Outstanding Employee of the Year, Gilbert John Zucchi Direct Support Professional Award:
Abdul Arasah has been with The Arc CCR, as a Team Leader, for about a year. Over the course of the year, he has become a model leader and an asset to the agency. The people Abdul supports have a wide variety of needs, but he maintains a calm and caring attitude whenever he is faced with challenging situations. As a newer team member, Abdul has done an excellent job of balancing the often competing priorities of safety and independence for the people he supports. Abdul has ensured that the home he manages is truly a warm and inviting place. Abdul is technical only responsible for supporting 4 people, but he goes beyond that to meet the needs of others and is willing to help out on any occasion. The people we support know that they can always come to Abdul. Abdul is very self-motivated and a pleasure to work with!
Volunteer of the Year Award:
Michele Tharp came to The Arc CCR in June of 2012, looking for a volunteer opportunity where she could donate her time and talents in support of a mission that was personal to her life.
Michele is a Senior Vice President, Senior Relationship Strategist at PNC and a mom to three boys, one of whom has autism. She has held a leadership role on The Arc CCR’s Board of Directors for over 6 years. As Treasurer and now Vice President of the Board, Michele has been instrumental in organizational transformation. As The Arc CCR changed leadership and began transforming financial processes and infrastructure, Michele played a significant role in ensuring The Arc CCR balanced both the mission of the organization and its financial long term health.
Over the course of Michele’s tenure, The Arc CCR has successfully expanded housing investments through its subsidiary, Chesapeake Neighbors, has navigated the implementation of a new financial management system, and has nearly doubled in size of the fiscal management program it facilitates.
We thank Michele for her generous contributions to The Arc CCR and to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community.