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How do you demonstrate the critical importance of a united community?

By bringing together as many people as you can to celebrate at The Arc’s 11th annual Summit of Hope Community Awareness Luncheon. Our supporters flocked to The Arvada Center on Tuesday, October 10, turning out en masse to experience the transformative power of our work on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Whether you were with us in person or in spirit, you'll want to check out our virtual Summit of Hope by clicking on the videos and links below.


If you feel inspired by what you see here, please consider making a donation to support our programs. Just $25 a month keeps our life-changing advocacy free for one person. As a reminder, The Arc does not receive any government support; instead, 100% of our revenue comes from supporters like you. Thank you!


The 2017 Summit of Hope was kicked off by Arc Advocate Patricia Fulton, our very favorite emcee. She helped us get an energetic start with a community-filled piece presented by parents, siblings, self-advocates, volunteers and community partners. A special thanks to our speakers! Click the video below to see for yourself.

After a brief break for lunch, The Arc's Executive Director Lori Ropa spoke about The Arc Promise, and what that means for individuals with disabilities and their families. Through the support of our members and donors, this chapter of The Arc is changing lives and transforming our community. 

Note: Video is not captioned. Click here for a transcript. 

For nearly 60 years, our chapter of The Arc has been dedicated to helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to be more included in the larger community. To this end, our advocacy isn't just with the people we serve, it's also providing outreach and awareness to help the community be more welcoming and supportive of people with I/DD,

With community development foundational to our advocacy, it's no surprise that the individuals and families we serve feel deeply connected to The Arc. For Tim and his family, The Arc has been a stabilizing force that's helping him plug into a community of friends. For Mason's parents, The Arc's community is a reminder that they're not alone on this journey.

Next up, Matt and Jackie Triplett, who were flanked by their daughters Lydia and Carly, shared their journey. The Tripletts first connected with The Arc when Lydia was a toddler, and continue to be involved and engaged with our community. Whether it's hanging out at our events or sharing their experiences with other young families, their story underscores the importance of being a part of The Arc. 

Note: Video is not captioned. Click here for a transcript. 

As our program drew to a close, our friend Lesley Dahlkemper, a retired member of the Jefferson County School Board, took the stage to rally support for The Arc. Thanks to her passionate appeal, The Summit of Hope has already raised more than $80,000 to ensure people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) have the right support at the right time to help everyone achieve their dreams. If you would like to be part of the Summit of Hope's success story, click here to donate now. 100% of your donation will support our friends and neighbors right here in Jefferson, Clear Creek & Gilpin Counties.

Note: Video is not captioned. Click here for a transcript. 


Click here to see photos from the event on Facebook!


Click Image to Download the 2017 Summit of Hope Program


Thanks to our 2017 Summit of Hope Sponsors!

Thank You To Our Transformative Partner FirstBank!

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