PUSH:

By MIKE SWEENEY special to the Ledger-Dispatch    

On Tuesday, June 14, The Arc of Amador and Calaveras will again host a welcoming picnic for the inspiring “Journey of Hope” cyclists. These young men are part of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. Their philanthropic organization, Push America, sponsors the Journey as part of their campaign to promote a greater understanding of persons with disabilities. This year, more than 70 cyclists will leave from San Francisco June 11 on their Journey of Hope to Washington, D.C. Half of the riders will come through Jackson, on a route from Sacramento to a strenuous climb over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The other half takes a route that goes through Southern California before heading east. This will be the 23rd year the group has stopped in Jackson before heading over the mountains, and the 22nd year The Arc has provided the group with a “friendship” picnic, replete with lots of camaraderie, food, drink and fun. The welcoming picnic will be at St. Sava’s complex in Jackson, between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Other local sponsors include Jackson Family Sports, Jackson Lions’ Club, and Mel and Faye’s diner. Returning cyclists and crew members say that Amador County annually provides one of the best experiences of the Journey of Hope year after year.Pi Kappa Phi is the only national men’s fraternity to establish and maintain their own service project. Fraternity members have raised more than $10 million for Push America since 1977. Information about the Journey of Hope and the many accomplishments of Push America can be found at www.pushamerica.org. Each cross-country trip is 63 days long and the bicyclists average 75 miles per day. Every day, the riders meet with disability groups and promote events to raise awareness and understanding of people with disabilities. The Journey of Hope is a tribute to the character of the young men who make up Pi Kappa Phi. For more information, contact The Arc at 267-5978. The Arc has provided services to people with disabilities since 1971.

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Amador Knights of Columbus raise nearly $2,000 for The Arc

From left, the Knights of Columbus' Joe Matthews, Dick Smith and John Bowling present The Arc's Mike Sweeney and Mike Rolf with a check for nearly $2,000.

Photo by: Scott Thomas Anderson

For 36 years The Arc of Amador and Calaveras has been helping people with developmental disabilities live fuller lives. On Wednesday, one of their biggest supporters, the local Knights of Columbus, continued their long-time aid of that goal, issuing The Arc a check for almost $2,000.

Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic federation of men in the world, boasting some 1.9 million. The group was founded in 1882 and opened a chapter in Amador County in 1910. However, the first Knights of Columbus in Amador were short-lived, lasting only until 1922. In 1997 the group was finally re-introduced to the area after a 75-year absence.

The first mission for the new Knights of Columbus was supporting The Arc. Each year the group has held a fund-raiser in which 100 percent of the proceeds goes to The Arc. "They help us out time and again, just like clockwork," said Mike Sweeney, The Arc's executive director. "This year the state is cutting some of our funding for employment, so the aid we're getting from Knights of Columbus is more important than ever."

The goal of The Arc is to provide services to individuals with a wide variety of physical and mental challenges, including mental retardation, autism, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Employees at The Arc work hard to allow each of their clients to have the most independent life possible. The Arc renders supported living, which helps its clients pay bills, shop for groceries and take care of their homes. They also provide clients with employment opportunities and currently have many working in jobs that are rewarding and assist in their independence. According to Sweeney, one of the Arc's most popular services is assisting the clients with recreation and entertainment activities. "We help them go to places like the bowling alley, the movie theater, concerts and big community events," Sweeney said. "It's something the clients really like."

Sweeney said the help from Knights of Columbus would be appreciated by his clients and their families. "We've been here over 35 years, and I think the many families we interact with take comfort knowing we want to be here another 35, making sure their loved ones aren't on their own. We really thank Knights of Columbus for their tireless support of us."

Dick Smith, the Grand Knight who handed Sweeney the check, emphasized that it was a pleasure for his group to be of service. "That's what we're here for," replied Smith. "The Arc's a great organization and we're glad to help them."

CARF

CARF is a not-for-profit organization that accredits several types of specialized services: adult day services; assisted living; behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse); employment and community living services; and medical rehabilitation.

The mission of CARF is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served.

CARF will be visiting The Arc of Amador and Calaveras this November and we plan on receiving another three year accreditation, the maximum accreditation outcome an organization can receive.