Westchester County, N.Y. (June 6, 2023) – The Arc Westchester recently convened stakeholders for its 74th Annual Membership Meeting. The virtual event featured special guest Kimberly Hill Ridley , who serves as the Chief Disability Officer for New York State. The Meeting also celebrated the Richard P. Swierat Advocate of The Year Award honoree and welcomed seven new members to the Chapter’s Board.
Highlights from The Arc Westchester’s 74th Annual Membership Meeting include:
- Jennifer Huggins was honored with The Richard P. Swierat Advocate of The Year Award. Jennifer has experience as a member of The Arc Westchester Day Services program and serves on the Core Committee of Advocates, and the Program Quality Improvement Committee. She enjoys doing research on current issues in the disability community. It is Jennifer’s dream to be an advocate at the national level, shaping policies and influencing change. When accepting her award, Jennifer thanked The Arc Westchester for being so welcoming to her and for the positive experiences she continues to have with the organization.
- Seven new members were welcomed to the Board of Directors. The newest Board Members are: Jacob Kane of Pleasantville, Michael Briganti of Mohegan Lake, Mary Costello-Lazare of Pleasantville, Mark Glucksman of White Plains, Jennifer Huggins of Yonkers, John McAndrew of Pleasantville and Bradley Serlin of Pleasantville.
- New York State’s Chief Disability Officer, Kimberly Hill Ridley, spoke with attendees about her office’s key priorities. She and her team continue to focus on ADA Compliance – and associated trainings. She encouraged all attendees to voice any concerns to her office so they can amplify the needs of New Yorkers with disabilities to the Legislature.
“This has been a year of transition for all of us as we continue to socially connect with each other again,” Tibi Guzmán, Executive Director/CEO of The Arc Westchester, said. “While the pandemic has presented an array of challenges over the past 3 years, the people we support have continued to thrive thanks to the perseverance of our dedicated staff, trust and patience from our families and the generosity of our donors.”
A detailed overview of the 74th Annual Membership Meeting and financial report are available at arcwestchester.org
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About The Arc Westchester
The Arc Westchester, founded in 1949, is the largest agency in Westchester County supporting children, teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals on the autism spectrum, and their families. The organization’s 850 employees provide more than 2,000 individuals throughout the county with a broad range of innovative and effective programs and services designed to foster independence, productivity and participation in community life.
Their mission is to provide innovative supports for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families, to build independence, achieve personal goals and strengthen community participation.
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