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Spring/Summer
2015
Partner Report
Spotlight in the Spotlight!
New Documentary Released, Summer Program Turns 10
What an exciting time for our Spotlight social skills
program! The premiere of the documentary Autism
Through My Lens, the result of a collaboration
between staff and students of Spotlight and
Emerson College, was held May 21st at the Paramount
Theater in Boston. The documentary features nine
teenagers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
who share candidly and in their own words the
impact ASD has on their relationships with peers,
their self-advocacy efforts and their journey to
adulthood.
“Autism Through My Lens gives the audience with
an authentic, accurate, and comprehensive
depiction of ability,” says Carrie Breaux, the
Director of the Spotlight Program. Keep an eye on
our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/NortheastArc) for news of a local screening (and while you’re
there, make sure you “like” the page so we’ll be in
your News Feed!)
CODY & NICK
The Spotlight Program works to build confidence and competence in those who struggle
to navigate the social world. The program is designed for youth ages 6 to 22 years, whose
diagnoses include Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, High Functioning Autism, ADD/ADHD,
Anxiety, Mood Disorders or other related diagnoses.
We are gearing up for Spotlight’s 10th Annual Summer Program, which will run for six
weeks (June 29th to August 7th) at the Covenant Christian Academy in West Peabody.
Participants will be making friends, making movies, and making strides. The program
gives teens the chance to strengthen their perspective-taking and other communication
continued on page 3
IN A PARENT’S WORDS...
“Spotlight has brought our daughter back to us. The caring atmosphere—that is not
only among the students but also the staff members—makes Spotlight an outstanding
program. It has enriched our lives more than words can express and we are so grateful.
You have all helped our daughter find her joy again!”
Lifelong support for people with disabilities
A NOTE FOR YOU...
A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
It gives me great pleasure to introduce the Annual Fund
Community Captains that Chairman Jason Maxwell recruited to
help us raise awareness of, and funds for our programs in our core
service area.
At press time, the following volunteer leaders were busy hosting
receptions and reaching out to their communities to raise friends
and funds for us before our fiscal year ends June 30th.
Beverly — Captain Nancy Fallon, Parent
Cape Ann — Captain Wally Mears, Jungle, Inc.
Danvers — Captain Gayla Bartlett, President, Danvers Kiwanis Club
Greater Lynn — Captain Julie Rainer Cummings, Immediate Past President, NeArc
Hamilton/Wenham/Ipswich — Captain Chris Keohane, Wenham Tea House
Peabody — Captain Mike Murray, Peabody Wealth Advisors
Salem — Captain Jeff Rolke, Gold Coast Mortgage
Tri-town — Captain Brian Gregory, Boston Private Bank & Trust
Major Gifts/Planned Giving — Neiland Douglas, Morgan & Douglas
Aide de Camp – John Boris
Thanks to all of our Community Captains for their efforts and to each of you who has
made an Annual Fund Gift this fiscal year (July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015). If you have not
yet made your gift, it’s not too late! Please use the enclosed reply envelope to mail your
gift or pledge today. We are running 20% ahead of last year’s Annual Fund total but have
yet to reach our goal.
Your gift supports transformational services for
your neighbors, friends and family members with
disabilities, including: giving infants and toddlers
the best start possible; providing kids with the
chance to get fit and make friends; helping youth
prepare for and land their dream jobs; and
empowering them to live in the neighborhood of
their choice.
Wishing all of you in the NeArc family a safe and
happy summer!
Gerard L. McCarthy
Chief Executive Officer
To support the programs you read about on these pages,
contact the Northeast Arc Development Office at
978-624-2487 or donate online at www.ne-arc.org.
Board of Directors
Don Fournier, President
Stephen Johnson, Vice President
Jeffrey Musman, Treasurer
Kenneth Klaiman, Secretary
Julie Cummings,
Immediate Past President
~ MEMBERS ~
John Boris • Jeremy Cohen
Dan Corbett • Ivy Dorflinger
Robert Herlich • John Holian
Darcy Immerman • Chris Lovasco
Jason Maxwell • Shari Munro
George Vernet • Mikki Wilson
Larry Zabar
www.ne-arc.org
THERE’S MORE...
continued from page 1
skills while they develop characters for short
films, public service announcements, movie
trailers and music videos.
“Spotlight is a place where everyone belongs,
and everyone is working on both their visible
and invisible skills,” shared Breaux. “Our summer
program is a community of people navigating
social nuances and being supported to grow
into the best possible version of themselves.
Group members are encouraged to share their
common interests with others and focus on how
their natural abilities and talents can serve them
socially.”
THE CREW WHO HAS SUCH AN IMPACT ON
THE KIDS IN OUR PROGRAM
For a Spotlight Program application, please visit
http://bit.ly/applyspotlight or contact Chris
Curtin at 978-624-2335 or [email protected].
SIX WEEKS
OF SUMMER FUN!
Spotlight Summer Program
June 29th - August 7th
spotlightprogram.com/
summer-program
STUDENTS & STAFF MUGGING FOR THE CAMERA
DURING LAST YEAR’S SUMMER PROGRAM
Larson Recognized with Top Leadership Award
Louann Larson, a 27-year employee of Northeast
Arc and the Director of Family Support, was recently
awarded the Marty Martini Award for Outstanding
Leadership by the Association of Developmental
Disabilities Providers (ADDP). The Marty Martini
Award is given annually to one person who
“consistently demonstrates leadership, excellence,
creativity, and commitment in providing support
to their team and to individuals with intellectual or
developmental disabilities and/or brain injury.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves; Louann’s
compassion and innovation have benefited
countless families served by NeArc and we
congratulate her on this well-deserved award!
www.arcworksart.org
JERRY McCARTHY, LOUANN LARSON AND
JOANNE PLOURDE
www.heritageindustries.org
DID WE MENTION...
Celebrating a Special Northeast Arc Family
KEVIN, ELLIE, MARGIE & EARL MILLER
AND CINDY
Margie and Earl Miller have spent their entire
married life together welcoming others into
their home and making them part of the
family. For 22 years they’ve been home care
providers through Northeast Arc’s Shared
Living and Adult Family Care programs,
maintaining a loving and supportive home for
three individuals with disabilities: Kevin, Ellie
and Cindy. Margie and Earl were honored by
the Department of Developmental Services
(DDS) in March for their success in helping
their “kids” thrive—as equal members of the
household, as healthy, social adults, and as
active members of the community. Our thanks
and congratulations to the Millers! To learn
more about NeArc’s Shared Living and Adult
Family Care programs, contact Sally Grimaldi
at 978-624-2313 or [email protected].
IMPACT STATEMENT
“We just wanted to thank you so much for all
your help over the last three years with Matthew.
He had such a great team and we will miss you all.
We will forever be grateful to everyone at
Northeast Arc Early Intervention for all the love
and support we received. On many occasions,
one or more members of our team came to
Matthew’s doctors’ appointments to make sure
we understood any technical info and to make
known any and all capabilities he has that may
not be immediately apparent.
Our family was truly blessed with this outstanding
team.”
—TRICIA McMANUS,
MOTHER OF MATTHEW
[Note: After three years of Early Intervention Services
through NeArc, Matthew is now attending school with
his peers.]
www.spotlightprogram.com
‘SWING INTO SPRING’ WAS A HOME RUN!
We swung for the fences at our Swing into Spring event, and because of the
fans cheering us on (our event planning committee, the night’s sponsors,
volunteers and attendees), we crushed it! More than $100,000 was raised!
Thanks to the generosity of our guests, we can offer 14 new recreation classes
for people with disabilities — including golf, karate, tennis and flag football
— and buy all the new equipment and other supplies they entail.
Our heartfelt thanks to our tireless Chairperson, Ivy Dorflinger;
special guests Kim Carrigan, Mike Shalin and Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd;
the talented Andy Sussman from TSG Weddings on audio-visual duty; and
our friends from Kappy’s, who provided and poured the wine.
Special thanks to Brian McCarthy and Energi, whose surprise live auction
donation of Red Sox and Celtics Suite tickets helped us hit it out of the park!
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IVY DORFLINGER, MIKE SHALIN,
DENNIS “OIL CAN” BOYD,
KIM CARRIGAN
AND JERRY McCARTHY
2
JASON & JEANNIE MAXWELL AND
KEVIN AND KELLY DALY
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LARRY ZABAR, “OIL CAN”
AND HOPE ZABAR
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
9.21.15 MIKE FRANGOS COMMODORE INVITATIONAL
GOLF TOURNAMENT
9.26.15 FAMILY HARVEST FESTIVAL