A Legacy of
LEADERSHIP
2017 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL TRIBUTE EDITION
The Arc Westchester
BY LOCATION
BY THE NUMBERS 2,000
68 locations across Westchester....
People with developmental disabilities supported every day
North Salem
850 Employees
44
Somers Peekskill Cortlandt Buchanan
Yorktown
Lewisboro
Residences are home to more than 240 people
600+
Bedford
Ossining North Castle
11,000
80% Of The Children’s School for Early Development graduates attend schools in their community (compared to 16% nationwide)
58,000+
Volunteer hours contributed to the community by our program participants, annually 2
Pleasantville
Briarcliff Manor
Headquarters, The Gleeson-Israel Gateway Center
Hawthorne
Visits conducted annually by The Wellness Center
Pre-school classrooms
Mount Kisco New Castle
Adults working, interning or volunteering in the community
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Pound Ridge
Croton on Hudson
Sleepy Hollow
Day Services Residences Children’s School Sites
Greenburgh
Tarrytown Elmsford
Rye Brook Harrison
Irvington Ardsley
White Plains Scarsdale
Dobbs Ferry Hastings on Hudson
Port Chester Rye
Eastchester
Tuckahoe Yonkers
New Rochelle Mount Vernon
Mamaroneck
Bronxville
Larchmont Pelham
2017 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL TRIBUTE EDITION
Cover story: When Ric Swierat walked through the doors of The Arc Westchester in 1983, he brought with him a vision for inclusionary living and learning for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). He has since helped individuals and families in our programs thrive by developing a continuum of services that span from birth throughout the course of their lives. In honor of his retirement, we celebrate Ric’s legacy of leadership and the 35 years he has given to The Arc Westchester.
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Q&A
with
RIC SWIERAT
For 35 years, Ric Swierat has provided forward-thinking and steadfast leadership to The Arc Westchester. Under his guidance, the organization has diversified its programs and amplified its reach in the community. Ric has been a tireless champion and advocate for people impacted by I/DD, creating opportunities for them to live rich and meaningful lives as active members of their communities. Ric shared reflections on his career, how the organization has evolved since his first days in the role, and his legacy of leadership. During your tenure, the ways in which individuals with I/DD engage with the community have changed significantly. What has been the impact of that evolution? In the early days, it was like playing God. There were thousands of people living in institutions, and we would have to go in and select a few individuals to come out and live in the community. Back then, there were no choices. Today, people have choices. They have choices about where they live, what they do, and how they can contribute to the community. Under your leadership, The Arc Westchester has launched several new programs and services to help individuals with I/DD achieve their full potential. What stands out to you most? While we offer the same service components – early education, day services, employment, residential – the range of choices we provide has grown significantly. We have more housing options available, including living in a more traditional family-like setting, and our day programs are not contained to workshops and classrooms, but are out in the community. We are also offering a broader array of employment options, which defies the thoughts many have on what our people CAN do. These changes also encourage our staff to get to know, and be engaged with, our people on a more personal level. What was the most pivotal moment for The Arc Westchester under your leadership? In the late eighties, one of our staff studied with Dr. Beth Mount at 4
Columbia University, who is considered to be the originator of person-centered planning. When Dr. Mount came on board, she taught us how an organization’s staff and natural supports (family, friends, etc.) can come together to develop a plan that will meet an individual’s needs and desires. We learned to focus more on the process and became better stewards of bringing someone’s life into the community. This required creating a headquarters that better reflected our new community vision. So, we opened The GleesonIsrael Gateway Center to bring the vision to life. All of these things created new opportunities and more choices for those we support. How have you been impacted by the thousands of individuals this organization supports? One of the lessons I learned early in my career is to expect the unexpected – to be prepared to be inspired by someone you least think is capable of inspiring. Being part of this organization has taught me to be more attentive, to listen and to watch more. At the beginning of my career, I was a special education teacher working under a very traditional principal, who believed that observing a student was not teaching them. On the contrary, I believe that examining how someone processes, learns and engages allows us to identify opportunities to better meet their needs. What will you miss the most after you retire? I am going to miss working with the people we support and hearing about their dreams. I love witnessing them shatter expectations and do things others think they are not capable of. What is your hope for the future of The Arc Westchester and those it supports? I hope that people continue to listen and collaborate to build diverse and innovative ideas to support our mission. I hope that we continue to advocate to change perceptions in our world, to inspire the belief that we all benefit when the talents and contributions of those around us are available to our communities.
A Message from Our PRESIDENT...
It has been my great honor and privilege to work besides Ric and witness firsthand how he led The Arc Westchester. He has led us through an evolution in the way that individuals with I/DD engage and interact with their communities. He has been a respected leader, trusted partner and tireless advocate. As Ric prepares for retirement, I am pleased to welcome the next generation of leadership to The Arc Westchester. For the past 13 years, Tibisay (Tibi) Guzmán has played an integral role in From Left: Rosa Rodriguez; cultivating relationships with new community partners. She was responsible Tibisay Guzmán; and Ric Swierat for managing the finances of this growing, dynamic organization. In her role as Associate Executive Director and COO, Tibi has direct knowledge of the impact our work can have on the lives of those we support, including her son, Daniel, who works at Regeneron. Tibi’s personal and professional passion are tremendous assets to The Arc Westchester. We are excited to welcome her to her new role as Executive Director & CEO and look forward to her vision and leadership.
Rosa Rodriguez, President, The Arc Westchester
and Our PRESIDENT-ELECT It is with great humility and excitement that I write to you as your next Board President. My predecessors have done an extraordinary job over many years, working tirelessly to help make The Arc Westchester a dynamic and inspirational place. During my many years on the Board, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Ric Swierat, and have learned so much from him. I cannot find the words to adequately express what Ric has done for The Arc Westchester over the last 35 years. He has been an inspiration for a great many in the organization. Although he will be missed immensely, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work together with our new Executive Director Tibi Guzmán. Tibi is a seasoned veteran and extremely well suited to lead the organization in the years ahead. Together, and with your support, we will do all in our power to ensure that the future of this vibrant, innovative and exceptional organization remains bright for those whom we support. With Peace, Love, and Joy,
Joe Cassarini,
President-Elect, The Arc Westchester 5
A Legacy of...
RELATIONSHIPS
I joined The Arc Westchester Board after co-founding the Parent Assistance Committee on Down Syndrome (PACDS) when my son, Mitchell, was just a year old. During my 25 years on the Chapter’s Board and 15 years on The Arc New York’s Board, I had the opportunity to work very closely with Ric. As a parent and special educator, I shared in Ric’s forward-thinking vision with respect to inclusion in schools and the community. When I began chairing the Family Support Committee in 1987, the initiative was new to the state and nation. Together, we worked on transition planning, ultimately co-founding the Westchester Putnam Transition Consortium, which brought together parents, self-advocates, schools, community providers, vocational rehab centers, and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to promote a person-centered approach to transition planning. From there, our work grew to include a statewide taskforce on transition planning, which focused on finding ways to develop post-secondary programs for students with I/DD. We hear a lot about systems change, and the work that Ric and The Arc Westchester did really put that idea into action – that is a sign of good leadership. Much of today’s changes in the system are a result of the early work of Ric and his leadership.
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Barbara Levitz and Ric Swierat
Ric has always been open to ideas and partnership, which not only makes him a great collaborator and colleague, but also opens doors for people with I/DD and their families.”
Barbara Levitz
Parent and Special Educator
When my son Jason was born 43 years ago, families were often encouraged to send children with special needs to an institution – that was not an option for us. So we enrolled Jason in Early Intervention when he was just 10 days old. He started at The Children’s School for Early Development when he was two years old. Thus began our now 41 years of a close, happy and successful relationship with The Arc Westchester. Through the years, my late husband, Charles, worked closely with Ric, including nine years as Board President. He was Ric’s biggest fan and thought Ric had tremendous potential from the day he started. I remember so many wonderful times, including the groundbreaking of The Gleeson-Israel Gateway Center, Golfing for Kids, and Yankee Stadium and the MBIA Golf Tournament fundraisers.
Today, my son lives in a group home supported by The Arc Westchester, holds a job, and talks about carrying on his dad’s legacy with The Arc Westchester (The Charles Kingsley Life Planning Center is named in honor of my late husband). This organization does a beautiful job of staffing and maintaining its group homes, as well as fostering independence for those it serves. I’m so happy to be part of the family.”
Emily Kingsley, Parent
From Left: Jason Kingsley; Ric Swierat; and Fran Porcaro
Working with The Children’s School for Early Development is different from the world of adult programming. When Ric first came to The Arc Westchester, I was delighted that he had a background in special education. Because he was a teacher and had an administration degree, he was very familiar with the NYS Education Department regulations. He brought to the position a tremendous wealth of knowledge and focus on advocacy – not only for the children we support, but also their parents. He was always there for any parent that needed help or guidance. Ric has always been an advocate for inclusion. We started the inclusion program in 1994, when we opened our first collaborative classroom in New Rochelle. Since then, we have been able to expand year after year in many different ways with more collaborative classrooms. I don’t think that would have been possible, especially at that time, without Ric’s forward-thinking approach and his vision.”
Fran Porcaro, Assistant Executive Director of Educational Services
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A Legacy of...
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
IN THE CLASSROOM... While many preschools in our community have closed due to financial hardship, our Board has remained committed to preschool services from the very beginning. The movement towards inclusive classrooms has
allowed children to grow more naturally in their schools and their communities. As a result, children are advancing from our inclusionary preschool classes, to fully inclusive elementary school settings.”
Ric Swierat In response to the needs of our community, the decision was made to expand The Children’s School for Early Development’s specialized programming for preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2017. Based on the success of the model, communitybased sites were explored and we entered into a partnership with the YWCA of White Plains. In September, we opened a specialized classroom within the facility, just in time for the start of the school year. This self-contained classroom supports eight preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and, because of its location, allows them to interact with typically developing children. This partnership has proven to be successful, and we look forward to expanding its reach in the future. The Children’s School now offers 24 preschool classroom settings throughout the County.
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IN THE WORKPLACE...
At The Arc Westchester, we
believe people with developmental disabilities should be respected as citizens in our community, and should have access to employment opportunities. As an employer, when you hire a new employee, you are providing that person with the opportunity to have a meaningful life where they can build friendships and relationships – a life full of options and opportunity. To all businesses, there is an opportunity waiting for you at The Arc Westchester.”
Ric Swierat
At our Employer Recognition Breakfast on April 26, 2017, we celebrated our 250 employment partners throughout Westchester County who hire individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. We also recognized our 300+ individuals who are working and making an impact on businesses throughout the community. Keynote speaker Laurence P. Gottlieb, president/CEO of Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation, said, “We’re all here this morning celebrating at the best business breakfast in Westchester. Why? Because this is an organization that always turns away from wasteful acrimony and turns towards sustainable solutions.” Gottlieb is a long-time friend and advocate for The Arc Westchester, encouraging businesses to hire people with developmental disabilities and welcome them into workforce.
Award Winners The Anthony Cannata Memorial Employee Awards: Brian Mehra and Kenneth Silbert
Brian Mehra (left) with his job coach, Matt Carroll. Kenneth Silbert (center) with his co-workers.
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A Legacy of... INNOVATION TECH TIP! Technology is changing the way we live our lives, and it can have a positive impact on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There are plenty of resources available, including information on The Arc Westchester’s website, on how everyday technology can benefit people of all ages with cognitive disabilities, such as autism.”
Jordan Jankus
Coordinator of Person-Centered & Cognitive Supports
Technology has allowed people with developmental disabilities to become more independent in their daily lives. It’s allowing them to
engage in ways they weren’t able to before and to express themselves.” Ric Swierat
Second Annual Technology Conference The second annual Tech Supports for Cognition & Learning Conference took place at the Mercy College campus in Dobbs Ferry on May 19, 2017. The Arc Westchester and Mercy College expanded their partnership this year, adding AHRC New York City and the Westchester Library System as event co-hosts.
Jordan sharing tech tips with Max
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The conference brought together experts in the fields of technology, education and learning, clinical supports, and direct service supports to explore the use of technology to maximize independence and overcome cognitive limitations for people with disabilities. The outpouring of community interest was evident with the large crowd of professionals, students and families.
&
EXCELLENCE In 2017, The Arc Westchester
Keeping Westchester Green
received reaccreditation of the official Seal of Excellence and designation from the Standards for Excellence Institute®. The Chapter underwent a rigorous evaluation process in six areas of governance and management, with 72 implementation goals. The Arc Westchester initially received the three-year accreditation in 2013, when our organization became the first in New York State to hold this designation.
The Arc Westchester is a Certified Green Business in Westchester County, and continually looks for new ways to save energy and protect our planet. From selecting energy-efficient lighting to using double-paned/tinted windows in our headquarters, we do all that we can to create a sustainable work environment for our employees and those we support. The Chapter maintains a greenhouse and garden on-site for growing seasonal vegetables, reduces paper through ongoing use of electronic communications, operates a fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles, and encourages carpooling for staff.
The Arc Westchester’s application
was among the strongest that I have ever reviewed. I can’t
remember a time when an organization was issued such a variety and large number of commendations.”
Amy Coates Madsen
Director of the Standards for Excellence Institute®
The Gold Standard The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) is a leader in working with human service organizations and systems to continuously define, measure and improve quality of life and quality of services. Our 4-year accreditation (through 2020) speaks to our commitment to the quality of life of the individuals that we support.
From Left: Rob Caluori, Westchester Library System; Jordan Jankus; Joanne Deyo (ret.) Vice President Facilities, Regeneron “a 2017 Technology Conference sponsor”; Ric Swierat; Joan Toglia, Mercy College; and Phil Proctor, ARHC NYC.
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A Legacy of...
TALENT
Arcwestchester
offers artists with disabilities opportunities to communicate through art. The participants achieve increases in independence, social skills, focus and self-confidence. Through the exhibition of its artwork, gallery265 showcases our artists’ talent in communities throughout Westchester County, educating and changing perceptions along the way.
Horace Mann School
gallery265 Exhibitions, 2017: Barger & Gaines, Tarrytown Beacon Health Options, NYC Chappaqua Library, Chappaqua First Village Coffee Shop, Ossining Horace Mann School, Riverdale HSBC Banks throughout Westchester
Tarrytown Music Hall
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Sam’s of Gedney Way, White Plains Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown US Alliance Financial, Port Chester Westchester Community Foundation, Hartsdale Yonkers Brewery, Yonkers
First Village Coffee Shop
Art is a metaphor for exposing the talent, choices and skills of those we support. Before
gallery265, people who saw themselves as artists didn’t have anywhere to create or exhibit art. Our gallery shows that we do not label people for their limitations, but rather honor them for talents they have.”
In 2008, as The Arc Westchester was planning its new headquarters in The Gleeson-Israel Gateway Center, I was invited by Ric Swierat to head up an advisory committee for an art program. Ric always had a strong interest in art and a vision to feature art throughout the space. Over the years, gallery265 has grown from a mostly internal program to one that is fully integrating the work of talented artists into the community. Out of the safe and encouraging atmosphere of The Arc Westchester, particularly through the gallery265 program, our artists come to realize, ‘I am someone
and I belong.’
Ric Swierat
Robert Miss and Ric Swierat
I have Ric to thank for allowing me to help develop gallery265. It has forever changed my perspective and my life. Those among us have something to teach us about being joyful, creative and true to ourselves.” Portrait of Ric by Antoine Hawkins
Robert Miss
Chair of the gallery265 Advisory Committee 13
A Legacy of...
EDUCATING BUSINESSES
Ric was a pioneer in positioning not-for-profits (NFP) as members of the business community. Well over 16 years ago, he began the Not-for-Profit Council at the Business Council of Westchester and has led it all of these years. His work led to the very first study of the economic benefits of NFPs in Westchester. In fact, through his leadership, many other NFP employers became much more active in the business community. Because of Ric’s vision all those years ago, NFPs now stand side by side with other employers and businesses, and it’s well recognized that these organizations are economic engines in Westchester County.”
Dr. Marsha Gordon President and CEO, Business Council of Westchester
I want to say a special thank you to Ric Swierat for his years of work on behalf of Westchester residents with autism, Down syndrome and other disabilities.” Ric Swierat and Marsha Gordon
Former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton
(The Business Council of Westchester Annual Dinner, November 2017)
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A Legacy of...
COLLABORATION
In the early days, Ric was all about change and possibility for the people we support, and that has remained true for 35 years. This idea is mirrored in the way he carries himself and the culture that he has fostered. Ric is a unique person who always looks at things with optimism. He always challenged us to do better -- it’s not only about meeting goals and objectives, but it’s also about seeing the possibilities. Ric is big on collaboration. He would have us go to other agencies to learn from them. We teamed up with these agencies to challenge ourselves to do things differently or better. We didn’t limit ourselves to the biggest agencies. We also partnered with agencies that we thought were the most creative. This collaboration trickled down to the staff, the community, and the Business Council of Westchester. It fostered a sense of teamwork. I think Ric would say that listening and learning from those we support is a gift from them to us.”
Tom Hughes
Former Associate Executive Director, The Arc Westchester Senior Advisor for Quality Outcomes
Ric Swierat and Tom Hughes
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A Legacy of...
ADVOCACY
Ric’s vision is extremely wide and broad. It is not just about running a chapter and providing day in and day out quality services. It is a vision of social movements, legislation, litigation, and industry foresight. From day one, he has always been very supportive and encouraging with regard to law reform and change. In my first year with the chapter, the issue of individuals with I/DD in Westchester and throughout the State living on the streets while on a wait-list for residential placement emerged. I started working with another attorney on major litigation against the State. Under his leadership, Ric and the Board of Directors were very supportive of moving forward with litigation. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that, two months after we made the State aware of the lawsuit, Governor Pataki announced the New York Cares program, intended to place thousands of displaced individuals with developmental disabilities in group homes.
Governor Pataki announces the New York Cares Program
Ric’s always been a very forward-looking, missiondriven individual – even since the 1970s and 1980s with the closing of the institutions, the creation of community-based services, the movement away from the workshops, the pushing of legislation and litigation... His mission-driven emphasis, beyond merely running a business, has made a transformation and inspirational impact.”
Lawrence Faulkner, Esq. Director of Corporate Compliance and General Counsel, The Arc Westchester 16
Ric Swierat and Lawrence Faulkner took part in The Arc New York’s 65th Anniversary bike trek along the Erie Canal in 2014
A Legacy of...
FAMILY
Anne Nehrbauer
I’ve served on a number of chapter committees over the years, including the search committee that hired Ric. He has always cared so much for the individuals and families. He made himself available and became personally involved with us. Being the Executive Director is a very big responsibility because the well-being of so many people depends on the person in that position. Ric has done a wonderful job advocating for people with I/DD to ensure as good of a quality of life as everyone in this world. I am so grateful for the life that our son, Stephen, has today. He is so well-settled and happy in his group home.”
Ric was one of the first people I met at The Arc Westchester after my son David, who has Down syndrome, was born. He has been standing behind my family for 29 years, and I have always been so impressed by his passion, energy and innovation. Over the years, I worked alongside Ric helping to set up a PTA at The Children’s School for Early Development, as a former Board President, committee member and as a longtime Board Member. Ric has always been an amazing leader and he, and the entire staff, have made the transitions into programs, including employment, and, most recently, a group home so seamless for not only my son, but my entire family. The Arc Westchester is founded by families and powered by families who are advocating for their loved ones. From the day I came to my first support group for parents of children with Down syndrome, my son and I were welcomed into that family.”
Anne Majsak,
Parent and Board Member
Anne Nehrbauer
Parent and former Board Member Ric Swierat and Anne Majsak
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Our
FUTURE IS BRIGHT
In 2017, The Arc Westchester launched THE YOUTH CONNECTION STUDIOS, an innovative program for young people transitioning from high school to adult services. Conveniently located in our Sheib Center in Yonkers and Ann Manzi Center in Mount Kisco, the program offers young adults opportunities to build important skills and experience life through community engagement, including:
Life Skills
Travel training, safety & independence, money management
Career Exploration
Volunteer opportunities, community networking, business tours
Social Skills
Building friendships & learning the skills necessary to interact in the community
Healthy Lifestyles
Food choices, exercise, yoga, arts and music
Technology Building
Using laptops, tablets, smartboards & social media, teaching internet safety
The goal for the program is for participants to gain independence and confidence to move on to employment or fully community-based supports. We’ve seen a great response from those we support and the community at large and have had more than 40 participants since the program launched. 18
We’re seeing demographic changes across the continuum. People with
I/DD are living longer and youth are coming out of school better prepared for work and community life.
We are always looking for new ways to meet these challenges and ensure our staff has the tools they need to make an impact within the changing population of the organization.�
Ric Swierat
Keeping
OUR PROMISE
One in three of our day services participants are over the age of 50. Furthering our mission to support individuals throughout the Arc of a Life, we are embarking on a modification to the Ann Manzi Center that will better support the needs of people as they age. Breaking ground in 2018, THE SENIOR CONNECTION will combine a senior-friendly space with multigenerational programming. Through The Senior Connection, individuals will participate in age-appropriate activities geared towards health and wellness while being social, fun, stimulating and relaxing. Activities may include yoga, chair exercise, dance, music, tai chi, pet therapy, board games, gardening and art. We will collaborate with local senior centers on events, giving our participants the chance to socialize with typical seniors in the community. Further, because of the Youth Connection Studio on site, there will be ample opportunity for intergenerational activities with young adults.
We have raised over
$4.5 MILLION! To help us reach our goal of $6 million, contact Nancy Patota, Executive Director, The Arc Westchester Foundation 914.495.4625 npatota@arcwestchester.org
Renderings
Coming in 2018...The Senior Connection at the Ann Manzi Center 19
A Legacy of...
GENEROSITY the years, our program participants are living fuller lives, strengthening their communities, and making the world a better place. We are grateful to have a wonderful successor to Ric in Tibisay (Tibi) Guzmán. Together, as we embark on the next chapter in The Arc Westchester’s journey, we renew our commitment to the basic tenets of its mission; to build strong well-being, promote human potential and encourage full community participation; and to be better listeners and partners in idea and dream fulfillment for our individuals, families and you – our incredible donors.
Dear loyal friends and family,
The Foundation’s annual success can be measured in a variety of ways: the dollars raised, the number of new members on the donor roll, the effective stewardship of investments, and the careful control of expenses. We are pleased to report that we have successfully met or exceeded our goals for all of these important non-profit metrics, and we are grateful to you, our loyal, generous donors for again making these achievements possible. We are even more delighted to share the enormous impact your donations are making on the lives of the individuals and families we support. As a special tribute to outgoing The Arc Westchester Executive Director Ric Swierat, we have woven into each page of the 2017 Annual Report stories of dreams fulfilled. Over his 35 years leading The Arc Westchester, Ric has taught us to listen, learn and be inspired. We are grateful to Ric for also teaching us that every person has value, and that every person has hopes and dreams - they just need some supports to reach these goals. Thanks to Ric’s inspired leadership and your generous contributions over 20
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your extraordinary generosity and for demonstrating your belief that we all benefit when the talents and contributions of those around us are available to our communities. Your ongoing commitment plays an essential role in making dreams come true! With deepest gratitude,
Nancy Patota Executive Director, The Arc Westchester Foundation
Elaine Masket President, The Arc Westchester Foundation
All of the innovation we are doing in this organization
is because of the freedom the Foundation has given us to do it.”
Ric Swierat
Foundation Funding Highlights An important part of The Arc Westchester Foundation’s mission is to raise funds through financial support from the community and income earned on long-term investments, and then contribute funds, as needed, to The Arc Westchester to ensure a continuum of excellent programs and services for people with developmental disabilities, that are either not funded or underfunded by the government. In 2017, the Foundation contributed nearly $3 million to The Arc Westchester to support several of its most innovative services and to help offset operational costs that would otherwise reduce the funds available for critically important programs. We are proud to report some 2017 Foundation Funding Highlights made possible through the extraordinary generosity of our loyal friends and family members.
In 2017, The Arc Westchester Foundation... Contributed $2.1 million to help pay down the principal and renegotiate the interest rate on The Gleeson-Israel Gateway Center building bond, saving the Chapter $250-$300,000 in operating costs per year. Funded an expanded use of the UNC TEACCH Autism Program, evidenced-based structured teaching techniques to aid prevocational and employment preparation for improved placement, retention and job satisfaction outcomes. Sponsored staff recognition and appreciation programs to ensure that The Arc Westchester is able to motivate and retain its most valuable employees. Supported the continued growth of our collaboration with Mercy College to research the application of everyday technologies to increase independence and overall well-being for people with developmental disabilities.
Staff recognized for service at the 2017 Employee Recognition Dinner.
Provided funding for the Transition to the Community program, created to prepare individuals moving from a sheltered workshop to meaningful community activities such as volunteering, internships, and/or paid employment. 21
A Legacy of...
SUPPORT
from
FAMILY & FRIENDS
A Matter of Taste Another record-breaking year for our lively, delicious and meaningful benefit - A Matter of Taste! On October 17th, at the beautiful Glen Island Harbour Club, over $400,000 was raised to help support The Arc Westchester’s innovative programs and services. Nearly 400 guests came out to wine, dine and celebrate our 2017 honorees. It was a great pleasure to present The Landegger Family with the Family Partner Award and Ric Swierat with the inaugural Legacy Award. We are grateful to the 31 culinary and beverage participants who so generously served their signature dishes and beverages to the delight of our guests. Auray Gourmet Caperberry Events Chocolations CHOPT Creative Salad Company Culinary Tech Center Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits Doral Arrowwood Hotel and Conference Center Eastchester Fish Gourmet Glen Island Harbour Club Lexington Square Café
Little Crepe Street Little Drunken Chef Little Kabob Station Lulu Cake Boutique Mima Vinoteca North Street Tavern Path Coffee Roasters Poppy’s Cheesecake Rivermarket Bar and Kitchen Sonora Texas de Brazil
Golfing for Kids The threat of rain couldn’t stop more than 120 golfers from playing the links at our 17th Annual Golfing for Kids outing at Hampshire Country Club in Mamaroneck. The event raised more than $180,000 to benefit children with autism, Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities served by The Children’s School for Early Development. The 2017 honorees were Kyra Cox, Youth Partner Award, and The Vogt Family of Scarsdale, Family Partner Award. 22
The Birch Collective The Great American BBQ Co. The Rye Roadhouse The Twisted Branch Toma Bloody Mary Mix Tramonto Winston Village Social Yonkers Brewery Co. Zuppa
A Legacy of
GIVING
The ability of The Arc Westchester to maintain a continuum of innovative and excellent programs for individuals and families throughout the entire lifespan is greatly enhanced by planned gifts from family and friends. Whether it’s a designated bank account, stock or mutual fund, retirement account, life insurance policy, or real estate, naming The Arc Westchester Foundation as a beneficiary is an ideal way to meet your charitable goals while realizing important personal objectives. Planned gifts come from the heart. In 2017, Virginia Donovan, parent, benefactor and treasured member of The Arc Westchester family, demonstrated the extraordinary depth of her heart by establishing The Virginia Donovan Charitable Fund, a $5 million donor-advised fund to benefit The Arc Westchester in perpetuity. Virginia never forgot that The Arc Westchester’s Children’s School said “yes” to her and her daughter Karen, when all other program providers said “no”.
After only 3 months at The Children’s School, Karen, who was non-verbal when she joined the program, gave her family the greatest gift of all; she sang at the Christmas dinner table. She went on to graduate on time from White Plains High School and even learned how to drive a car, accomplishments that Virginia attributes to the incredible foundation she received from The Children’s School. Inspired by a deep gratitude for the life-changing services her daughter Karen received, she has become an ambassador for our mission, inspiring others to give so that families can take advantage of all that The Arc Westchester has to offer.
Planned Gifts Make a Difference The Legacy of Love Society was established to recognize all those who have included The Arc Westchester Foundation as a beneficiary of their estate plans. For more information, or to notify us of your planned gift, please contact: Nancy Patota, Executive Director, The Arc Foundation (914) 495-4625, npatota@arcwestchester.org. Thank you.
I was a single mother of two, and desperate. I didn’t know how I was going to continue to support my family. With Karen not in school, I wasn’t able to work. I was scraping by each week, but I never gave up and refused to institutionalize my little girl. A friend referred me to The Children’s School and I knew I had finally found the right place for my daughter. The stars truly aligned.”
Virginia Donovan Parent and Benefactor
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The Arc Westchester
FINANCIAL REPORT 2017
Current Assets
2017 Statement of Revenue and Expenses Year ended December 31, 2017 Revenue Program Revenue
Statement of Financial Position
51,135,590
Other Revenue
3,782,009
Total Revenue
54,917,599
Cash and Cash Equivalents
5,309,881
Investments at Fair Value
3,250,571
Accounts Receivable, Net of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
8,477,665
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets
885,219
Due from Affiliate
140,570
Assets Held in Custody
706,182
Assets Held for Deferred Compensation
901,496
Total Current Assets
19,671,584
Expenses
Security Deposits
Personal Services and Fringe Benefits Other than Personal Services
Assets Limited as to Use
1,434,866
Subordinated Loan
3,763,909
39,310,119 10,098,184
Equipment - Provider Paid
1,317,653
Property - Provider Paid
3,011,335
Total Expenses
53,737,291
Fixed Assets (net) Total Assets
82,966
19,538,905 44,492,230
Current Liabilities Accounts and Accrued Expenses Payable
2,434,096
Accrued Salaries and Vacation Payable
2,496,324
Client Funds Other Liabilities
347,938 1,458,749
Current Portion of Loans Payable
94,662
Current Portion of Bonds Payable
677,468
Due to Governmental Agencies Total Current Liabilities
1,833,774 9,343,011
Long-Term Liabilities Loans Payable, Net of Current Maturities Bonds Payable, Net of Current Portion and Debt Issuance Costs Less: Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs Total Long-Term Debt, Net Total Liabilities
1,823,316 4,282,249 (130,520) 5,975,045 15,318,056
Total Net Assets Unrestricted Total Liabilities and Net Assets 24
29,174,174 44,492,230
Where the Funds Came From 10%
2%
5%
62%
9%
12%
Medicaid & Medicare Other Third Parties State Funded Contributions and Restricted Program Income Tuition and Early Intervention Income Other
Where the Funds Went
2%
1%
7%
2%
46%
11%
6%
Consumer Support
Day Services
Preschool
25%
Residential Services
Recreation/Camp/ Respite
Clinic
Other Programs
Agency
Administration
The Arc Westchester Foundation The Arc Westchester Foundation’s mission is to increase public awareness and to raise financial support from the community, generating income through long-term investments, and making contributions to support services for people with developmental disabilities served by The Arc Westchester. Since many of the Chapter’s most innovative services receive little to no public funding, and government funding is constantly shifting, the Foundation attends to the long-term health of The Arc Westchester. The Foundation exceeded its revenue goal for 2017 with total revenues of $2,121,335 and contributed nearly $3 million to The Arc Westchester to support programs and operational costs that are either not funded or under funded by the government yet are of critical importance (see highlights on page 21). As a result, the net assets on hand as of December 31, 2017, were $3,883,129, as compared to $5,344,973 in 2016. Through careful control of expenses, the Foundation held its cost to raise a dollar to 14%, well below the national average. As a result, over 85% of the value of your donation is available for the direct benefit of The Arc Westchester. We are proud to be such effective and careful stewards of your donor dollars, and are grateful for your continued generosity.
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Thank You to Our Generous Galaxy of Stars We recognize donors who have generously given cumulative lifetime gifts exceeding $250,000 to The Arc Westchester Foundation. Their extraordinary commitment is an inspiration to us all. John M. and Katharine W. Conroy Virginia Donovan Ms. Annette Edwards* Arnold D. Frese Foundation Mr. Gerard Gleeson* Mr. Justin Israel* Kresge Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Rudolf Laager Mr. and Mrs. Jim P. Manzi MBIA Foundation Inc. The New York Community Trust John H. & Ethel G. Noble Charitable Trust Singer, Netter, Dowd and Berman The Taft Foundation The Tudor Foundation, Inc. United Way The Walbridge Fund Ltd *Deceased
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Superstars $200,000+
Ms. Virginia Donovan Golfing for Kids A Matter of Taste The Taft Foundation
Diamond Stars $100,000+
Mr. and Mrs. Rudolf Laager
Platinum Stars $25,000+
Estate of Louise T. Sullivan Mr. George Landegger, Sr. Elaine and Steven Masket Mr. and Mrs. Larry McNaughton, Jr. NEXT for AUTISM S&L Marx Foundation The Tudor Foundation, Inc. The Walbridge Fund Ltd. Mr. and Mrs. David B. Walker
Gold Stars $15,000+
Arent Fox LLP V&L Marx Foundation Mr. and Mrs. George Landegger, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Mascia Mr. and Mrs. Donald Moriarty The New York Community Trust
Silver Stars $10,000+
Anderson Kill, P.C. Rita A. Aranow Family Fund Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits Mr. Lawrence Marolda Parsons & Whittmore, Inc. The Alexandra Tilly Rettler Children’s Fdn. Mr. Lawrence M. Waterhouse, III
Bronze $5,000+
DONORS
Anonymous Donors American Petroleum Anonymous Club Fit Mr. John J. Coll Mr. John Corgan Entergy Nuclear Northeast Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, Inc. Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu PC General Re Corporation Ms. Tibisay Guzmán and Mr. Paul Sturr H.O.P.E. for Youth Foundation & Rotary of Peekskill Mr. and Mrs. William Healey Ms. Lisina Hoch Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Hochhauser Dr. Wendy Jacobson Mr. James Johnston JP Morgan Chase Carl & Renee Landegger Family Charitable Trust J.M. McDonald Foundation, Inc. Mr. Michael Meagher MetTel Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Mulroy Vincent Palaia and Margaret Egiziaco Estate of Greta Oswald Mr. and Mrs. Eugene J. Porcaro Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ms. Dorsey P. Salerno Mr. Robert Scherr Mr. and Mrs. Paul Stevelman Mr. and Mrs. Richard Swierat Tommie Cares Foundation Trimble Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. John D. Walker Mr. and Mrs. Yen Wong
Rising Stars $1,000+
Anonymous Donors ABB Optical Group American Endowment Foundation Mr. Anthony Arditi Adrienne J. Arkontaky, Esq. Arts Westchester Assured SKCG, Inc. Autism Science Foundation Ballard‑Durand Baumeister and Samuels, P.C. BDO, USA, LLP Mr. Adam Belardino Mr. Anthony Bergamo Mr. Ronald G. Blum and Ms. Karen W. Lindsay Mr. David Bouley Mr. Benjamin Brafman Mr. Richard Breeden Mr. Stephen Bush Mr. Dominick Cafarelli Mr. Edward Caffrey Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Capurso Mr. and Mrs. Michael Carmody Mr. and Mrs. Tom Chiusano Chubb and Son Inc. The Church of St. Barnabas Co‑Communications, Inc. COFCO Americas Resources Corp. Mr. John Connelly Ms. Kathleen Connor John M. and Katharine W. Conroy Couch Braunsdorf Insurance Group Country Bank Ms. Fanny Culleton Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Daddino Ms. Chyna Dama The Dannon Company Mr. and Mrs. Peter DaPuzzo Mr. and Mrs. Cesar DeCastro Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Deely Ms. Susan DeTorres Jack Devito Foundation Ms. Janet DeVito
Digiscribe International Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Dilworth Mr. Glenn Dopf The Thomas Doran Trust Mr. Chet Dudzik Mr. Matthew Ekstein Enterprise Fleet Management Enterprise Holdings Foundation Mrs. Linda B. Evans Mr. and Mrs. Kevin J. Fee Mrs. Cynthia Ferguson Mr. Keith E. Ferguson Ms. Karina Fitzpatrick Mr. and Ms. Bertrand Fontaine Mr. Bill Furber Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Genna Alex Gildblum Mr. Mark Glucksman and Ms. Roberta Leiber Ms. Helene Godin Dr. Ruth Gottesman Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Graci Mr. and Mrs. David Graff Mr. and Mrs. Howard Graff Grassy Sprain Long Term Care, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Brian Green Mrs. Leon Green Ms. Nikol Gruning Thompson Ms. Jill Haggerty Ms. P. Hilton‑Johnson Hospice of Westchester HSBC Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hughes Iona Preparatory Karen and Paul Isaac The Israel Family Foundation
Jackson Lewis P.C. Mr. Tom Kallish Bernard Krooks, Esq. Mr. and Mrs. Alan Kurzer Mr. Roger Lavan Littman Krooks, LLP Mr. Robert Logozio Mr. John G. Lundberg M&T Bank Ms. Marie Maccarone Mr. Todd Magee Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Majsak Ms. Judith Marchiano Mr. and Mrs. Edward Marx Ms. Joan Masket Mr. Will Masket and Ms. Kristin Kahlich Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Mauro Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Mazzella, Jr. Mercy College Mines Press, Inc. Morgan Stanley Ms. JoAnn Murphy Mr. Berk Nowak Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Nuccio Mr. William O’Connor Law Offices of Daniel J. Ollen Ms. Kyle O’Loughlin‑Cahill OneGroup Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Philip Orlando Mr. James O’Toole Mr. Glenn Pacchiana Ms. Nancy Patota Dr. and Mrs. Rich Petriccione Mr. Sherman Pincus Ms. Nancy Plaskett Ms. Stephanie Powers
Pozzi Family Wine and Spirits LCC Mr. and Mrs. David P. Reingold Mr. and Mrs. John F. Roberts Mr. and Mrs. Antonio Rodrigues Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rota Mr. Arick S. Rynearson Mr. and Mrs. Edward Saggese Chad and Christina Sarchio Mr. and Mrs. Michael Schneck Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Schroeder Ms. Kimberly K. Schwab Dr. Simeon Schwartz and Dr. Ellen Greenebaum Mr. William Shubert Mr. and Mrs. Eglon Simons Ms. Deborah Slater Mr. Eugene Small Ms. Susan Solomon Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits Mr. Tom Steffanci Mr. and Mrs. David Stern Mr. Peter D. Sturr Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Sweeney Mr. Kevin Timmons Ms. Camille R. Tomao Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Tung Maarten Van Hengel Vanguard Investors Mr. Nick Vataj Ms. Margaret N. Vogt Mr. and Mrs. William A. Walker Western Carriers, Inc.
Wingate Russotti & Shapiro, LLP Mr. and Mrs. Ted Winslow Ms. Lynda Schrier Wirth Mr. Jeff Wood Mr. and Mrs. James Wooley Mr. and Mrs. John Zampino
Twinkling Stars $500+
Ms. Svetlana Afanasiev Mr. Charles Agin Ms. Christel Akerman All New York Title Agency, Inc. Mr. Andrew Anik Ms. Margie Anik Ms. Irene Auerbacher Mr. and Mrs. Gary Aviv Mr. and Mrs. Scott Baken Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bellantoni Belo Cleaning Services Inc. Mr. Joseph Benefico Mr. and Mrs. Renato Bisda Mr. Kenneth Bloom Business Media Projects Mr. John Cahill Mr. Richard Campbell Mr. Anthony M. Capozzolo Mr. Monroe Carmel Mr. Joseph Cassarini Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cassarini Ms. Lori Centioni‑Guillaro Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Cohn Mr. Carl Comuniello Con Edison Solutions
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Thank You to Our Generous Twinkling Stars (cont.)
Mr. and Mrs. Brendan Conroy Mr. Arthur Corwin Cross County Asphalt Corp. Ms. Roslyn M. Cusack Mr. and Mrs. Jeff DeToro Mr. and Mrs. Robert Diana Ms. Stefanie A. Diaz Mr. William Earle Mr. Frank Finnegan Firstgiving Flaghouse, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Gary Friedman Ms. Arrti Garg Mr. and Mrs. George T. Geisel Ms. Debbie Goddard Mr. and Mrs. Bill Greene Mr. Martin Hacala Mr. Mark Haranzo Mr. Roger M. Harris and Dr. Claudia Sickinger‑Harris Mr. Todd Harrison Mr. Gregory Horowitz Hanane Huynh Integrated Protection Services LLC. Ms. Diane Joy Israel and Ms. Lindsey Hansen‑Sturm Ms. Marilyn Johnston Mr. Robert M. Jones Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Junker
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DONORS
Dr. Barbara Kail and Mr. Adam Stoler Ms. Ana P. Kang Mrs. Rochelle Kessler Mrs. Emily Perl Kingsley Ms. Regina Kirwan Ms. Gail Konstantin Ms. Nina Kravetz Mr. Daniel Kressler Ms. Elizabeth Laite Mr. Andrew Lankler The Lawn‑Brokers Mr. John Lawton George C. Lederman, Esq. Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Leo Mr. and Mrs. Jay Lerner Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Liberatore Mr. and Mrs. Michael Luskin Mr. Lincoln Lyman Mr. and Mrs. John S. Macken Ms. Andrea Mancini Mr. John T. Mancini and Ms. Filomena DiSisto Joseph Manzi, DDS Mr. Louis Martirano Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McCandless Mr. and Mrs. Scott G. McGuirk Mr. and Mrs. Joe Murray
Mr. Thomas Nee Mr. Thomas Nester NYSARC Inc. Orsid Realty Corp. Mr. Benjamin Parker Mr. and Mrs. Joshua B. Parker Ms. Anne Pate Ms. Danusia Pawska Pepsico Foundation Mrs. Muriel Persanis PFK O’Connor Davies LLP Mr. Robert Picone Mr. and Mrs. William C. Porcaro Ms. Carla Porter Mr. and Mrs. Fred Price Mr. and Mrs. Eric Prideaux Mr. Chad M. Raver Red Oak Transportation Ms. Deborah Goldstock Ringel Mrs. Rita Ross Mr. Jonathan Rousse Ms. Fatima Sanwarwalla Mr. and Mrs. Richard Scheiner Mr. and Mrs. Allan Schneider Mr. Steven Schnur Mr. David Seal Mr. Philip Sherman Mr. and Mrs. Irwin B. Simon Mr. Donald Stanford Mrs. Robert Stanley
Ms. Dana Stein Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Stein Ms. Mary‑Ellen Stein Mr. Peter Szemenyei Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Tessler TimesSquare Capital Managment, LLC Ms. Joan Toglia Mr. Robert Toppe Tropham Foundation, Inc. Tudor Investment Corporation Mr. Michael Viggiano Wei Wang Westchester New York Presbyterian Hospital Network Louise C. Weston, Ph.D. WIHD WMZC Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Zabar
LEGACY OF LOVE SOCIETY
We are honored to give special recognition to those compassionate, forwardthinking donors who have included The Arc Westchester Foundation in their estate plans and are helping to ensure future services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Fulfilled Gifts
Robert Blauner Ingeborg Childs Neil Cifichiello Murray Collier Constance Dimond Thomas Doran Annette Edwards Miriam G. Ekstein Marjorie A. Elbers Alfred S. Gano Gerard Gleeson and Family Jean Gustafson Pauline C. Halpin Helen M. Harris William Jarad Horton James B. Hosmer Edward H. Hussey Justin Israel Mary A. Jensen Heinrich Joachim Noreen Koenig Charles Kingsley Lucille Kirschner Aldo Mazzarati Anne McGuire Ira Meirowitz Helen Melnick Theresa Pietsch Jay Robinson Gabriel Rubino Florence Schwartz Stella and Simon Sheib Rose Simon Marion L. Silbert
Milton G. Sincoff Eleanor C. Stambaugh Robert E. Stein Laura Thorn Joseph F. Vandernoot Heljo Vosari Louise Wick Margaret Annie Wilkins Edwin F. Zimmer
Promised Gifts
Gazella Allen Lorraine Bauchman Beth Beck Judith and Peter Christ Deborah Lea Cohen Ann and John Coneys Katharine Wilson Conroy Betty D’Alton Virginia Donovan Joan and Edward Dusenberry Douglas and Cynthia Ferguson Dr. William and Esther Frishman Mary Green Emily Perl Kingsley Theodore and Patricia Levine Julia McGuire Larry and Angela McNaughton Mohan and Suzanne Mehra Margaret Mulvey MG and Dennis Power Sheryl Frishman and Rob Rosman Rita and Mort Ross Judith Solomon Anne F. Sweazey Susan and John Walker Gertrude and Irving Wasserman Louise C. Weston, Ph.D.
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Our
LEADERSHIP
The Arc Westchester Board of Directors
The Arc Westchester Executive Staff
The Arc Westchester Foundation Board of Directors
Officers
Richard P. Swierat Executive Director
Officers
Rosa Rodriguez, President Bernard A. Krooks, Esq., Immediate Past President Joseph Cassarini, President-Elect Mark Glucksman, Treasurer Katharine W. Conroy, Esq., Secretary
Directors Patricia Capurso Daphne Daddino Robert Diana Patsy Ginese Carolyn Holodak Robert Hunt Barbara Kail Anne Majsak Elizabeth Mbayu Kyle O’Loughlin-Cahill Christopher Orlando, MD Danusia Pawska Sarah Phelan Robert Picone Abby Reuben Rita Ross Susan Solomon Jeff Wood
Tibisay GuzmĂĄn Associate Executive Director/ Chief Operating Officer Claudia Sickinger, M.D. Medical Director Rosemarie Crisafi Assistant Executive Director, Residential Services Lawrence Faulkner, Esq. Director, Corporate Compliance/ General Counsel Fran Porcaro Assistant Executive Director, Educational Services Laurel Ross Assistant Executive Director Quality Improvement and Staff Development Soosan Tehrani Chief Financial Officer Myriam Vocke Director, Human Resources Steven R. Yellen Assistant Executive Director, Innovations and Community Development
Elaine Masket, Esq., President John J. Corgan, Esq., Treasurer/Secretary
Directors Katharine W. Conroy, Esq. Jonathan Ferguson William V. Healey, Esq. Rudolf Laager Steven Masket, Esq. Lawrence McNaughton Donald Moriarty Laura Scherr Saggese David Walker Susan Walker Lawrence M. Waterhouse III
Members Anthony Assalone Joseph Cassarini Katharine W. Conroy, Esq. Mark Glucksman Rosa Rodriguez Gerald Singer Susan Walker
Executive Staff Nancy Patota, Executive Director Fran Higgins, Assistant Executive Director The Arc Westchester 2017 Annual Report is published by: The Arc Westchester, a chapter of The Arc New York and The Arc of the U.S. Photography: Regina Moore, Nick Lombardi, Eric Vitale Photography, John Vecchiolla Photography Editorial: Regina Moore, Elaine Masket, Nancy Patota and Co-Communications, Inc. Design: Co-Communications, Inc. Background art used throughout this report created by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Our
FUTURE (Q&A with TIBI GUZMĂ N)
As we move into the future, we are delighted to have Tibi GuzmĂĄn take over as the new Executive Director of The Arc Westchester. Tibi holds a B.S. from Fordham University, an M.P.S. from The New School for Health Service Administration and a M.A. in Economics from Fordham University. She and her husband Paul are the parents of two adult sons, one of whom has autism.
Tibi, you are moving into this position after 13 years overseeing different aspects of The Arc Westchester, most recently as Associate Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. What drew you to The Arc Westchester? My initial involvement began by following my personal passion, as I sought involvement in this field to seek the very best resources for my son with developmental disabilities. I was immediately impressed by this organization and the clear mission to ensure that every individual and every family member have ample resources to ensure an excellent quality of life. What are some of the highlights of your career at The Arc Westchester? Over the years, it has been my privilege to help shape The Arc Westchester through innovative supports and programs such as The Wellness Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services, programs to enhance life skills, and Career Supports services. I especially enjoyed the opportunity to shape employment and prevocational services, which has been enormously beneficial to our program participants and the business community at large. As COO, I had the responsibility of overseeing an operating budget of $56 million with services ranging from Early Intervention/Preschool, programs for students transitioning from High School, to supports for adults residing in our 44 homes, affording me an intimate understanding of all aspects of The Arc Westchester.
You have an extensive background in the healthcare field. How will that inform future challenges The Arc Westchester will face? The ever-changing landscape with regard to Medicaid, the field’s movement towards managed care, and increased oversight by the Department of Health requires expert attention to navigate these concerns. As a past provider of Medicaid Managed Care services, and with my extensive experience in health care reimbursement, I will work alongside our Board and all stakeholders to create progressive solutions using sound business strategies. What are your hopes as you take the helm at The Arc Westchester? I am truly honored to be given this opportunity to lead an organization that is so close to my heart. Working alongside Ric has been a true joy and I am dedicated to ensuring that The Arc Westchester continues to grow with the people we support, remains an excellent resource to the community, and an innovative provider of supports for people with developmental disabilities.
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For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Our mission is to empower children, teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals on the autism spectrum, to achieve their potential by strengthening families and encouraging personal choices, abilities and interests.
Our vision is a world in which children, teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals on the autism spectrum, enjoy fulfilled lives and an inspired future.
The Gleeson-Israel Gateway Center 265 Saw Mill River Road Hawthorne, NY 10532
www.arcwestchester.org 914.949.9300