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ARC Awards
(by Kathryn Davis - August 12, 2008)
The Weekly News among those honored at Arc Dinner
Resident of the Year, William Snyder of Franklin Twp.; Achievement Award, Keith Myer, Hackettstown; Supported Employee of the Year, Alice Jyvit of Oxford; Employee of the Year, Marianne Gasper of Oxford; Direct Care Employee of the Year, Tina Sutton of Oxford; and Professional Services Award, Dr. Eugene Decker, Coventry Family Practice, Phillipsburg; Distinguished Community Service, Dave Neal, Lowe’s of Hackettstown; Excellence in Media, The Hackettstown Weekly; Educator of the Year, Dana desGarennes, Warren Hills High School; Employee Distinguished Service, Kevin Guyette of Mt. Arlington, Vickie Santini of Phillipsburg, and Erin Perrine of Easton; Virginia Neuls Memorial Volunteers of the Year, Clare Wyker of Port Murray and The Rev. Phil Heymach of Bath, PA; and Special Recognition, Bill Marx of Oxford, Wally DeMoss of Phillipsburg, and Shawnee Mountain Ski Area of Shawnee on the Delaware, PA.
The ARC of Warren County may not be well known, but for many, it is a vital part of their lives. The ARC offers community-based programs to help families with the care of family members with developmental disabilities by fostering self-sufficiency, productivity, and social adaptation. They are also an advocacy organization helping to create a more inclusive society for the disabled. Their programs include aftercare, respite, and therapeutic recreation, as well as sibling programs, summer camps, and social activities. In addition, the ARC offers a variety of living situations including group homes, supervised apartments, and supportive living programs.
Recently the ARC held their 2008 Awards Dinner at the Bello Giorno Restaurant in Belvidere to honor a group of very special people. Among those being honored was Tina Sutton, who was named Direct Care Employee of the Year. “You’ve made a difference in my life. I hope I’ve made a difference in yours,” she said as she accepted the award.
Trish Reynolds, editor of The Hackettstown Weekly News and the Mt Olive-Netcong Weekly News, accepted the Arc award for Excellence in Media. Guyette noted that the effort Reynolds makes in covering ARC events and helping to enlighten the public has made a tremendous difference. “Trish just gets it,” she stated also noting that there is a need for more public awareness and that Reynolds and the Weekly have played an important role in reaching that goal.
“I feel I am truly blessed…” said Reynolds accepting the award… "to be in a position where I can make some small difference in the community.”
Another award recipient was Dave Neal of Lowe’s Home Improvement Store in Hackettstown. He was honored for Distinguished Community Service. The store donated new carpet, tile, and appliances for the group home in Oxford through Lowe’s Heroes Program, which includes donations of products and labor from the store and its employees. Neal went beyond that, however, said Kevin Guyette, Director of Development at the ARC. “The outstanding thing about his effort was he used his days off to come down and do all the prep work himself,” she said.
Dana desGarennes, an art teacher at Warren Hills High School, was honored as Educator of the Year for her role in bringing the Best Buddies program to the school. Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment for people with intellectual disabilities. The program encourages friendships and interactions that promote socialization while fostering acceptance and understanding.
Kevin Adams of Shawnee Mountain Ski Area accepted an award of Special Recognition for over 30 years of generosity. Carolyn Wolf, Director of Recreational Services for the ARC, said Shawnee Mountain has “fostered the skills that make these kids able to ski on any mountain. The program gives them all kinds of self-esteem.” Wolf said groups have been training there from all over the area including the Delaware Special Olympics, the Philadelphia Special Olympics, the Hunterdon ARC, the Bethlehem Special Olympics, and the MCARP (Morris County Adaptive Recreation Program). “They make it so affordable,” she noted.
In accepting the award, Adams said, “Special Olympics athletes come to train with us. We’re very proud to have been involved with many Gold and Silver medals in the Special Olympics. We’re honored and we’ll continue to do this for a very long time.”
When Rev. Phil Heymach received the Virginia Newly Volunteer of the Year award, he said, “I’m grateful for the ARC. I think it’s a wonderful place. The people that work here…it’s more than a job to them. It’s their heart, their life, and it’s a privilege for me to work around this place.”
In all, eighteen awards were given out at the dinner. Among the recipients was Kevin Guyette, who was awarded Employee Distinguished Service. Standing before the group, Robert Pruznick, CEO of the ARC, said, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm…She gets things done.”
Guyette responded, “It’s been a tremendous privilege working for the ARC.”
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