Arc Kids' Campaign Hits $750,000

The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming has entered the final stage of its "Opening Doors to Children's Bright Futures" capital campaign, with a goal to close a $50,000 gap by the end of 2012.  Since embarking on the campaign more than a year ago, the agency has raised $750,000 toward an $800,000 goal to help pay for the Lehman School, home to its KidStart children's services program.

L-R: Arc Executive Director Chris Peterson, Board President
Cheryl Englert, Founding Mother Mary Derby, and KidStart
Director Chris Lynch, unveiling donor recognition stars

KidStart serves about 350 local children each year through special services, day care, and Head Start programs.  The Lehman Building is a 33,000 square-foot school at 5871 Groveland Station Road in Groveland.  The $4.25 million school opened in January 2011 after KidStart was displaced from its longtime home on the SUNY Geneseo campus due to planned construction by the college.

The Opening Doors campaign has received donations from 280 individuals, small businesses, corporations, foundations, and community groups, including Livingston County Head Start ($250,000), the Golisano Foundation ($50,000), Wegmans Food Markets ($25,000), and the Lewis J and Clelia M Serventi Family Foundation ($25,000).  The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming Foundation, the agency's own fundraising arm, contributed $100,000 raised through community events including an annual golf tournament and 5K run.

On Wednesday, August 22, 70 people convened for a donor recognition reception at the Lehman Building.  A mosaic of stars recognizing several of the campaign's key donors was unveiled by KidStart Director Chris Lynch and Arc founding member Mary Derby in the building's lobby.

The Arc is a private, not-for-profit agency founded in 1961 to provide birth-to-death services for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.  The Opening Doors campaign is the first capital campaign in the agency's history.  The campaign is chaired by Five Star Bank CEO Peter G. Humphrey.