ARC-CSS Presents Annual Awards

(A-R-C AWARD WINNERS: FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: FAITH GRIFFIN OF GRIFFIN THERAPEUTIC SOLUTIONS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR; ANGIE HAARMAN, CONSUMER OF THE YEAR; KATHY AND BOB GOLDSTEIN OF HODGSON MILL, BUSINESS OF THE YEAR; BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: HOPE YINGST, ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR; KYLE STORTZUM, VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR; CHARLI AND JOE HAAS, GOOD NEIGHBOR OF THE YEAR; DIANE YORK, EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR)

ARC Community Support Systems presented seven Annual Awards at their Christmas Party at the Effingham KC Hall.

Hope Yingst, Quality Assurance Manager at Hodgson Mill received the Advocate of the Year award. Hope supervises several individuals who work at Hodgson Mill and are supported through the ARC-CSS Community Employment program. She is not only a great supervisor to her employees but also a caring and compassionate friend of ARC-CSS.

Bob & Kathy Goldstein were present to accept the Business of the Year award for Hodgson Mill who provides full-time, competitive paid positions, with benefits, for several individuals supported through the ARC Community Employment program. Hodgson Mill went above and beyond this last year by creating a position that allowed a past employee to successfully re-enter their workforce after being without a job for many years.

Joe and Charli Haas were presented with the Good Neighbor of the Year Award. Joe and Charli became acquainted with workers from ARC-CSS through Holland Energy Plant where Joe works and one of the ARC-CSS Janitorial Crews provides contracted cleaning services. One of Joe and Charli’s hobbies is drag racing and they shared that with the cleaning crew by taking them on a trip to Cordova Raceway this summer for the World Series of Drag Racing. This was an once-in-a-lifetime trip for many and was totally funded through money raised by Joe and Charli.

Faith Griffin was on hand to accept the Medical Professional of the Year award for Griffin Therapeutic Solutions. Faith, along with Holly Westjohn and Linda Cummins, provide counseling services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They develop deep meaningful relationships with their clients and work closely with ARC-CSS staff for affective outcomes.

The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Kyle Stortzum. Kyle organizes activities for his Life Group at Christ’s Church in Effingham. He assures that they make regular visits to the ARC-CSS Oakview Group Home for special activities, which has led to deep and meaningful relationships for the residents.

Diane York was chosen as Employee of the Year. Diane single-handedly developed, marketed, sold, and maintains a Community Placement program in Clark, Cumberland, Crawford and Jasper Counties, an area that did not previously embrace an integrated workforce.

The Consumer of the Year Award was presented to Angie Haarman. Angie very hesitantly started a new job at Dairy Queen this last year. Through the help of her Job Coach and the excellent team at DQ, Angie has grown by leaps and bounds over the last several months, becoming a successful, dedicated and eager employee.

ARC Community Support Systems wishes to thank their staff, the community at large and each and every award winner for another successful year of providing services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.