The Salah Foundation recently awarded a generous grant to ARC Broward, a not-for-profit human services organization dedicated to providing services to children and adults with developmental disabilities and other life challenges. The much-needed funds will be used to support specialized programs serving young children, adolescents and youth transitioning into adulthood with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “As a board member of the Salah Foundation, I have had the opportunity to evaluate hundreds of non-profits. ARC Broward is in a league of its own because it has a great business model, outstanding leadership, and rock solid financials. My experience has taught me that organizations with such attributes make sound investments. In fact, we are so confident in this organization that we invested in six different programs,” said Salah Foundation Board Member George Taylor, Esq. Funding will be designated to six of ARC Broward’s nationally-accredited programs including Preschool, ABLE (Alternative Behavioral Learning Environment) afterschool and summer camp programs, Parents as Teachers (PAT) program, rehabilitation therapy services, and workforce services programs including ARC Broward’s School of HIRE Education and Youth Links. The following is a short summary of each funded program:• The ARC Broward Preschool provides early education and therapy services to young children with developmental disabilities ages 18 months to five years. • Older children with disabilities and behavioral challenges ages three to 21 receive enriched and specialized after-school programming through the ABLE program as well as Camp ABLE. • The Parents as Teachers (PAT) program is an early childhood parent education and family support program designed to empower parents to give their children with special needs the best possible start in life. • ARC Broward’s rehabilitation therapy services provide quality physical, occupational, and speech/language therapy services to children with developmental and other disabilities in a warm and stimulating environment. • The ARC Broward School of HIRE Education is an opportunity for students ages 18 – 22 with developmental disabilities to obtain career/workforce education, community-based instruction and independent living skills which prepares them for a career after high school. • Youth Links is an experiential learning program that prepares students with disabilities ages 16 – 21 for post-secondary education, training and employment. The program fosters independence and improves social and employability skills and prepares youth with special needs to transition successfully into adulthood. “We are incredibly grateful and honored that the Salah Foundation has granted ARC Broward one of our largest foundation gifts ever,” said ARC Broward President/CEO Dennis Haas. “This funding will help us to continue our work to better ensure a more independent life and future for individuals with disabilities in our community.” In 1956, ARC Broward began serving children with special needs in two small classrooms. Today ARC Broward proudly serves more than 1,200 children, teens, adults and seniors with intellectual disabilities and various other life challenges and employs more than 400 people. For more information about ARC Broward, please visit www.arcbroward.com. ABOUT THE SALAH FOUNDATIONThe Salah Foundation is a private foundation that supports non-profit organizations in the United States that strengthen families and communities and advances individuals to become productive and responsible citizens. There is a special interest in education, medical research, community development and self-sufficiency programs aimed at the economically disadvantaged, the young, the elderly and the disabled. The Salah Foundation runs a targeted grant process and select organizations will be invited to apply. ABOUT ARC BROWARDIncorporated in 1956, ARC Broward is a nationally accredited, private, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization providing services to children and adults with autism, Down Syndrome, and other intellectual disABILITIES, as well as those with various life challenges. ARC Broward operates three “mission-based” enterprises including the ARC Broward Learning Institute, ARC Broward Culinary Institute and ARC Broward Electronics Recycling Services and provides services through 21 programs in 10 locations across Broward County. By working hand in hand with families, guardians, businesses, civic organizations, donors and funders, encouragement and opportunities that create life-changing outcomes are provided so that people with disABILITIES and other challenges can live, learn, work and play in their communities. To learn more or to donate visit www.arcbroward.com or call 954-746-9400. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. ###
