Fall Issue 2011
A message from Bruce Hulick, Executive Director
What a productive summer and fall for us at The Arc and PDDC. Our plan to modernize our building and our systems is right on schedule. I am happy to report that the second phase of our building renovations has been completed.
We truly appreciate the gift of your friendship and support. With warm wishes for a beautiful holiday season… from all of us at The Arc and PDDC. READ MORE
Golf Outing 2011
Over 100 golfers came out to Bala Golf Club on a beautiful Monday in
September to play golf, network, bid on 25 fabulous silent auction packages, and to have fun, all in support of the mission and vision of The Arc. Thanks to our generous golfers, donors, friends and sponsors, the 7th Annual Golf Outing was a huge success, raising money to provide early intervention assistance for parents of children with disabilities, to assist parents with children within the Philadelphia school system and help those children attend school in a regular classroom.
Congratulations to Gary Crowell and his PIBH team for being the winner! Thanks to everyone for their generous support of this event, especially our major sponsors at the Platinum level, Acro Display and J. Pekala & Associates; the Gold level, All Phase Electric Co., Charon Planning and Craft-Bilt Manufacturing; and at the Silver level, Illinois Tool Works Inc. We are deeply grateful to all for their dedication and commitment to individuals with disabilities in our community.
Employment Partners Spotlight
Daaim loves his job as a food service prep worker at Bonefish Grill. He has been employed at the popular Willow Grove restaurant since August 2009 where he is well-liked and supported by the restaurant staff.
Daaim travels independently by train to get to the restaurant and sometimes works up to 5 days a week during the busy summer months. Daaim’s co-workers and supervisor say that he has a very positive attitude and an excellent work ethic.
He performs his duties, including cleaning and setting up the dining areas, stocking the bar with ice, keeping the delivery platform obstacle free, wrapping silverware, and weighing flour and french fries, with a sense of purpose, professionalism and enthusiasm.
Picnic Fun at PDDC
PDDC brought in the fall season with dancing and merriment at our County Fair themed annual picnic on September 9th, with colorful handmade decorations, bales of hay, face painting, balloon art, and lots of games and activities.
For many, the highlight of the day was a visit from the local fire department, Engine 59. Everyone gathered around as the fireman demonstrated using the fire hose and sounding the siren, and even allowed people to take a turn and try for themselves! Thank you to ShopRite for providing the picnic fare and to DJ Mike Menschner of M Entertainment for playing the soundtrack for a delightful day to remember.
Staff News: Points of Transformation Awards
Michael Gerkovich, a direct support professional for the Cultural Arts Center since 2009, and Shalaine Wallace, Clinical Director, were recognized at the Points of Transformation Awards presented by the Philadelphia Intellectual disAbilities Services in September. Every day, Mike and Shalaine put PDDC’s mission into practice to provide meaningful experiences and a sense of community belonging to the people PDDC supports. READ MORE
One on One: An Arc Success Story
I first met Elok*, a woman in her early forties, at the National Services Center’s Health and Education Outreach workshop, The Basics of the Individual Education Plan, for immigrant families in the fall of 2010. The Arc’s Multi-Lingual Special Education team had just finished up a presentation when this shy but determined mother of teenage twin boys approached us with a perplexing problem. Elok is fiercely independent and has prided herself on being able to take care of her family’s needs. I was humbled when this intensely private woman, from a closeknit immigrant community, broke with tradition and reached out to us withher story, in hopes of finding help for her boys. READ MORE
The Arc ... On the Go
House Education Committee Hearings
House Education Committee hearings were held July 27th on Temple University’s campus about charter schools, tuition vouchers, and other issues regarding funding of education, designed for students who attend private and religious schools.
Nofre Vaquer and Bruce Hulick testified on behalf of The Arc along with other nonprofits, educators, and school district and Philadelphia officials.
The Arc on In Focus
The Arc of Philadelphia was highlighted on WPHL 17’s In Focus show with Steve Highsmith on August 13. Bruce Hulick and Nofre Vaquer discussed topics such as the importance of legislative lobbying, how to support people whose first language is not English, and the importance of transition services for people graduating from high school. They also mentioned PDDC services such as job training, employment services, community services, and exposure to cultural arts. The opportunity to bring the important work that The Arc and PDDC does for people with disabilities to the television-viewing community was a valuable one, and both men used the opportunity to good advantage. The missions and visions of the organizations were front and center, and they emphasized how people who want to give back to their community can get involved.
The Arc meets with SE PA Representative
On October 6th, Bruce Hulick met with Adam Gattuso, Governor Corbett's SE PA Representative; Karen Stokes, Legal Counsel; and Lt. Governor Jim Cawley to discuss the state budget and the mission and services of The Arc and PDDC.
A Word About…Abuse and Victimization
The Arc and PDDC response:
“We are outraged and saddened by the recent news of the alleged kidnapping and imprisonment of four people with developmental disabilities in Philadelphia. Those of us who live and work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities recognize that people are the same — we all learn and grow, hold down jobs in the community, pursue hobbies, and enjoy personal relationships. READ MORE
Spirit of Service
A shout out to all the volunteers from Chestnut Hill College and Villanova University for helping us make our building and grounds beautiful and a big thank you to Chestnut Hill College for helping us make educational kits. Go Griffins and Wild Cats!
A special thank you to St. Joseph’s University students for continuing to partner with us all year long on several projects, including volunteering at our First Friday Dances, weekly service in our Cultural Arts Center, community service days, and weekly math, literacy and life skills instruction for the adults enrolled in the Hawk Chalk enrichment program, now in its second year. Go Hawks!
Portrait Photo Gallery
We invite you to visit our photo gallery in the training center and lunch room with beautiful portraits of many of the people who come to PDDC every day. While the photographs were being hung, everyone gathered around with such enthusiasm and pride, waiting in anticipation of the next photo.
Shaky Shaky Players Play at the Fringe
“1950s sci-fi meets telenovela meets seafood restaurant in Shaky Shaky Planet, where blob-men, robots and goblins break into song for no reason and the bad guys sometimes poison your Alaskan crab legs with Potion #52.” That’s how the Shaky Shaky Players of the Cultural Arts Center described their Fringe Festival performance that opened at the Painted Bride Art Center on September 7th.
Over one hundred audience members enjoyed the Shaky Shaky Players’ unique theater project ... READ MORE
The Mural Project
Mosaic mural artist Baily Cypress is partnering with The Arc and PDDC to revitalize the Fehr Lobby of our building! Baily is sharing the art of tiling with the adults we support as well as our staff, our neighbors, friends and stakeholders so that the mural can be created in an environment of teamwork, collaboration and community. The project is based on murals painted by artists from the Cultural Arts program representing the seasons. Each season represents a different aspect of The Arc and PDDC’s mission. We are excited to share this mural with everyone when it is completed!
La Salle Art Collaborations
University Art Museum have worked together over the last year to teach cityscapes, abstraction, portraiture and storytelling in art history through our ongoing Cultural Collaborations series. Artists listened to lectures about these themes and then viewed the artwork in person at the museum. Paintings, print and sculptures created in response to this partnership will be exhibited at the Community Gallery at La Salle University Art Museum through December 9th.
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