Make a Difference
When you donate to The Arc ECT, you become a partner in promoting independence and equality for people with IDD. You help us maintain critical person-centered services that touch every aspect of life. Your tax-deductible gift will make a lasting difference in someone’s life. Please donate today.
WHERE DOES MY MONEY GO?
Here’s a snapshot of what your donation can do for people with IDD:
can provide transportation for Volunteer Corps members.
can provide cultural/historical experience for Participants.
can provide materials for personal enrichment programs.
can allow 20 self-advocates to attend the national Disability Conference.
can allow someone with IDD to live independently in their home with assistive technology.
Transparency matters to us! We hold ourselves to the highest levels of accountability — information about The Arc ECT can be found on CharityNavigator.org and Guidestar.org.
CASH DONATIONS
A gift of cash is a simple and easy way to donate. You’ll make an immediate impact on our mission, and you benefit from a charitable income tax deduction. You can make a one-time donation or set up a recurring gift.
NOTE: If donating by check, please make it payable to:
The Arc Eastern Connecticut
125 Sachem Street
Norwich, CT 06360
ANNUAL APPEAL
DEAR FRIEND OF THE ARC ECT,
April is beaming with excitement. After years of
preparation and anticipation, she is finally moving into her own apartment — a significant step toward independence for her.
She is one of “The Arc Seven,” the first occupants
of a newly constructed, mixed-income apartment building in New London, CT — a community project that offers independent-living options to people with IDD.
Read more of our Annual Appeal below.
April’s journey to independence is supported by The Arc ECT’s innovative and inclusive programs. Through her longtime involvement in our Community Life & Advocacy (CL&A) program, she developed the skills and confidence needed to thrive in her new environment. CL&A programs, such as personal enrichment, cultural education, and volunteer activities, helped April grow socially and emotionally, empowering her to embrace new opportunities and build connections with neighbors in her community.
April’s story is one of many that exemplify the transformative impact of The Arc ECT.
A LEGACY OF ADVOCACY AND INCLUSION
Since 1952, The Arc ECT has been a beacon of hope and opportunity for people with IDD and their families.
Our story began when two groups of parents of children with IDD teamed up to raise money to fund an education program focused on people with IDD. They had no choice. You see, before 1975, when the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed in the U.S., young people with IDD were not welcome in public schools.
The grassroots fundraising and advocacy efforts of the families succeeded in building an education program for children with IDD. Over time, the program grew and evolved, becoming The Arc Quinebaug Valley and The Arc New London County and igniting a social and civil rights movement that advocated for all people with IDD. In 2019, those two agencies merged, becoming The Arc ECT.
Founded on the principles of full inclusion and the belief that all people have the right to fully live their dreams and goals, The Arc ECT continues to promote inclusion, independence, and equality for people
with IDD.
Our mission, “In Partnership for Full Equality,” drives us to provide person-centered services that touch every aspect of life, from housing and employment to education and community involvement. We are a forward-thinking agency, leading with innovation and investing smartly in programs that make a difference in the lives of people with IDD—today and into the future.
WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE
Fundraising is critical to our success. Together, with your support, we can continue to provide services that empower people with IDD and strengthen our communities.
Thank you for helping to change lives! Please make a difference today.
By the way, April is doing well in her new apartment. "I love it!" she says. “I can have a cat."
In Partnership for Full Equality,KATHLEEN STAUFFER
Chief Executive Officer
Gene Michael Deary
President, Board of Directors
Event Sponsorships
Coming Soon
Contact us for more info.
DENISE TIFT
Director of Community Outreach
OTHER WAYS TO GIVE
As a business owner, you have the opportunity not only to build your business (and wealth) for yourself and your family but also to accomplish your philanthropic goals and support the mission of The Arc ECT.
If you would like to sell your business and receive income, you can transfer a portion (or all) of your business stock or assets to fund a charitable remainder trust. The trust will sell your business interest tax-free and pay you (and your spouse) income for life. You will receive a charitable income tax deduction to further offset any capital gains.
The benefits of gifts of business interests include:
-
Charitable income tax deduction
-
Avoid tax on the sale of your business stock or assets
-
Receive lifetime payments if your business stock or assets are used to fund a planned gift.
Please consult with your financial advisor or accountant for details.
-
Taxpayers age 70½ and older, who are required to take a mandatory minimum from their IRA accounts, may transfer a portion of that to a qualified charity. These transfers can be applied against your mandatory minimum distribution, but they aren’t counted as part of your adjusted gross income — this can be more favorable than the standard tax deduction for this same gift.
Please consult with your financial advisor or accountant for details.
Donors can support The Arc ECT by giving to specific projects or programs.
Community Life & Advocacy
Our CL&A program empowers people with IDD to be active participants in their communities and pursue personal goals. The program promotes access, equity, and inclusion, fostering an environment where all participants feel valued. This unique program receives no state or federal funding.
Contact us for
more info.
DENISE TIFT
Director of Community Outreach
THE JANINE THEVE GALLERY
This gallery—located in the lobby of 125 Sachem Street—memorializes the spirit of Janine Rene Theve, who enriched the lives of all who knew her.
Born in spring 1991, Janine enthusiastically embraced her family, her friends, music, animals . . . and Block Island. At Norwich Free Academy, she rejoiced in her gift for art and the joy of volunteering. Through the Art Co-op program, she encouraged students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to pursue their creative dreams. Janine believed in reaching for the stars, and she inspired her friends to do the same.
Janine passed away on Sept. 8, 2011. The gallery encourages people of all abilities to express themselves through art.ELEMENTS OF ELLEN
The Elements of Ellen project was created in 2012 in memory of Ellen Lassonde, a lifelong resident of Norwich, who always presented herself well-dressed from head to toe. As a result, she appeared confident and, more importantly, competent. In partnership with Ellen’s family, we began the Elements of Ellen project to help women and men with IDD enjoy the same sense of self-expression and confidence that Ellen herself displayed throughout her life.
The purpose of the project is to support women and men as they move toward an understanding of how their self-presentation skills in the community can affect their successes. Elements of Ellen focuses on the development of these skills as well as the exploration of self-expression through personal care and personal style. Particularly important is the vocational component of the project, which supports workplace self-presentation and professional success.HISTORY
Elements of Ellen’s pilot year (2013-14) provided 12 participants with an individualized community experience to address the relationship between how they feel on the outside to how they feel on the inside. Each participant was treated to an experience designed just for them, based on survey and interview data gathered by the project administrators. During the shopping portion, participants were encouraged to try on outfits for different occasions and talk about how each made them look and feel. They talked with sales representatives to learn more about picking clothing that fit properly and accessorizing and make one outfit appropriate for multiple occasions. Participants also chose a personal care experience, such as visiting a hair or nail salon or getting a facial and massage, and learned about products and regimens they could do at home.
While the pilot year was successful, participants wanted and needed more than just the one day experience. They wanted to learn how to find the types of clothing they enjoyed wearing, find local stylists that they could access on their own, and how to plan for the expense of personal care. We also found that with the acquisition of these skills, participants were better prepared to represent themselves in an employment setting. With the appropriate social skills and dress, they became a viable candidate for a position that met the skill set they had.
IMPORTANT LESSONS
It’s all about “me.” Our most effective lessons are designed around the interests of the people attending, and which they can easily apply to their own lives. Each participant is encouraged to apply each lesson to their specific circumstances, whether it’s employment, communicating at home, or socializing in the community.
Stimulating the senses. Participants have a chance to implement their skills in community settings, and see the results of how behavior and self-presentation affects relationships and social/personal/employment outcomes.
It’s important not to shy away from sensitive topics. The program creates an environment where people can talk openly about caring for their bodies. Some of the conversations surrounding personal care have been the liveliest and have had the most participation.
Call 860.889.4435 x108 for more information.
NOTE: If donating by check, please make it payable to:
The Arc Eastern Connecticut
125 Sachem Street
Norwich, CT 06360
The Arc Eastern Connecticut’s residential and day programs are always looking for good-quality used items such as furniture, linens, and lawn maintenance equipment. Please consider donating these needed items.
DENISE TIFT
Director of Community Outreach
Contact us for more info.
You can also donate non-cash items like jewelry, electronics, gift cards and more through iDonate who will sell your items on The Arc ECT’s behalf and sends us the proceeds. Your receipt will come from iDonate, but your donations are tax-deductible and will still help us provide quality programs for people with IDD in eastern Connecticut.
For questions regarding non-cash gifts, please call iDonate at 877.897.4273.
Your generosity can continue beyond your lifetime by donating to The Arc ECT through wills, trusts, even real estate. Your beneficiaries will benefit from tax advantages and reduced or eliminated probate expenses.
A charitable bequest is one of the easiest and most flexible ways to make a lasting impact. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust, specifying a gift to be made to The Arc ECT as part of your estate plan.
You can:-
Include a bequest to The Arc ECT in your will or revocable trust.
-
Designate The Arc ECT as a full, partial, or contingent beneficiary of your retirement account—IRA , 401(k), 403(b) or pension.
-
Name The Arc ECT as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy.
A gift of real estate through your will (home, vacation property, vacant land, farmland, or ranch or commercial property) helps support The Arc ECT and provides valuable tax savings for your estate.
You can also use your residence or other property to establish a charitable remainder unitrust, which distributes income to you during your lifetime and provides support to The Arc ECT in the future.
Please consult with your financial advisor or accountant for details.Contact us for
more info.
DENISE TIFT
Director of Community Outreach
-
Donating appreciated securities, including stocks or bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way for you to make a gift to The Arc ECT. By making a gift of your appreciated securities, you can avoid paying capital gains tax that would otherwise be due if you sold these assets. You’ll also receive a charitable income tax deduction.
Please consult with your financial advisor or accountant for details.