WHO WE ARE
The East Los Angeles Remarkable Citizens' Association, Inc. (EL ARCA, Inc.) is a community based, non-profit organization founded in 1965 to provide previously unavailable services to the Developmentally Disabled population of the surrounding communities. Our mission is to develop and maintain the Developmentally Disabled person's optimum level of physical and cognitive functioning to assist them to live as normal and independent as possible. EL ARCA's Multipurpose Center operates an Adult Development Center, Adult Day Support Center, and a Transportation Department.
In 1986, El ARCA, Inc. opened an Adult Day Health Care Center (ADHC) to pursue its mission of providing quality health, therapeutic, educational and recreational services to Developmentally Disabled individuals with health concerns. Our services for ADHC consumers included medical assessments, nursing care, physical, occupational and speech therapies, social work services, recreational activities and a daily “hot meal.”
California’s budget crisis in the last few years affected our program offerings and we were forced to temporarily close our ADHC program earlier this year. We previously had served over 150 ADHC consumers/clients, their families and provided jobs to over 40 employees.
OUR GOAL
In the last few months, El Arca has become aware that many of our consumers have not been able to find a day program providing the specialized services we provided for developmentally disabled persons. The desire for the services we provided is real and is desperately needed by local families and communities.
We find it is not only a moral responsibility; it is also our mission to find a way to provide ADHC services again to the remarkable citizens that once enjoyed them. Our new ADHC program will operate under a new self-sustainable economic model.
ABOUT CYCLING/WALKING/RUNNING 4 THE FUTURE OF EL ARCA
We came up with the concept of cycling, walking and running for the future of El Arca as a way to raise funds to offset the costs of opening up our ADHC program. Your generosity and kindness can make it possible for El Arca to provide needed specialized services to consumers, respite for caretakers and jobs for our communities. Please help us raise funds by cycling, walking or running for the future of El Arca and pledging a minimum of $250.00 in sponsorships. We will keep you updated with information as well as photos of our progress via our blog at http://cycling4elarcainc.blogspot.com. You may also contact us at elarcainc@earthlink.net or our main phone number at 323-223-3079 if you have any questions about this fundraiser.
