North Shore philanthropists Julie Rainer Cummings of Swampscott, and Steven P. Rosenthal of Marblehead, have donated a combined $55,000 to Northeast Arc, allowing the agency to provide year-end recognition to hundreds of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who worked with individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. These DSPs work in Northeast Arc’s 30-plus residential homes across the North Shore, providing 24/7/365 hands-on care for individuals with disabilities. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Northeast Arc DSPs have worked tirelessly to support hundreds of individuals, and these holiday bonuses are in recognition of that effort.
“My family has been fortunate to be involved with Northeast Arc since its founding in the 1950s,” said Julie Rainer Cummings, a member of the Northeast Arc Board of Directors. “Direct Support Professionals are our backbone, directly supporting individuals in reaching their full potential. I’ve never been more proud of these employees and I am pleased we can show them our appreciation,”
These gifts are the latest round of financial support from generous donors to Northeast Arc amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to this recognition, donors have provided the agency with hand sanitizer, personal protective equipment (PPE), and with the financial flexibility that allowed it to move many services to a virtual model. But those living in Northeast Arc’s residential homes still required in-person care, which DSPs have been providing since the beginning of the pandemic in March.
“The Northeast Arc continues to impress me with their incredible compassion and commitment to people with disabilities,” said Steven P. Rosenthal, philanthropist and Northeast Arc Advisory Board member. “During the pandemic, their Direct Support Professionals routinely put the needs of the individuals served by Northeast Arc ahead of their own and continue to do so on a daily basis. They deserve an incredible amount of respect for their hard work and I am happy to be able to join with Julie Rainer Cummings to show them support at this time.”
Read more coverage of this story:
Philanthropists make the holidays a little brighter for Northeast Arc (Daily Item)