The Arc of Hilo
Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people with developmental or other disabilities on Hawai‘i through educational, recreational, vocational, and skills training as well as employment and residential opportunities.
The Arc of Hilo believes:
- People with disabilities have the right to live, work, and play in the least restrictive environment;
- People have the right to a comprehensive and integrated individualized program and services designed to maximize development, and;
- Families and caregivers play a central role in the lives of people with disabilities and are an important part of our organization.
Capital Campaign Help us expand our facilities, better serve our client base and more ably involve the greater public in our programming.
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ABOUT THE ARC OF HILO
- 230 clients benefit from our programs.
- More than 80 people working in our Employment Training Service (ETS) programs represent a $300,000-a-year savings in government social assistance.
- More than 80 people are being served by Client Support Services (CSS) through our home & community based programs.
- 5 years ago, Arc got 75% of its funding from government. Today, through The Arc of Hilo’s business service contracts and fundraising, the dependence on government support has dropped to 51%.
SERVING AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
- Nearly 25% of Hawai‘i’s 1.2 million residents have some form of disability.
- 70% of disabled are unemployed or underemployed.
- Of 94,000 persons aged 16 to 64 in Hawai‘i County, 17,224 (18%) are listed as disabled and 11,000 are prevented from work due to their disabilities.
- Increased numbers of “ice babies” and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome children are moving through the school system.
- In the Big Island Schools alone, 3,564 students are presently classified as “Special Needs.”
The Arc of Hilo was incorporated in 1954 as a tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Board of Directors is composed of concerned community based volunteers.