Our mission is to empower children and adults with developmental disabilities to achieve their potential based on personal choices, abilities and interests...
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Mellissa Lang
Director of Marketing and Public Affairs
phone: 914.949.9300,
ext. 4618
fax: 914.997.2985
or 914.428.0322
mlang@westchesterarc.org
Westchester Arc
The Gleeson-Israel Gateway Center
265 Saw Mill River Road
Hawthorne, NY 10532
914.949.9300
info@westchesterarc.org
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Press Release
State Business Council Chief Applauds Hiring
People with Disabilities
Westchester Arc Event Honors Employers
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – April 30, 2007 – Speaking at Westchester Arc’s April 26 Employer Recognition Breakfast, Kenneth Adams, head of New York’s largest business advocacy group, vowed to increase statewide awareness of the advantages of hiring people with developmental disabilities. As president and CEO of The Business Council of New York State, Adams represents thousands of firms and hundreds of chambers of commerce. “The enlightened employers in this room and those you partner with around the county are critical to the independence of people with developmental disabilities,” he told over 200 business and civic leaders gathered at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown. “This is a tradition that should be a model to business owners across the state.”
Adams was keynote speaker at an annual event during which Westchester Arc honors organizations that have helped individuals with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities build careers within the greater community. The City of Yonkers issued a proclamation recognizing the more than 30 organizations (see list below) being honored for combining good citizenship with business acumen. “The competitive advantage of hiring people with developmental disabilities needs to be promoted,” continued Adams. “The businesses in this room are doing the right thing and others should feel compelled to follow their example in order to remain competitive.”
Former State Senator Nick Spano was honored for his longtime advocacy of the civil rights of people with disabilities, for championing their employment and fighting for accessible public facilities. His repeated endorsement of financial support for Westchester Arc’s activities has helped thousands of families throughout Westchester.
Carolyn Holodak and Keith Caminiti, two individuals with disabilities who have long worked within the community, received the Anthony Cannata Memorial Employee Award for inspiring others.
Westchester Arc also described a new initiative, eDocNY, which takes an innovative approach to employing people with disabilities. Providing outsourced document management—microfilming, scanning, digitizing, box storage and shredding—the business is intended to eventually become a standalone, profit-making entity. Proceeds will contribute to programs that are not funded by the government. eDocNY employs individuals with and without disabilities and recently celebrated its first anniversary. During the first quarter of 2007, revenues grew more than 40 percent from the previous quarter.
Other honorees ranged from accounting firms to grocery chains to schools and public officials. District Attorney Janet DiFiore was present to receive an award for hiring a person with disabilities to work in the Yonkers Courthouse.
Four Stop & Shop locations—Eastchester, New Rochelle, White Plains and Yonkers—received the Continuing Partnership Award for their consistent record of hiring people with disabilities. At present, they employ 14 such individuals. In addition, Pat Dowse, vice president of the New York State Rehabilitation Association (NYSRA) presented Stop & Shop with the 2006 Corporate Business Employer of the Year Award.
Dowse also honored White Plains High School and The Tuckahoe Union Free School District for collaborating with Westchester Arc to prepare students for the work world.
Lexington Square Café, Mt. Kisco, received the Longstanding Employer Award for employing a person with disabilities for the past 13 years. In 2005, the restaurant supported employee Keith Caminiti’s athletic aspirations by giving him extended time off to participate in the Japan games of Special Olympics.
Westchester Arc is the oldest and largest agency in the county serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. It has long been committed to social inclusion because it benefits the entire community.
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2007 Westchester Arc Employer Recognition Breakfast
Employer Awards
Special Partnership Award
City of New Rochelle, Assessors Office
City of New Rochelle, Bureau of Buildings
Hymes & Company, CPA
Maier, Markey & Menashi LLP, CPA
Nassau County Surrogate’s Court
New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal
Educational Partnership Award
City School District of New Rochelle
Mount Vernon High School
2007 NYSRA Transitional Quality Practices Recognition
White Plains High School
The Tuckahoe Union Free School District
2006 Corporate Business Employer of the Year Award
Stop & Shop, Westchester
Special Advocate Award
Friendly’s Restaurant, Yonkers
Town of Yorktown, Town Clerk’s Office
Van Cortlandt Manor
Civic Partnership Award
City of Yonkers, Parks Department
County of Westchester, Parks and Recreation
Office of the Westchester County District Attorney
Continuing Partnership Award
Applebee’s, Mamaroneck
ShopRite, Croton-on-Hudson
Stop & Shop, New Rochelle
Stop & Shop, White Plains
Stop & Shop, Yonkers
Bridge to Employment Award
Sarah Neuman Home
Teatown Lake Reservation
Business Partnership Award
New York Industries for the Disabled
Longstanding Employer Award
Lexington Square Cafe
Special Appreciation Award
Senator Nicholas Spano
Employment Development Award
Lake Isle Country Club
Littman Krooks LLP
Westchester Library System
Employment Opportunity Award
Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
McDonald’s, Bedford Hills
Anthony Cannata Memorial Employee Award
Keith Caminiti
Carolyn Holodak