2024 A Toast to The Arc Award Winners
Congrats to Our 2024 Award Winners!
Impact Award: Luke Goodwin
Honoring an individual or group who has deeply touched the lives of the people we support and has had a direct and meaningful impact on The Arc of Monroe.
When it came time to give the Impact award, we knew it belonged to Videographer and Entrepreneur Luke Goodwin. We began working with Luke back in 2021 when he was half of the business duo Dunne Goodwin. From those early days, we knew our partnership was a great fit because not only was Luke’s video content exceptional, but because of the way he approached his work with us. Whether the people he was filming wanted to know more about his camera equipment, or one of the cool cars he was driving, Luke always took all the time needed to share his knowledge and answer any questions that came his way. Luke is always accommodating when we have ideas for a project. He makes us a priority and is willing to listen and work with us to bring to fruition any ideas we have. There have been many examples of something funny happening as we film, and whenever I glance over at Luke, I know I’ll find him laughing as he takes it all in. He truly enjoys working with the people we support, and it shows in the final product. He knows how to think on his feet to get the best shot, and he is gifted at making sure his subjects feel at ease.
The Impact Award is given to someone who has deeply touched the lives of the people we support and has had a direct and meaningful impact on The Arc of Monroe. We can think of nobody better than Luke Goodwin.
Collaboration Award: City of Rochester
Honoring an individual or group who has made significant contributions or efforts that enhance the lives of people supported by The Arc of Monroe through advocacy, volunteerism, or funding.
The Arc of Monroe’s Job Path program helps adults find a job that is meaningful to them. But they can’t do it alone. They need partners to help with this process. And they found a true partner in the City of Rochester.
The City of Rochester has been a partner with The Arc of Monroe since we launched a Project SEARCH program in 2010 thanks to the commitment of Rose Nichols. Project SEARCH is a national one-year, high school transition program for students with disabilities between the ages of 18-21 that provides training and education with the goal of obtaining competitive employment.
The City of Rochester was a leader in the collaboration with The Arc that also included the Strong Center for Development and the Rochester City School District.
Project SEARCH, a one-year, internship-based program, combines classroom instruction with meaningful internship experiences to teach interns the employment skills they need to get a job and keep a job. The goal of the program is for students with disabilities to learn transferable work skills that will lead to competitive integrated employment.
All our Project SEARCH locations are exceptional, but what other program gives you access to the mayor of a city of over 200,000 people? We know we are truly blessed to have such an exceptional partner in Mayor Malik Evans and his entire city team. We know we are lucky to be a part of a community where the mayor sets the tone for the city that says we’re all in this together and we understand that collaboration is the key to all our success. Having Mayor Evans give the keynote address at the City Project SEARCH graduation or having him drop by our ArcWorks facility for a tour means the world to us, and we are truly grateful for all he and his team do for us.
The Collaboration Award is given to someone who has made significant contributions that enhanced the lives of people supported by The Arc of Monroe, and that truly sums up the City of Rochester.
Employer of the Year Award: SSA Group
Honoring an individual or group who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to creating opportunities for people supported by The Arc of Monroe to build skills, achieve goals, gain independence, and to move forward on their journey with greater self-confidence.
Service Systems Associates, also known as SSA Group, is this year’s Employer of the Year. We are thrilled to celebrate them for their remarkable contributions in assisting and supporting Job Path’s SELF program at the Strong Museum of Play. SELF (Strong Employment and Life Foundations) interns in reaching their employment objectives. The SSA Group has been supporting zoos, museums, and other cultural attractions with unforgettable guest services, revenue generative support and friendship. The SSA Group has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to mentorship, guidance, and support, significantly impacting the professional development and success of the interns within our SELF program.
Under the leadership of SSA, the SELF interns have thrived, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and learning. The SSA team's approach involves training sessions, one-on-one mentorship, and regular follow-ups, which have been instrumental in helping our interns gain the necessary skills and confidence required in today’s competitive job market.
The Employer of the Award is given to an individual or group who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to creating opportunities for people supported by The Arc of Monroe to build skills, achieve goals, gain independence, and to move forward on their journey with greater self-confidence. We are thrilled to honor the work done by SSA Group – they are truly deserving of this award.
Community Partner of the Year Award: Steel Rail Revival
Honoring an individual or group who has made significant contributions or efforts that enhance the lives of people supported by The Arc of Monroe through advocacy, volunteerism, or funding.
In 2022, we approached Steve Bartolotta with a heartfelt request: to create an opportunity at the Steel Rail Revival Festival for people supported by our Fairport Day Services program to take part as volunteers. As we celebrated the 40th anniversary of our program in Fairport, our goal was to deepen our community involvement.
Steve responded with immediate enthusiasm, and since then, our journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. The core group of Steve, Lisa Enos and Kelsey Bartolotta have worked tirelessly to plan and organize the 80 plus bands across 11 venues in addition to the countless volunteers it takes to support an event like this. They’re kind, collaborative and are not afraid to innovate to ensure the highest possible revenue for their beneficiaries.
From its inception, the festival's mission has been to raise funds for worthy causes through music, all set against the rich backdrop of Fairport’s music scene. To date, they have raised over $120,000, with nearly $40,000 going directly to The Arc Foundation of Monroe. Remarkably, the festival operates entirely on the spirit of volunteerism and generosity, with no compensation taken.
Thanks to the proceeds from the 2023 festival, we were able to invest over $10,000 in musical instruments for our Community Arts Connection’s band, the CAC Rhapsodies, and to enhance musical opportunities across our programs.
This partnership has blossomed into a genuine friendship, one that we cherish and believe will endure for years to come.
