Awards Banquet Spotlights People with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla. - Sept. 3, 2015 - PRLog -- Clearwater, FL, September 3, 2015:  The Arc Tampa Bay will hold its 52^nd Annual Banquet on Friday, September 18, 2015 at the Sheraton Sand Key.  The social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner and award presentations. Tickets are available for $45.00 per attendee. To make reservations, please call (727) 797-8712.

During the evening, awards are presented to individuals served by The Arc Tampa Bay, the bay area leader in providing support for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in our community.

At last year's annual banquet, it was revealed that the organization known as UPARC for over fifty years would rebrand into The Arc Tampa Bay.  "Similar to last year, we have exciting news to reveal to those served by The Arc Tampa Bay, their friends and their families," states Madison Orr Hauenstein, Executive Director of The Arc Tampa Bay Foundation, the fundraising arm of The Arc Tampa Bay.

To reassert the organization’s recent name change and emphasize the unifying mission to support and empower people with I/DD, a newly created "We are The Arc Tampa Bay" video will be premiered to a crowd of over 450 attendees.  The video contains local dignitaries paired with individuals in The Arc Tampa Bay's many programs.  Represented in the video are individuals with Autism, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. Some local officials who appear in the video include George Cretekos, Mayor of Clearwater; Sheriff Bob Gualtieri; and Dr. Michael Grego, Pinellas County Schools Superintendent.

Awards that are issued during this year's festivities range from "Volunteer of the Year," "Outstanding Participant," "Drummer of the Year," "Employee of the Year," etc....  One of the most impactful awards is given in memory of the Foundation Founder, Dr. William E. Hale, and given to the individual that best represents the ideals of the founder, who once said,

“The compassion - the courage to look disability in the face and know that you have given it your total commitment - that is the hallmark of UPARC. We have the passion to care for these very special members of our society.”

"It is truly the highlight of our calendar year," declares Sheldon Hershman, Executive Director of The Arc Tampa Bay, charged with running the entire agency and its many programs. Hershman continues, "Buses arrive at the venue from our 18 group homes carrying excited guests. It resembles a red carpet entrance seen at Hollywood award ceremonies.  It's their night to be in the spotlight." The evening truly represents The Arc's motto, "Achieve with Us."

The Arc Tampa Bay Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located at 1501 N. Belcher Road, Suite 244, Clearwater, Florida 33765.

For more information on attending the banquet, please contact (727) 797-8712 (tel:%28727%29%20797-8712) or visit http://www.thearctbfoundation.org.