We are beyond thrilled to announce that Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of The Arc Central Chesapeake Region, was awarded the prestigious Silver 2024 Anthem Award for Nonprofit Leader of the Year. This award celebrates Jonathon’s exceptional leadership, vision, and tireless dedication at an international scale for his work advancing The Arc’s mission and creating a more inclusive world for people with disabilities.
The Anthem Awards: Celebrating Leadership in Social Good
Presented by the Webby Awards, the Anthem Awards celebrates the outstanding achievements of individuals, organizations, and companies making a significant impact locally, nationally, and globally. The Nonprofit Leader of the Year category is one of the highest honors, recognizing visionary leaders who drive transformative change and elevate their organizations’ missions. Jonathon’s Silver Award was announced during the annual Anthem Awards ceremony in New York City, which gathers some of the most influential figures in nonprofit work, social change, and corporate responsibility.
The Anthem Awards selection process also includes a Community Voice component, where community members vote for their favorite nominees, adding a level of public engagement to the process. This year’s event showcased a wide range of honorees from various sectors, all contributing to positive social change. Jonathon’s award highlights his pivotal role in shaping the direction of The Arc in reimagining how services, housing, and resources coexist in our communities.
A Visionary Leader Committed to Inclusion and Empowerment
“I am deeply humbled and honored to receive the Nonprofit Leader of the Year award,” said Jonathon upon receiving the recognition. “This award is not just about me—it is a testament to the incredible work of The Arc’s employees, board members, partners, and supporters. Together, we are striving every day to create a more inclusive world where people with disabilities can live self-determined lives, pursue meaningful opportunities, and thrive within their communities.”
Under Jonathon’s leadership, The Arc has expanded how it serves people throughout the community in meaningful ways. With the launch of initiatives like Behavioral Health, Health at Work, and Port Street Commons, The Arc, under Jonathon’s leadership, is breaking down barriers for the people it serves, employees, and the community as a whole.
Transformative Leadership and Milestones at The Arc
Jonathon’s leadership at The Arc has been truly transformative for the enterprise. During his tenure as President & CEO, The Arc has made notable strides in improving the quality of life for people with disabilities, advancing inclusive and affordable housing options, and advocating for change in both policy and community spaces. One of the most recent milestones during Jonathon’s tenure has been the launch of Port Street Commons, a transformative mixed-use development that brings services, affordable housing, and community spaces together under one roof.
Additionally, Jonathon has led impactful and innovative workforce initiatives, including doubling the starting wage for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to $20/hour over the past seven years, launching a career ladder for DSPs, and reducing The Arc’s DSP vacancy rate to 6% while state and national rates hover between 20-50%. This commitment to improving compensation for DSPs, the backbone of our organization, reflects his dedication to valuing the workforce that provides critical services to people with disabilities.
Under Jonathon’s guidance, The Arc has also seen a greater focus on health and wellness programs for employees with the investment in a Total Rewards package that reduces costs for employees while increasing the quality of the benefits offered. This investment has also managed to keep the cost of medical insurance for employees stagnant for the last four years running, meaning that The Arc covers all premium increases and individual and family deductibles. The Arc’s Total Rewards also includes healthcare initiatives like Health at Work, which opened in 2024. Health at Work provides free onsite, same-day urgent and primary care to all Arc employees, regardless of whether they are enrolled in The Arc’s medical insurance plan. Under Jonathon’s leadership, The Arc is not just serving the needs of people with disabilities, but also supporting the dedicated professionals committed to this important work.
Looking Forward: A Continued Commitment to Inclusion
This award reflects Jonathon’s incredible dedication, but it is also a recognition of the collective effort of everyone who supports the work of the enterprise, including the employees and people they serve, the board of directors, partners, and community supporters who make The Arc’s work possible. We look forward to the continued impact Jonathon’s leadership will have on the lives of thousands of people with disabilities in the region and beyond.