The Arc Baltimore Nears $75,000 Fundraising Goal to Support Disability Services
The Arc Baltimore's Fund the Mission campaign approaches its $75,000 target to support essential programs for people with developmental disabilities, addressing funding gaps not covered by public sources.
The Arc Baltimore's Fund the Mission campaign, "From the Foundation to the Future," is approaching its $75,000 fundraising goal as the organization marks 75 years of service to people with developmental disabilities. The campaign honors The Arc's long history while supporting vital services that fill critical gaps in public funding for disability support programs.
For more than seven decades, The Arc Baltimore has evolved from a grassroots movement started by four sets of parents into a powerful force advocating for inclusion and opportunity. The organization works to ensure that children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can pursue their dreams, whether that involves higher education, career development, or independent living. Kathleen McNally Durkin, The Arc Baltimore's Chief Executive Officer, explains that the foundation laid in 1950 has grown into a movement that continues to create futures filled with possibilities for people with disabilities.
"Today's children are growing up in a world where inclusion is the expectation, not the exception," Durkin states. "Still, our work is not finished. We must ensure every child, adult, and family continues to have the support and opportunities they need not just to survive, but to thrive." This ongoing need underscores the importance of the Fund the Mission campaign in maintaining essential services that might otherwise be unavailable to the disability community.
The campaign funds support a comprehensive range of programs including employment training and support, day and residential services, family support and education, treatment foster care, assistive technology services, respite care, and public policy advocacy. These services represent critical components of The Arc's mission to create a world where every person with developmental disabilities is valued and included. Donations directly support these programs through the campaign website at https://www.thearcbaltimore.org/donate.
The timing of this campaign coincides with The Arc Baltimore's 75th anniversary, making the fundraising effort particularly significant as it bridges the organization's historical foundation with its future service commitments. The continued need for private funding highlights the ongoing challenges in fully supporting disability services through public funding alone, making community support through initiatives like Fund the Mission essential for maintaining the quality and scope of services provided to individuals and families across Baltimore.