By Holly Hargett
Celebrating 70 years of changing people’s lives for the better, Parc Center for Disabilities has a lot to be proud of. Parc provides opportunities for children and adults with developmental disabilities to exercise their independence and experience life to the fullest. Their “person-centered” approach has garnered Parc reputation as a progressive leader in our field and in the community. “One of the things that we recognize is that even though we have been here for 70 years, there are so many people moving into this area that are new and not familiar with us, so we’re on a mission to spread the word about Parc,” says Michelle Detweiler, president and CEO of Parc. “We are a humanitarian organization. It’s just not the people that we serve. It’s our 320 employees, many who have worked here for 40+ years. To them, it’s more than a job; it’s a passion.”
The 10-acre Pinellas County campus is home to eight+ buildings that include residential homes, classrooms, art studios, and offices that serve children and adults with developmental disabilities. There are also two off-campus residential homes and several programs that operate within local businesses and schools. Parc is home to 94 adults and 539+ individuals participate in Parc programs. New is the $55,000 grant from the Truist Foundation to fund the Adult Day Training Transition Program.
For Detweiler, the mission is also personal. Her sister was born with severe disabilities, and she watched her parents struggle to place her in an institution which was the only option years ago. “They were housed in horrible places and conditions,” says Detweiler, “This population is invisible to most. They deserve every opportunity that you and I have. We have made great strides towards helping and advocating for this very special population…but so much more is needed. We are the voice and have always been that voice. We advocate and sometimes fight on the state level and all the way down to the county level for the rights and needs for everyone. “You can help; donations and volunteers are always welcome.
Support them through their fundraisers as a sponsor or attendee. Parc’s 54th Annual Black-Tie Gala is 10/14, their 50th Annual Golf Tournament is 3/23 and Tampa Bay Blues Fest 4/12-14 also supports PARC. www.parc-fl.org
