Message from the President

Dear Friends of Orange County ARC,

During 2007 we celebrated our 58th year in service to the developmentally disabled community. We continue to be the premier center of excellence for people with developmental disabilities. We received the PIMCO Excellence Award in September 2007. PIMCO is the worlds largest bond manager and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

Our generous donors helped make 2007 a successful year through donations totaling $200,000. This will enable us to continue providing caring, innovative and cost effective programs and services in Orange County that enrich lives and develop the full potential of our clients.

We all know that work is a critical piece of having meaningful life activities for our clients. It builds self-esteem and confidence and opens the door to real relationships while helping people gain valuable skills that they can use in many places. OCARC provided employment opportunities to over xxx developmentally disabled adults through our Community Employment and Work Experience programs.

Life Unlimited, our pioneering day activity program, benefiting clients with severe physical challenges is now operating at full capacity. The addition of a physical therapist at Life Unlimited has been very beneficial in assessing our client needs and the training of our staff to administer a proper and safe exercise program. Gym equipment has also been installed at our headquarters to implement a new “Greatest Loser” exercise program for our clients and employees.

Family Connections continues to experience moderate growth. An expansion of Family Connections into parts of Los Angeles is being implemented as demand for services warrants.

Our classroom programs, CC-DAP, continues to focus our clients preferences and goals for individualized programming.

OCARC working with other organizations was actively involved in the State of California legislative process to protect the rights and preferences of consumers and parents. We wish to thank the Regional Center of Orange County for their ongoing support and partnership in serving developmentally disabled adults.

OCARC continues to attract and retain wonderful employees with big hearts that are passionate about the opportunity to serve clients. We are very grateful to the many companies in our area that provide work for our clients and support to our agency.

Our dedicated Board of Directors and Joyce A. Hearn, CEO, have made my opportunity to serve as President a personally rich and joy filled experience.

We know the consumer, parent, guardian, employee, donor, partner, or friend of OCARC will join us in continuing to make OCARC the premier PATHway TO empowerment for people with developmental disabilities in 2008

David Hill
President, Board of Directors