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Living Our Legacy Luncheon and Awards Ceremony
By Sylvia Fuerstenberg, Executive Director of The Arc of King County
 
From left to right, beginning at top left photo: Khadijah Toms, Sylvia Fuerstenberg, Dennis Bounds, Marcella Young, Ed Baker, Logan Gowdey, Konnie Gowdey, Trina Westerlund, Hartley Steiner, Patty Paddon, Laura Kagle, Carrie Fannin, Laura Allen. Photos by Kristin Atkinson.
Thank you everyone for your participation in our recent Living Our Legacy Luncheon. I was so moved by the outpouring of warmth and love by those attending. To our dedicated sponsors and volunteers: we extend our deepest gratitude. It is because of the support of the entire community that our work is possible. Working with partner organizations, families supporting their loved ones, and individuals with disabilities who are taking on leadership in their lives and for others, is what it is all about for us. We make a difference because we all work together for a common dream. We come together at events like this to celebrate our progress towards this dream and to renew our commitment to continuing until there is full acceptance and inclusion for all in our lives and our community.
Each speaker and award recipient expressed from their hearts their own story, and spoke to each of us in a different way. Dennis Bounds spoke as the parent of an adult with a developmental disability; having been though all those struggles, and now seeing the rewards of that struggle and love. Catalina Angel shared how she and her family are beginning to learn and grow with other families as they chart a course for their young child. Eric Matthes (What can we say?! You had to be there...) spoke of how he struggled and found his place in a leadership role, inspired us all to be better people. Ed Baker showed us what 100 years and a lifetime of full inclusion might be like for everyone with a developmental disability. Again, we applaud Carrie Fannin, Scott Leonard and Mary Smith, our award recipients, who are truly living legacies to our future as they continue to set examples of Advocacy, Leadership and Commitment.
It was beautiful - the community coming together to celebrate and honor those who inspire us to be a better society.
Luncheon Highlights
The Arc of King County raised over $30,000 at the Living Our Legacy Luncheon!
Dennis Bounds of KING5 News was the keynote speaker.
Visit The Arc's photo gallery to share in the celebration.
The following Award recipients were honored for their exemplary service on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families:
Ed Baker for Living the Legacy
Carrie Fannin for Advocacy
Scott Leonard for Commitment
Mary Smith for Leadership
Living Our Legacy Luncheon Sponsors:
Gold Level Sponsors: Carney Badley Spellman, P.S.; Delta Dental Washington Dental Service; RSM McGladrey, Inc.
Silver Level Sponsors: Bradley G. Davis Law Office, PLLC; Dussault Law Group
Bronze Level Sponsors: Children's Therapy of Woodinville; Clise Properties, Inc.; Hall-Conway-Jackson, Inc. Cascade Insurance Group, Inc.; Harrison Berkman and Claypool, PLLC; Our 365 Portraits; Umpqua Bank
Living Our Legacy Sponsors: Anthony Cangialosi; Frederick Parks; Dr. Mitresh Parmar
Jeanne Gransee Barker and Liane Ellis of Juice Creative generously gave their time to create the Living Our Legacy Luncheon emblem.
Fifteen New Leaders Graduate from The Arc of King County's "Advocating for Change Together" Leadership Training
By Betsy McAlister, Assistant Coordinator for King County Parent Coalition for Developmental Disabilities
Back row (from left to right): Katie Rohs, Jennifer Scheuerell, Susan Lakey, Helen Kero, Jenny Harris, Xanne Sarka, Betsy Geib, Mary Jo Magruder, Rachel Nemhauser; Row 3: Jessica Renner, Aaron Morrow; Row 2: Eric Matthes, Catalina Angel, Ana Leite, Betsy McAlister, Shawn Andersen; Front Row: Kate Stone. Photo by Kristin Atkinson.
Fifteen participants in The Arc of King County's leadership training program, Advocating for Change Together (ACT), participated in graduation ceremonies at The Arc on May 22, 2010 before an audience of more than 40 family members and friends. This year's graduates are: Shawn Andersen, Catalina Angel, Betsy Geib, Jenny Harris, Stacia Irons, Susan Lakey, Ana Leite, Eric Matthes, Aaron Morrow, Rachel Nemhauser, Jessica Renner, Katie Rohs, Xanne Sarka, Jennifer Scheuerell and Kate Stone.
Through this training, individuals learned to advocate for themselves, a family member, and other people with developmental disabilities. ACT educates people about service systems, trains people in advocacy, builds capacity throughout the state, and develops new leadership in the disability movement. The graduates completed training during seven weekend sessions between September 2009 and May 2010. Graduates included five adults with disabilities, and 10 parents of children with disabilities.
The Arc's Executive Director, Sylvia Fuerstenberg, welcomed the group and talked about the importance of people coming together to speak about what is going on in the system and state. Other presenters included Ed Holen, Executive Director of the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, and Donna Patrick, the Council's Director of Public Policy. Each of the participants took a couple of moments to reflect on their experience in the training and how it will inform their work in the future. Each participant received a Certificate of Achievement for their "effort and commitment to the development of new leadership in the disability movement."
** The Arc of King County sends its congratulations to all of the ACT graduates! Be sure and share in the celebration by visiting the photo gallery.
Grants Awarded to The Arc of King County
The Arc of King County is grateful for the gifts given by the following foundations which allow for continued growth and breadth of services in the work that we do on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Thank you.
Medina Foundation Awards $25,000 to The Arc of King County
The Medina Foundation was founded by Norton Clapp in 1947 as a way to serve those in need that is congruous to his belief that his family had a responsibility to participate in making the community a better place to live. The Medina Foundation focuses on providing funding for human service organizations that help people achieve independence and dignity. The foundation is one of the largest single private funders of human service organizations in Washington State. Since its inception, the foundation has granted more than $72 million to educational programs and social service organizations throughout the Puget Sound region. The Arc of King County will apply this grant to its Family Support 360° Program.
Thomas V. Giddens Jr. Foundation Awards $20,000 to The Arc of King County
The Thomas
V. Giddens Jr. Foundation was established in 2002 by the estate of
Thomas V. Giddens to support activities and programs that benefit
neglected and abused youth, with a particular, but not exclusive,
interest in serving youth in the Seattle metropolitan area. The Arc of
King County will apply this funding to its Parent to Parent Program and
its Family Support 360° Program in efforts to develop effective strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect in families raising children with developmental disabilities.
The Norcliffe Foundation Awards $10,000 to The Arc of King County
The Norcliffe Foundation
is a private non-profit family foundation established by Paul Pigott in
1952. Family members have since continued the tradition of
philanthropy established by Paul Pigott through The Norcliffe
Foundation, which serves to enhance the quality of life of community
members in the areas of education, health, social services, civic
improvement, religion, culture and the arts, the environment, historic
preservation, and youth programs. The Arc of King County will apply this grant to its Family Support 360° Program.
BNSF Foundation Awards $2,500 to The Arc of King County
The BNSF Foundation was established to provide support and to positively effect the quality of life of those who live in the communities of the 28 states that Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad operates, and where BNSF employees live, work and volunteer. This gift will be used to support The Arc's Representative Payee and Support Services to Prevent Homelessness Program.
Push America Awards $750 to The Arc of King County
Push America was founded in 1977 by Pi Kappa Phi fraternity as a way of instilling a lifelong commitment to service among its members, while enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities. Through Push America's nationwide programs, they are able to educate communities nationwide, and over 6,000 of Pi Kappa Phi undergraduates and 65,000 alumni about the abilities of people with disabilities. Push America's Grant will be used to fund The Arc's Community Living Grant program established to provide support for lifestyle necessities for individuals with disabilities.
The Arc of King County Welcomes The Family Support 360° Program Navigators
The Arc of King County is pleased to announce the edition of seven Navigators to the Family Support 360° team.
Each Navigator has a specific cultural expertise that provides them with a comprehensive understanding that enables them to work with families in the Family Support 360° Program. The Navigators are able to remove the cultural barrier, that may have previously served as a roadblock to these families, and allows the Navigator to successfully guide and assist the families to receive the services and support they need. The Navigators directly contribute to The Arc of King County's success in its outreach efforts to reach the unserved and underserved populations.
The Arc of King County's Family Support 360° program is pleased to introduce Catalina Angel, Tammy Dang, Patricia Gonzalez. Khadro Jama, Scarlett Mai, Barni Musse and Khadijah Toms. To learn more, read the personal briefs of each of The Arc of King County Navigators.
To Ashley From The Arc: Congratulations!
 Congratulations to Ashley Van Oeveren for being selected as the 2010 award winner of the Doyne M. Green Scholarship for $4,000.
Ashley was one of several University of Washington student interns for The Arc of King County's Outreach and Advocacy Program.
She currently works as Program Manager for King County's Service Alternatives, Community and Employment Services.
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