WILLIAMSBURG — The Williamsburg Community Foundation awarded a $2,500 surprise grant to The Arc of Greater Williamsburg as part of its ongoing celebration of its 25th Anniversary.
According to the foundation, The Arc of Greater Williamsburg received the grant to support its work improving the quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The foundation noted the grant comes during Disability Pride Month, a fact that adds an extra layer of significance to the award.
The foundation explained that during the its 25th Anniversary Celebration & Campaign Kickoff, supporters participated in a drawing to select grant recipients. The honor of choosing this month’s recipient fell to Shelby Hawthorne, who presented the grant to Pam McGregor, Executive Director of The Arc, and Chris Einarsen, a longtime participant in The Arc’s programs.
“Having volunteered and served as a board member at several nonprofits, I know the impact they all have in our community,” said Hawthorne. “The Arc stood out to me for a very personal reason. My earliest memory of Chris is from my time teaching at Norge Elementary: I remember him riding his tricycle from the NEED Center, down the hall past my classroom, delivering the attendance report to the office.”
“Two years ago, while reviewing scholarships for the Community Foundation, I came across an essay from a young lady who volunteered with The Arc. She described a day when she was feeling down, and a man — she didn’t share the name, but her description was unmistakably Chris — comforted her by saying, ‘That’s ok, life is good, it’ll get better.’ That stayed with her and has stayed with me, too,” she added. “It is these meaningful connections that inspired me to choose The Arc as the recipient of this grant.”
The Arc of Greater Williamsburg’s mission is to improve the quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through community activities and advocacy. The Arc of Greater Williamsburg has served adults with developmental disabilities in the community since 1976. Its programs provide educational, health and wellness, life skills, cultural, social, and recreational enrichment. In addition, it provide much-needed respite time for families and caregivers.
“When we moved here from the mountains, we thought it would be temporary,” shared Karen, Chris’s mother. “But The Arc has provided such incredible support and community for our family that we decided to make Williamsburg our home.”
McGregor thanked Hawthorne and the foundation for the unexpected grant.
“What an honor and such a wonderful surprise! Thank you, Shelby, for choosing The Arc. I’m privileged to work for people like Chris, and it’s truly magical to witness the progress of individuals with all levels of ability. Without state or federal funding, we rely on raising nearly half a million dollars annually, so donations like this are immensely appreciated and help raise awareness for our mission,” she said.
For more information about The Arc of Greater Williamsburg, visit thearcgw.org