Thousands of Maryland workers work full-time but don’t earn enough to make ends meet. That’s why the Fight for $15 Maryland Coalition is calling on the state legislature in Annapolis to stand up for its hard-working people and raise the state’s minimum wage from $9.25 to $15.00 per hour by 2023!

A $15 minimum wage means a better Maryland for all of us. Raising the wage would lift thousands of families out of poverty, create new customers and profits for local businesses, and strengthen our neighborhoods.

Kara from The Arc Central Chesapeake Region did a great testimony, she is a Direct Service Professional (DSP) on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  She spoke freely about her passion for the work she does daily with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, her struggles as a single mother and tough choices she has had to make.  She supports the Fight for $15.00!

The committee room and hallway were packed with advocates for the Fight for $15 bill (HB166) hearing. We are grateful to Del. Diana Fennell and other sponsors for putting together a bill that includes provisions for DD Community Services funding; to ensure that Direct Support jobs do not become minimum wage jobs.

WHY WE FIGHT FOR $15.00

A $15 minimum wage means a better Maryland for all of us:

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), a nonprofit committed to providing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to gain independence, today announced that two new members have been added to its Board,  William C. Hollis III, who is the founding partner in the firm Hollis, Cronan & Fronk, P.A., located in Easton,  and Tim Jones, […]

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Thanks to Amazon customers shopping at smile.amazon.com, AmazonSmile has donated over $100 million to charities around the world! To celebrate, they are launching their biggest bonus donation to date — 5% for 5 days. From Oct 29 – Nov 2, they are donating 5%, ten times our usual rate.  With the holidays right around the corner,  you can get a jump start on shopping.

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-6047882

Click on the link above and link you Amazon account to The Arc CCR.

Grant Will Help Fund the Completion of The Arc’s
“Promise It Forward Capital Campaign”

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc CCR), a nonprofit committed to providing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to gain independence, today announced that it has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc., one of the largest private charity foundations in the United States.

The grant will support the completion of The Arc CCR’s “Promise It Forward Capital Campaign”—a project which is the result of nearly $2 million in local and state funds to build a safe, healthy, accessible building to ensure that The Arc CCR maintains strong programs as the number of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities continues to increase within Maryland. Arc board and leadership are now operating out of the new headquarters, which is slated for completion by early 2019.

“The Arc’s mission is to provide people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the resources and services to work and play so that they thrive in their community,” said Jonathon Rondeau, CEO of The Arc Central Chesapeake Region. “This generous grant will allow us to complete the final phase of The Arc’s newly renovated 19,000 square-foot headquarters and professional development center, which will serve as a model of accessibility.”

“The Weinberg Foundation is pleased to support The Arc through this capital campaign,” said Amy Kleine, Program Director, Housing & Community Services. “This new facility will allow The Arc to better serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities within Maryland to live full, self-directed lives.”

The Arc CCR touches the lives of over 1,000 people each year, and with its continuing growth in capacity and expansion of services, the organization requires a larger operating space. The newly renovated 19,000 square-foot headquarters and professional development center will serve as an intake area for new families and the people we serve, provide a digital and book library for use by the public, and have space for community meetings. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Building will include the administrative headquarters and will have a separate area for training sessions and other community programs. Also included in the expansion are the Lorraine Sheehan Center for Enterprise and Community Development, and the Rollason Community Center.  The new building will serve as a model of an accessible corporate environment.

For more information about The Arc CCR, please visit: https://www.thearcccr.org/

About the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private charitable foundations in the United States, provides approximately $100 million in annual grants to nonprofits that provide direct services to low-income and vulnerable individuals and families, primarily in the United States and Israel. Grants are focused on meeting basic needs and enhancing an individual’s ability to meet those needs with emphasis on older adults, the Jewish community, and the Foundation’s priority communities of Maryland, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, rural communities in the United States, and the State of Israel. The trustees are Chair Robert T. Kelly, Jr., Alvin Awaya, Ambassador Fay Hartog-Levin (Ret.), and Paula B. Pretlow. Rachel Garbow Monroe serves as the Weinberg Foundation’s President and Chief Executive Officer. For more information, please visit www.hjweinbergfoundation.org.

Friendly faces and great food – that is what Chuy’s is known for. But when it comes to this Tex-Mex restaurant, there’s more than meets the eye. Since opening their doors over a year ago, they have been making a difference in their community for local non-profits, like The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc).

Each of the 102 Chuy’s locations throughout the United States selects and supports a regional non-profit. “When my wife and I moved back here from Florida, I was hired on as the general manager, and my wife took a job at The Arc Central Chesapeake Region,” said Chuy’s General Manager, Douglas Degler. “Throughout her work I was able to meet the staff and members of The Arc. We’ve also had a few members of The Arc as [Chuy’s] employees, so it was a natural choice to select the organization as our local charity.”

Since the restaurant opened, Degler has worked with The Arc to hire people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to work at the restaurant. “Meaningful employment and life-sustaining wages are what we strive for, for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Jonathon Rondeau, CEO of The Arc Central Chesapeake Region. “It is incredibly important to have advocates in our community, like Chuy’s, who recognize and support the value that people with disabilities bring to the workplace.”

Thomas, who receives workforce development support from The Arc, was hired as a bus-boy because of his previous restaurant experience, positive attitude, and bright smile.

“As a busser who works at the ‘front of the house’—in the dining room clearing tables and interacting with customers—it’s important for us to hire someone who is responsible, personable and friendly, “ Degler said. “Thomas already knew what was expected of the position and had restaurant experience, and during his interview he told me that he just wants to make people happy and smile.”

To celebrate the successful workforce partnership, Chuy’s has invited Arc CEO, Jonathon Rondeau to be a guest bartender on Thursday, October 18 at their Annapolis location, and will be donating 10% of the proceeds to the charity. In addition to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Chuy’s is collecting donations throughout the month of October, and has received tremendous support from the community, including from Maryland’s Governor, Larry Hogan.

Their goal is to support The Arc and encourage other local businesses to support the employment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  “Thomas has been a great fit for us,” said Degler. “We’re excited to have someone that really rounds out our team.”

To learn more about employing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in your workplace, please visit www.www.thearcccr.org/hire-our-workforce, or contact Christine Larsen at clarsen@thearcccr.org.

In April, community leaders and members of Arundel Community Development Services Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to creating affordable housing opportunities and improving the lives of low-income individuals through community development, joined in opening the doors of a new affordable and accessible home in Millersville. This five-bedroom dream home is complete with Americans with Disabilities […]

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region has been hosting a golf tournament for 20 years now and this year’s was simply the best! On May 7th, our community came together to play some golf and, more importantly, raise some money for children and adults with developmental disabilities. This year our friends helped to raise $50,000 – that’s 35% more than last year! Which means that more people will be able to live, work, play, and THRIVE in the community. Please consider joining us May 6, 2019, for the 21st Annual Golf Tournament!

To view photos from the tournament, please click here.

We are always working to improve your experience. If you attended the Golf Tournament, please consider taking this short survey and let us know how we did!