The Arc Ocean County Chapter

#ArcOcean and The Arc of New Jersey were honored to welcome Deputy Commissioner Kaylee McGuire, Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Seifried, and Brick Mayor Lisa Crate to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! Together, we recognized this important month with a proclamation presentation, an inspiring self-advocate Q&A, and a program tour showcasing the incredible work we do. Thank you to our guests for their support and commitment to inclusion!

🏆 #ArcOcean had an unforgettable 70th Anniversary Catalyst Awards, where we celebrated 15 outstanding staff, donors, and community partners dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities. The event featured moving speeches, client and staff video messages expressing their gratitude, and thoughtful recognition for each award recipient. Thank you to our special event sponsor Seeds of Service and congratulations to our award winners: Lifetime Achievement Award ~ Tom Baffuto The Arc of New Jersey Bill Sackter Award ~ Tiffany Buccino Competitive Employment Achievement Award ~ Ilene Willis Distinguished Community Partner Award ~ John and Nancy Hughes, Be Best You Volunteer Engagement Award ~ Susan Priolo, Rutgers Master Gardeners Youth Community Volunteer Partner Award ~ Manchester High School Health Educator of the Year Award ~ Natalia Wlodkowski, Ocean County Health Dept. Healthcare Professional of the Year Award ~ Dr. Samantha Boyd Employer of the Year Award ~ Vogelsang Fastener Solutions, Inc. Support Coordinator of the Year Award ~ Heather Chick, Disability Services & Advocacy Newcomer of the Year Award ~ Gabe Offerman Part-Timer of the Year Award ~ Lauren Gandulla Employee of the Year Award ~ Tammy Boud Employee of the Year Award ~ Jacob Appignani Enduring Commitment Award ~ Steve Lazar

Tonight is the night when #ArcOcean honors and celebrates 15 outstanding community members and staff who have shown a consistent passion for making a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities in Ocean County, NJ. Let’s give a round of applause to our award winners, and a big thank you to our presenting event sponsor Seeds Of Service SOS!

🧴🪡 Ryan and Xenia from our #ArcOcean Employment Center are excited to partner with Each Stitch Counts to help package, manage orders, and coordinate deliveries of dish soap, laundry detergent, and handmade dishcloths to local food pantries. Click here to read the full press release https://lnkd.in/eBp4kz_Z

Join The Arc, Ocean County Chapter on Saturday, May 17th for our 23rd Annual Step Up for The Arc Walk and 5K Race at the Jersey Shore BlueClaws ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood, NJ to raise awareness and funds for the 1,000 individuals with disabilities we support. 

The Arc's Vocational Day Programs will host this year's Lunch Break to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! We welcome the community to stop by for lunch on Wednesday, March 5th at our Pop-Up Café at 393 Mantoloking Road in Brick from 12-2pm to learn about the services we provide to local businesses and see how you can become a partner for inclusion in 2025. This event is free to attend, but we kindly ask you to RSVP.

We are excited to announce the return of The Arc, Ocean County Chapter's Catalyst Awards on Thursday, March 13th at The Clarion in Toms River, where we honor and recognize the incredible dedication of our staff, donors, and community partners to our mission and the individuals we serve. 

Take Action today! Any cuts to Medicaid would have serious consequences—people with disabilities will lose the care they count on. Tell your members of Congress: no cuts to Medicaid. Take action now: https://bit.ly/40KIfcr

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the #ArcOcean Annual Appeal raised a total of $22,000 for our new group home featuring a zero-step entry, wider doorways, larger living spaces, and advanced technology to support independent living for residents. To learn more, read this week's blog post: https://lnkd.in/eM-RTXSG.

🌟🏆 Do you know an #ArcOcean staff member or community organization that goes above and beyond to support people with disabilities in Ocean County, NJ? Help us celebrate those accomplishments at our prestigious Catalyst Awards this March by submitting your nominations by January 17th online at https://lnkd.in/eZtHPAwm