The Arc of the United States Announces 45 Sub‐Grant Awards for Transitioning Youth From School to Adult Life, Funded by the Walmart Foundation
Washington, D.C. – Thanks to a $3 million grant from the Walmart Foundation, The Arc of the United States (The Arc) is awarding grants to 45 local chapters of The Arc across the U.S. in support of a new initiative designed to help youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
These sub‐grants are being awarded as part of the Walmart Foundation School‐to‐Community Transition Project. The project aims to increase transition outcomes and to build inclusion and involvement of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in independent living, employment, post‐secondary education or vocational training, and community, social, and civic affairs.
“The sub‐grants for the Walmart Foundation School‐to‐Community Transition represent dynamic, new, and innovative projects of chapters of The Arc. They will set a high standard in best practices for youth to adult transition initiatives for years to come,” said Peter V. Berns, Chief Executive Officer of The Arc.
“The Walmart Foundation is committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities and ensuring they have opportunities to live better,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. “Our recent grant to The Arc reinforces our commitment by supporting programs of The Arc across America.”
The following chapters of The Arc are recipients of these sub‐grants:
| Arc Chapter/Affiliate | State | Executive Director / CEO |
|---|---|---|
| The Arc of Shelby Co. | AL | Karen H. Stokes |
| The Arc of Southeast Los Angeles Co. | CA | Kevin P. MacDonald |
| The Arc of San Francisco | CA | Timothy Hornbecker |
| The Arc of Ventura Co. | CA | Fred Robinson |
| The Arc of Colorado | CO | Marijo Rymer |
| WeCAHR | CT | Shirley Ricart |
| STAR, Inc. | CT | Katie Banzhaf |
| The Arc of the District of Columbia | DC | Mary Lou Meccariello |
| The Arc of Jacksonville | FL | Jim Whittaker |
| The Arc in Hawaii | HI | Michael Tamanha |
| The Arc of Rock Island County | IL | Kyle Rick |
| Community Support Services | IL | Gaye Preston |
| Seguin Services | IL | John Voit |
| Achieva Resources | IN | Dan Stewart |
| Evansville Arc | IN | Deidra R. Conner |
| The Arc of Kentucky | KY | Patty Dempsey |
| The Arc of Greater New Orleans | LA | Cliff Doescher |
| The Arc of Baton Rouge | LA | Barry Meyer |
| The Arc of Massachusetts | MA | Leo V. Sarkissian |
| Northeast Arc | MA | Gerard L. McCarthy |
| The Arc of Frederick Co. | MD | Joanna Pierson |
| The Arc of Prince George’s Co. | MD | Jack Ramsey |
| The Arc Downriver | MI | Kevin P. McGuckin |
| The Arc of Kent Co. | MI | Tammy Finn |
| The Arc of Northwest Wayne Co. | MI | Christine A. Lerchen |
| The Arc of the Greater Twin Cities | MN | Kim Keprios |
| The Arc of St. Louis | MO | Kathy Meath |
| The Arc of Mississippi | MS | Matt Nalker |
| The Arc of Haywood County | NC | Holly Lemieux |
| The Arc of Wake Co. | NC | Steven R. Strom |
| The Arc of Nebraska | NE | Marla Fischer‐Lempke |
| The Arc of Gloucester | NJ | Ana Rivera |
| The Arc of Monmouth | NJ | Mary Scott |
| The Arc of New Mexico | NM | Randy Costales |
| AHRC – New York City | NY | Michael Goldfarb |
| NYSARC ‐ Rensselaer | NY | Hanns Meissner |
| NYSARC – The Arc of Oneida‐Lewis | NY | Angela Z. VanDerhoof |
| The Arc of Oregon | OR | Marcie Ingledue |
| The Arc of Philadelphia | PA | Bruce Hulick |
| The Arc of York Co. | PA | Gregory D. Knox |
| The Arc of Tennessee | TN | Carries Hobbs Guiden |
| The Arc of Davidson Co. | TN | Norman Tenenbaum |
| The Arc of Northern Virginia | VA | Nancy Mercer |
| The Arc of Washington State | WA | Sue Elliott |
| The Arc of Clark Co. | WA | Jesse L. Dunn |
