WESTWOOD, Mass. (March 2, 2020) – The Arc of South Norfolk, a nonprofit human service provider committed to supporting people with developmental disabilities, today announced two new scholarship awards to promote wellness and education for individuals of all abilities.
The scholarships were donated by The Arc of South Norfolk’s Our Club, a self-advocacy group of adults who meet weekly to plan and coordinate events for people with developmental disabilities within their communities. With funds raised from its monthly community dances, Our Club is offering a $250 Youth Exercise Scholarship and a $250 Adult Education Scholarship. Applications are available at www.arcsouthnorfolk.org.
“Our Club is pleased to provide these scholarships to our local community,” said Roger Walsh, president of Our Club. “We think it will be great to help people who are less fortunate than others. It is important to support people of different abilities to achieve their goals.”
For the last 25 years, Our Club has hosted a Hip Hop Café at the VFW Hall in Norwood. Hundreds flock to the monthly dance party, where Our Club officers and members collect admission, provide a door prize and sell refreshments to raise funds for other local charities. The effort has supported Golden Opportunities for Independence, the Norwood Food Pantry, Wingate nursing home residents, and veterans’ organizations. In turn, many from those organizations have supported participation in advocacy conferences and events.
“Our Club means speaking up for yourself,” said Kate Sally, a former president of the group. “Our Club is one of the only self-advocacy groups with an elected president, vice president, treasurer and secretary that meet weekly and discusses issues faced by people of different abilities and how to address those issues as a group.”
Upcoming Hip Hop Café dates are March 20 and April 24, all running from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information on Our Club or for scholarship information, contact Associate Director Courtney Maynard at cmaynard@arcsouthnorfolk.org or 781-762-4001.
About The Arc of South Norfolk
Since 1954, The Arc of South Norfolk has served the towns of Norfolk County and beyond by providing supports to people with developmental disabilities, including autism, through collaboration, advocacy and empowerment. The nonprofit organization serves more than 2,300 individuals from more than 11 communities.