harry Balch, a Community Employment Program client who is employed at Fifth Third Bank. For more information on the Community Employment Program, please contact Sharon Meixner, Program Manager, at 216-791-8363 ext. 1261 or smeixner@ucpcleveland.org.

Harry Balch came to UCP in August of 2010 with a limited vocational background. He had worked at a few call centers and volunteer positions since graduating from high school and had exited high school after graduation with a lot of hope, but was also dealing with several health problems that hindered his ability to be successful on the job.

Through the Community Employment Program at UCP of Greater Cleveland, Harry completed a work adjustment period that allowed him to try a variety of different types of work at UCP Community Employment partner Fifth Third Bank. This included tasks such as answering the phones in the main reception area, filing, processing mail and data entry. Harry showed an immediate desire to complete any task he was given, and demonstrated that he was a determined, intense and hard working young man. When asked why he wanted to work, Harry casually replied, “So I can help my Dad with the rent and other bills.”

After working diligently with UCP staff on improving his confidence and polishing his skills, Harry was placed in a position at the main reception area answering phones and directing guests. Harry’s work performance has been highly praised by the Fifth Third Bank staff and he has fit in with their office culture nicely, often joining co-workers for lunch. He has also received unsolicited praise from bank customers for his professional approach to his duties.

Harry regularly travels around the city and knows all of the transit routes he needs to get to work, volunteer opportunities and personal errands. He has a keen interest in railroad, aircraft and motor coach vehicles and loves to travel. He travels often with his father to destinations geared to transportation enthusiasts, and within the last year also took his first solo trip to Washington and Baltimore, navigating the airplane trip on his own.

Harry has demonstrated incredible growth, both professionally and personally in the last three years that he has been a part of the UCP of Greater Cleveland family. He is a wonderful example of what can be achieved with determination, hard work and a desire to achieve your personal best.

Harry was awarded the UCP of Greater Cleveland Boots Fisher Client Award this year at the UCP Annual Meeting in May for his successes in the Community Employment Program. (Harry is pictured here with his Fifth Third Bank co-workers and father, while attending UCP of Greater Cleveland’s Annual Meeting in May.)

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