From the Foundation to the Future
Dear Friends, Supporters, and Community Members,
In 2025, we stood at a remarkable threshold. Our 75th anniversary of The Arc Baltimore—a milestone that invites us to look back with profound gratitude and forward with unwavering ambition. Our report’s theme, “From the Foundation to the Future,” encapsulates the journey of an organization that began as a quiet act of parental conviction and grew into a pillar of the Baltimore community.
In 1949, a group of eight parents laid a foundation of courage at a time when opportunities for their children were nearly nonexistent. Over the next 75 years, The Arc Baltimore became a pioneer for community-focused disability services—establishing the state’s first group home in Roland Park, early childhood developmental programs, and the first adult activity centers.
Today, that foundation has blossomed into a future where the people we support don’t just participate in the community; they lead and define it.
The Power of Purposeful Employment
Our early landscape and workshop initiatives have evolved into specialized career paths. Today, Wesley Powell manages inventory and support services for the U.S. Coast Guard at Tessera, while Molly Hayes has turned her passion for animals into her profession as a Barn Helper at the Rose of Sharon Equestrian School.
Creative and Spiritual Connection
Our commitment to holistic growth continues through innovative partnerships, such as the Maryland Institute College of Art fellowship for graduate-level students, who welcome people from our Dundalk Day location to campus for classes and tours. We also celebrate the power of self-determination in the home; Yosef Katz, Jonathan Nabozny, and Jay Lencz live together in a kosher home.
Independence and Lifelong Bonds
The “group home” model of the past has transformed into true independent living. Roommates like Kristen Seaby and Mintrie Seth thrive in their own home with The Arc’s support, while Ed Wise and Kelly Watson, a longtime couple, share a home and a mutual love for traveling the world.
From eight visionary parents in 1949 to thousands of lives transformed in 2025,
our mission remains the same. Thank you for helping us build a future
where everyone belongs.
