Current News/Press

--Providing a safe, secure environment and successful skill building are program's focus

When school-age children with special needs arrive at Camp Baker's after school program this September, they can unwind by the sensory garden where the sights and scents of colorful flowers and herbs can be soothing. The garden is just one aspect of after school care provided by at the camp, 22 wooded acres at 7600 Beach Road in Chesterfield that's part of the Greater Richmond ARC (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens.) A similar after school program is also available for students (ages 6 to 22) at ARCenter, 3600 Saunders Avenue, the organization's headquarters in downtown Richmond, where students may unwind by practicing sign language or learning to cook. Read More

The Martin Agency recently coordinated a volunteer project with HandsOn Greater Richmond, a volunteer organization that offers a wide assortment of flexible service opportunities for individuals, families, community and corporate groups. Together, they identified a number of not-for-profit agencies in the Greater Richmond area and asked HandsOn to gather information on possible candidates. The Greater Richmond ARC submitted a proposal to HandsOn and was thrilled to receive notice that ARC was among local agencies selected. After visiting the Westwood Avenue facility on Richmond's north side, the decision made by the organizers to work on brightening the common areas, creating for our Westwood consumers a fresh new look: an aquatic themed-mural painted on many of the interior walls. The project took place on July 24, 2010, and brought together a group of very artistic and energetic volunteers from ARC, Martin and HandsOn.

Yvonne Verno, ARC Development Specialist who helped coordinate the effort, said afterwards, "Just look at the faces of the consumers who sit in that room everyday; it really brightens their day!"

19 volunteers, including the team leader Vanessa Diamond from Martin, Patty Hymans from HandsOn, Yvonne Verno and two staff members from ARC participated in the beautification project. For more information on HandsOn Greater Richmond, please visit www.handsongr.org

Military experience and strong business background a plus

Matthew P. O’Connell has been named senior director of federal contracts at The Greater Richmond ARC. In his new role, O’Connell’s responsibilities will include overseeing ARC’s fulfillment of government contracts at federal installations, including staffing, budgeting, quality assurance and customer support.
He was previously a vice president in marketing, sales and customer service at MXL Industries in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

O’Connell has served in the U.S. Navy on active duty and in the reserve, with several assignments in logistics and contracting commands. He retired as a Captain.

“Matt’s unique combination of a military background and a strong business sense make him ideal for this position,” said The Greater Richmond ARC Executive Vice President Demis Stewart. “And as an avid baseball fan, he fully understands the concept of stepping up to the plate.”

O’Connell has a Bachelor of Science in Analytical Management from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

When school ends in June, summer fun begins. But finding a day program for school-age children with special needs can require research on the part of parents. The Greater Richmond ARC (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens), provides summer day programs for children ages 5 to 22 who are currently enrolled in school at two locations: Camp Baker, a 22-acre wooded retreat at 7600 Beach Road in Chesterfield County, and at the brand new, centrally located ARCenter at 3600 Saunders Avenue on Richmond's north side.

The Greater Richmond ARC's summer day programs for children are held from June 21 to September 3, 2010 from 8:30 am until 6:00 pm and accept Medicaid MR community-based waivers. Both ARCenter and Camp Baker provide structured and staff-intensive programming Monday through Friday with a wide range of age and skill-appropriate activities.

(Photo: Leander Spencer at Camp Baker in Chesterfield County)
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ARC program participants, staff, families and caregivers head to The Diamond; for some it's a first.

The Greater Richmond ARC really got into the swing of things on June 19, 2010, when a group of program participants, families and caregivers headed to The Diamond to see the Flying Squirrels, Richmond's minor league baseball team and an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club, take on the Altoona Curve.

Photo: ARC Employees P.T. Tomlinson and Quintin Mitchell pose with Nutzy, the Flying Squirrel mascot, before the game.
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The Greater Richmond ARC’s Industrial Services division was recently tapped for a project by Hohner, Inc.

Hohner, is a worldwide manufacturer and supplier of musical instruments such as harmonicas and accordions, has selected ARC Industrial Services, a division of The Greater Richmond ARC to package musical instruments such as jingle bells and rhythm sticks for retailers.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to serve Hohner while providing training and work for individuals with developmental disabilities,” said Mike Foley, director of business development at ARC.

For the 10th consecutive year, the ARC Ladybug Fund, in partnership with featured wineries, select restaurants and community sponsors, raised funds to help young children with developmental disabilities and delays to achieve to their fullest potential.

A Ladybug winetasting and silent auction held at Plant Zero in Manchester on Saturday, May 1, 2010, and a wine dinner held at the new ARCenter at 3600 Saunders Avenue on Sunday, May 23, 2010, netted more than $88,000 for the Fund. Read More

Chesterfield -- Clarence "Lee" Price was honored Monday, May 10, 2010, at Camp Baker, a facility owned and operated by the Greater Richmond ARC (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens) in partnership with Chesterfield County. Price, camp director from 1979 to 1993, led the expansion of Camp Baker's programming from a June-through-August residential summer camp to a full-service, year-round facility. He now is director of developmental services with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

(Photo: Lee Price and his daughter outside the newly-dedicated Price House at Camp Baker)

The barrier-free building was designed and constructed to provide ARC's most fragile clients and their families care, skills and therapy in a healthful environment.

The ARCenter, the Greater Richmond ARC’s new headquarters, is now open for business. It is also open for therapy, wellness activities, library & computer time, daily living skills training in areas such as meal preparation and clean-up in a handicap-equipped kitchen.

“Our new headquarters gives us room to grow, and for our clients to grow with us,” said The Greater Richmond ARC’s President Marshall Butler, noting the 24,000-square foot, barrier-free building at 3600 Saunders Avenue can increase the organization's capacity by 20%, while providing important resources such as computer and video modules, a library, and kitchen and laundry facilities.
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Comcast recently partnered with Greater Richmond ARC for Comcast’s annual nationwide day of service.

Comcast employees and their families and friends, in partnership with the Greater Richmond ARC, volunteered their time to help beautify the ARC’s Camp Baker location as part of Comcast’s ninth annual “Comcast Cares Day” on Saturday, April 24, 2010. Volunteers cleared a wheelchair- and bike-accessible nature trail, built a fire pit, stained handicap ramps and playground equipment, built a storage and equipment shed, landscaped flower beds and and spruced up the area in and around Camp Baker for this year's Summer Camp. In addition, Comcast bought several new bikes in various sizes for ARC campers.

In 2010, approximately 55,000 volunteers will participate in an expected 550 projects nationwide for Comcast Cares Day, making it one of the largest single-day corporate volunteer efforts in the country.

Don Stevens, a longtime Greater Richmond ARC board member and owner of Stevens Jewelers in Richmond's West End, was honored with the 2010 Community Service Award sponsored by Commonwealth Catholic Charities.

A record crowd gathered for the 14th Annual Community Service Awards at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on the evening of Thursday, April 22, 2010. Guests enjoyed the gardens in full bloom,great food, drinks, and an awards presentation honoring CCC’s four very special winners below:

• Stevens Jewelers- Community Service Award Winner
• Deborah J. Johnston- Community Service Award Winner
• Joan Wallace, Samuel H. Dibert - CCC Volunteer of the Year Award
• St. Bridget Catholic Church - Parish Recognition Award (new award)

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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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