November, 2015
Support The Arc while you shop this Holiday Season
The holiday season is upon us!  As you prepare your holiday meals and purchase your Christmas presents don't forget, you can support The Arc while you shop! 
Register online with Amazon Smile and Kroger's Rewards and a portion of your purchases will be given to The Arc of Greater Beaumont!   ~Learn More ~
Multi-Purpose Building Under Construction
The Arc of Greater Beaumont is excited to have started the process of building a home of our own.  Currently, The Arc has completed the exterior of a 4,000 square foot metal building that will become The Arc Multi-Purpose Facility.     The building was donated and erected by  Mueller Metal Buildings Inc.  in association with  Texas Country Reporter . While the exterior is complete, there is still a lot that needs to be done for the building to be fully functional.  "Once the building is complete it will be utilized to hold all current programs and services offered by The Arc and will allow us to expand our services." says Executive Director, Gary Hidalgo. "The Arc is making an ongoing effort to raise additional funds to complete the multi-purpose building and hope to have the facility fully functional  by spring 2016."  ~ Learn More ~
Leave a Lasting Legacy Buy a Brick, Build The Arc
The Arc of Greater Beaumont is hard at work raising funds to complete its new facility.  A great way to help The Arc with this project and leave a lasting legacy is to buy a brick.  Bricks are $100 for a 4x8 and $250 for an 8x8.  Business can also purchase an 8X8 bricks with their logo for $500. The bricks will be placed at The Arc of Greater Beaumont's new location, 4330 Westridge Rd. Beaumont, TX 77706.  Purchase your brick today! Bricks also make great gifts for those hard-to-buy for people on your Christmas list!  Click here to purchase a brick as a gift for a loved one. 
4th Annual Beaumont Buddy Walk the Best Yet
The 4th Annual Beaumont Buddy Walk was held Saturday October 24th and it was a party for the ages.  "It's amazing to see teams rally around their loved ones with Down syndrome.  It's because of each teams ambition that this Buddy Walk was the best one yet" said Buddy Walk coordinator Teri Hawthorne.  This year's Buddy Walk raised $110,000 and had over 2,300 walkers register.   Money raised at The Beaumont Buddy Walk allows The Arc to continue its programs and services while preparing for a bright future.  ~Learn More ~
Future Planning: It's Possible and Necessary
According to The Arc of the United States "Future Planning is creating a guide for a person with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) to lead a good life as independently as possible. A plan is important throughout all stages of life and especially in the future after the parent or caregiver is no longer able to provide support."  The Arc of the United States has developed a Center for Future Planning to give families resources to facilitate a person centered plan for their loved one.  Resources include what is a person centered plan, how to start future planning, webinars, and testimonials from families who have created person centered plans.
 ~ Learn More~
 

Join The Arc for a Holiday Party! 

The Arc of Greater Beaumont will be hosting a holiday party for families on Sunday, December 6th at the Beaumont Children's Museum.  The party will be held from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm and will offer children a chance to visit with Santa, explore the museum, and create a holiday ornament.  Refreshments and pictures with Santa will be provided.  Families of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism are invited to attend.  Although children of all ages are invited, activities will be geared toward children ages 12 and under. To ensure enough food and supplies are purchased please RSVP your families attendance.  To RSVP call (409)838-9012 or email arcofbmt@arcofbmt.org with the total number of people who will be attending. ~ Learn More~ 
The Arc of Texas Inclusion Works! Conference 
The Arc of Texas' Inclusion Works! Conference will be held in Houston TX February 7th through the 9th at the Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston Galleria.  The conference's goal is to provide  educators, administrators and   parents an opportunity to improve their skills in educating and supporting students in Special Education.  Conference participants will be offered information and education about research-based practices, aligned with the purposes of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), so that their student(s) can meet their educational, employment and independent living goals!
Parent stipends are available to help cover a portion of the costs of this conference.   Call (409)838-9012 for details.
Self-Advocate Spotlight 
Sara Leonard is chaplain of the Southeast Texas (SETX) Self-Advocates and a previous Excellence in Self-Advocacy award recipient. Sara graduated from Hamshire-Fannett High School and currently works at Heartland Academy, a childcare in Fannett.  Sara loves everything Disney and listening to country music. Sara's favorite part about SETX Self-Advocates "I like it all.  I especially like going to the Texas Advocates conference."  
Holiday Office Closures

The Arc of Greater Beaumont administrative offices will be closed the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas for staff to enjoy the holidays with loved ones.  The office will be closed the following days:

  • Monday, November 23rd -  Friday, November 27th
  • Wednesday December 23rd - Friday January 1st
Video of the Month 
Grocery Store Buys Special Cart for Special Kid
Grocery Store Buys Special Cart for Special Kid