Current News/Press

The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) sponsors a "Get Organized Month" ("GO Month") each year. Now in its fifth year, GO Month is dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of getting organized and by a NAPO professional organizer. During GO Month -- usually held in January -- NAPO’s dozens of chapters and thousands of members will hold public events throughout the country to help folks get organized.

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The Greater Richmond ARC announced that its ARC Industrial Services (AIS) division has been retained by Delta Airport Consultants for a scanning project that involves capturing and preserving files electronically and destroying paper files. Delta Airport Consultants, a Richmond-based regional engineering firm, has offices througout the southeastern United States.

"We are very pleased to be working with Delta Airport Consultants," said Mile Foley, AIS Director of New Business Development. "This contract is the result of a recent contract we secured from the VCU Honors College." Read More

With construction moving along at a steady clip, the new Greater Richmond ARCenter is set to open in just a few short months. Our families, supporters and staff members are excited to see the new facility, located at 3600 Saunders Avenue on Richmond's north side, open to serve more than 1,400 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Read More

(From the Richmond Times-Dispatch Metro Business section, published Monday, December 14, 2009)

By Louis Llovio

Before you toss the wrapping paper this year, you might want to take a look to see if it was made and packaged in Richmond.
Ink & Paper, a division of the design firm Punch, is designing a line of gift wrap that sold at more than 175 stores across the country, including five in the area.
Its line of wrapping paper, though, also helps out a good cause.
The rolls are assembled at Greater Richmond ARC, the non-profit operation that helps developmentally disabled adults find work and learn vocational skills.

Photo: Raymond Ricks and Scotty Englehart (background) roll holiday wrapping paper for ink & Paper through a partnership with Greater Richmond ARC. Photo by Eva Russo, Times-Dispatch.

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The Greater Richmond ARC's (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens) Industrial Services division was selected by VCU Honors College to scan and convert paper documents to digital files. Dr. Anne Chandler, Senior Associate Dean of the Honors College, decided to outsource the scanning project to ARC after meeting with ARC staff and learning of its scanning capabilities. Read More

October was National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Rehabilitative Services & Vocational Placement, Inc. (RSVP) took part by recognizing employers throughout the state who have partnered with RSVP to fulfill their mission of helping our consumers realize their employment potential, increase their independence, and enhance the quality of their lives.

In 2009, RSVP worked with many deserving community employers, but TEN employers demonstrated a true spirit of collaboration and partnership, and in the process, helped our consumers to thrive at work. Read More

Dr. Joe Niamtu, along with his wife, April Niamtu, longtime honorary spokesparents for the Greater Richmond ARC, was named "Correspondent of the Day" on November 12, 2009, by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The editorial page of the RTD published an open letter Dr. Niamtu wrote on those who abouse parking in handicap sparking spaces. Read More

Even in times of economic recession, our ability to pull together and achieve fundraising goals is not diminished. This year's United Way "Live United" campaign challenge was met by 88 ARC employees who donated a total of $5,641 to improve education, income and health in our community.

"That number is up significantly from $3,830, the total amount raised in 2008," said Kim Waston, ARC's Vice President of Development. "We are very proud of our staff for their continued commitment in creating a community of opportunity for all."

The Civitan Chesapeake Foundation and the Greater Richmond Civitan Club recently awarded $30,000 -- $29,000 from the Foundation and $1,000 from the Club -- to ARC Industrial Services for scanning equipment. The Foundation members were very enthusiastic about the use of funds that are in line with the Foundation's mission to train and employ individuals with developmental disabilities.

Photo: Civitan Chesapeake Foundation Board member Whit Mallory watches ARC employee Denise Johnson carefully check documents to be scanned using the new equipment purchased by a grant from Civitan. Read More

Bill Simmons, General Manager for the Haley Auto Group of Richmond, toured ARC Industrial Services (AIS) on Wednesday, November 4th. Michael Foley, Business Development Director for the Greater Richmond ARC, hosted the tour and showed Mr. Simmons various aspects of the facility and the work performed by AIS clients.

"It was great to be able to see and learn about the fantastic work that you and your staff are providing the community," said Simmons at the conclusion of the tour. He then presented a donation of $2,500 to the ARC on behalf Haley.

The Association of Fund Raising Professionals recently asked five area not-for-profits to design original centerpieces for their annual National Philanthropy Day.

The Greater Richmond ARC was among those chosen.

ARC and Art on Wheels teamed up to design ten lanterns as centerpieces for ten tables at the event. The other agencies involved were Art 180, The Visual Arts Center, St. Gertrude’s High School and the Neighborhood Resource Center.
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Richmond not-for-profit partners with long-time community supporter

The Greater Richmond ARC, which has been serving individuals with disabilities and their families for 55 years, recently partnered with BB&T in its philanthropic and team-building effort called the “BB&T Lighthouse Project.” Area BB&T employees hosted a Buz & Ned’s barbecue luncheon for approximately 260 ARC Day Support and ARC Industrial Services clients on Wednesday, September 16 at ARC’s Westwood Avenue headquarters in north Richmond.

Each region in the BB&T footprint was given a budget to ensure their project has a meaningful impact on the community. Teams within the Central Virginia region voted on the project they wished to support, and they chose the Greater Richmond ARC (formerly known as the Association for Retarded Citizens) because of its community-focused services. After a series of discussions between BB&T and ARC staff, it was determined that a client and staff picnic would be most beneficial, and a lot of fun for everyone involved. Read More

By Marshall W. Butler, Jr., Times-Dispatch Guest Columnist

Even in the toughest of economic times, we need to remember those with special needs. Our organization, the Greater Richmond ARC (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens), annually serves more than 1,400 area indi viduals with developmental disabilities and their families. Yet there are almost 2,000 Richmonders with similar disabilities whose needs remain unmet.

With this in mind, we are opening the Greater Richmond ARCenter next spring at 3600 Saunders Ave. on Richmond's Northside. Our new facility will increase our capacity to serve by 20 percent, allowing us to provide therapeutic care and other critical services to more individuals with developmental disabilities who need it most.

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By Wesley P. Hester Times-Dispatch Staff Writer
Published: August 13, 2009

Reluctantly at first, Krystal Alexander rode a horse for the first time this week at Camp Baker.

"I was so scared, I couldn't put my leg over the horse," said Alexander, 18, of Richmond, who has cerebral palsy.

"But you did it, didn't you?" added counselor Erin Mulry, who came from Wales this summer for the opportunity to work at the camp for children and teenagers with disabilities.

"Yeah, and I wasn't really scared, either," said Alexander, changing her tune slightly as she recalled her ride atop Joey, the veteran Camp Baker horse from a neighboring farm.

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By Louis Llovio, Times-Dispatch Staff writer

A nondescript warehouse in North Richmond could house temporarily some of the city's most sensitive corporate documents.

No, the warehouse is not a super-secret facility keeping corporate secrets. It's the home of the Greater Richmond ARC.

The nonprofit group, which provides employment and care for individuals with developmental disabilities, is trying a new venture -- a scanning service.

A team of four employees at the warehouse on Westwood Avenue takes companies' paper records and digitizes them. There, files are separated, staples are removed, and individual items are catalogued.

The papers then are scanned and downloaded onto a disc or a removable hard drive. Quality-control checks are conducted throughout the process to make sure the images are clear and readable and that nothing was missed.

Once a company has reviewed the documents and approved the work, ARC destroys the papers. Read More

The Greater Richmond ARC recently received CARF(Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities www.carf.org ) certification in five categories of employment services through 2012:

-Employment Services: Community Employment Services: Job Development
-Employment Services: Community Employment Services: Job Supports
-Employment Services: Community Employment Services: Job-Site Training
-Employment Services: Employee Development Services
-Employment Services: Organizational Employment Services Read More

The Greater Richmond ARC (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens) held its annual fundraising dinner and wine tasting events this Spring to benefit its Ladybug Fund, which supports therapy services for familie who can not afford them otherwise through its Infant and Child Development Services (ICDS) program.

More than 500 people attended the two Spring events, raising a record $133,000 to benefit the ARC. Among the more notable donations was a handmade, platinum diamond band from Stevens Jewelers that netted $4,500 in a raffle.

(PHOTO)Event sponsors Rob and Elizabeth Hazelton enjoy the ARC evening with Ladybug Fund co-founder and Board Chair Thom Horsey (middle.) Read More

Demolition of the former Carrier warehouse at 3600 Saunders Avenue in north Richmond is underway to make way for the new ARCenter.

To serve more people and serve them in the community settings that are best for them, ARC has purchased four acres of land at 3600 Saunders Avenue, close to Interstates 64 and 95, Powhite Parkway, and Laburnum Avenue. The Greater Richmond ARCenter will have 24,000 square feet of open, flexible spaces that can change as the needs of our families change. Read More

Ladybug '09 Sponsored by BB&T & Virginia Oral & Facial Surgery

For the ninth year, the Greater Richmond ARC, in partnership with Featured Wineries, Select Restaurants and Community Sponsors, is raising funds to help young children with developmental disabilities and delays to achieve to their fullest potential. Together, we can ensure that Ladybug Fund scholarships are available for ANY family who needs ARC's Infant and Child Development Services (ICDS). No family should be turned away from specialized pediatric rehabilitation when it can give them the best possible start to leading a fulfilling life.
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The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) recently awarded their top prize, the "Award of Excellence," in their annual "Best in Virginia" marketing competition to Rodney Shelton, Michael Foley, Douglas Payne and Tracy Tierney for their work in promoting the Greater Richmond ARC's workforce, ARC Industrial Services. By designing, developing and implementing a highly-effective marketing and earned media placement strategy throughout 2008, the team was able to effectively promote a program that employs over 200 people in central Virginia with a variety of developmental disabilities. Judges from IABC chapters across the U.S. awarded 68 out of a possible 70 points to the team for "marketing communications excellence."

Photo: Doug Payne and Rodney Shelton accept "Best in Virginia - Award of Excellence" on behalf of the Greater Richmond ARC.