1949 - 1959
1949
April 17, 1949 – The Arc Westchester (formerly Westchester Arc) founded by a group of parents meeting at Mount Vernon Public Library.
1951
The Arc Westchester opens its first school with three young pupils.
1954
The agency hires its first executive director, Elizabeth W. Buck.
1955
The first workshop is opened in Mount Vernon with five individuals.
1956
The Children’s School for Early Development is established. The first of its kind in the county.
1960 - 1969
1960
Employment workshop moves to White Plains. Forty people attend program.
1963
The Yonkers League, a parents auxiliary, holds its first meeting.
1967
Agency’s first community residence opens in White Plains.
1970-1979
1972
PACDS (Parents Association for Children with Down Syndrome) support group formed.
Guardianship program established.
1973
Building at 121 Westmoreland Avenue, White Plains, is named in honor of Herbert Katzenberg.
1977
Mount Kisco Doris Hosmer training center opens.
Camp Echo opens.
1980-1989
1980
Workshop-to-community employment program begins.
1981
Agency opens Westchester’s first pre-school class for children with autism.
1984
MBIA Golf and Tennis Invitational kicks off.
1986
Crisis intervention program established.
1987
First Spring Ball held for program participants.
1990-1999
1993
Transition services program is launched to prepare high school students for the adult world.
1994
Pre-school children begin to move into inclusionary settings.
1997
The Ann Manzi Center in Mount Kisco opens..
First annual art show held in the community.
1999
NYS CARES housing initiative launched with first house in Bronxville.
2000-Present
2000
Children’s School opens first inclusion class for children with autism/PDD at Small Miracles Pre-School Center, Ossining.
2001
First Annual Golfing for Kids Fundraiser for PreSchool.
Agency launches pre-vocational services
2002
Adult day services pilots “Without Walls,” through which participants go directly from their residences to in-community activities.
Echo College holds first on-campus program
2003
The Arc Westchester Foundation established.
Agency purchases land in Hawthorne to serve as a gateway to the community.
Pre-school collaborates for first time with a public school system, Lakeland School District, to operate an inclusion class.
2004
Recreation pilots Echo Onstage, a theatre program.
First A Matter of Taste Fundraiser is held.
2006
The Arc Westchester and The Arc Westchester Foundation launch capital campaign.
Groundbreaking for Gateway to the Community, a new resource center in Hawthorne, N.Y.
2007
The Arc Westchester opens its first residence offering medically enhanced services.
Agency acquires new building for mailroom, micro graphics and e-DocNY business services.
2008
The Arc Westchester closes White Plains Workshop due to successes in community employment. Administrative Headquarters move to new Gleeson-Israel Gateway Center in Hawthorne.
2013
The Arc Westchester achieves National Standards of Excellence accreditation.
2014
Closed all our sheltered workshops and moved into community placement.
2015
Ann Manzi Center opens community garden in collaboration with Food Bank for Westchester.
2016
The Arc Westchester is awarded Westchester Green Business Certification
The Arc Westchester becomes certified by The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL)
The 1st Technology Conference for Cognition was held at Mercy College
2017
Opened new home in Westchester for young adults graduating from residential schools
The Youth Connection site based program opens in Yonkers and Mount Kisco
Establishment of The Virginia Donovan Charitable Fund
Richard Swierat retires as Executive Director after 35 years
Tibi Guzmán appointed Chief Executive Officer
2018
Opening of Senior Connection, a multi-generational space at The Ann Manzi Center
The Arc Westchester receives Feeding Westchester Award for voluntary services
2019
COVID-19 created unprecedented challenges for our organization.
2020
Programs and services plan reopening of in-person locations.
NBC News and News 12 provide coverage of reopening plans
2022
Tibi Guzman receives Executive Excellence Award from the National Conference of Executive of The Arc of the US
Transition Academy launched
2023
Barry Clark appointed as new Director of The Arc Westchester Foundation
2024
The Arc Westchester Celebrates it’s 75th Anniversary
