It was in the 1950s, a time when information about Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) was scarce, that a group of parents spearheaded the founding of Arc, an organization with a mission of supporting individuals with IDD. Since then, locations have opened around the country, and activists have worked diligently to push forward legislation and provide needed services that help people with IDD to be a part of the greater community. While the first Arc opened in 1950, Central Virginia’s outpost, the Arc of the Piedmont, wasn’t far behind, opening in 1954.
“Advocacy is a large part of the work that we do. We serve our folks daily, incorporating person-centered care,” said Melissa Wolcott, Director of Development & Community Relations. “But we are also regularly educating the community on ways to practically show respect and courtesy, dignity, and choice to the individuals.”
In order to serve its mission, the Arc of the Piedmont collaborates with a variety of organizations, including Region 10 and the Virginia Institute for Autism. But Executive Director John Santoski points to numerous others that have also helped to take the organization, and the individuals that it serves, from surviving to thriving, such as donors, event sponsors, grant funders, and people who provide in-kind gifts, such as wheelchair lift vans (including one donated by a local family who had no prior connection to the organization). And the gratitude doesn’t end there. “A few specific partnerships we’d like to acknowledge are the Cornell Foundation, which supports our arts program, as well as the Perry Foundation,” he said. “We’d also like to thank the Civitans and Kovar, who were instrumental in the renovations that took place for our facility, and the Charlottesville City CDGB grant that was awarded, which helped us to renovate one of the bathrooms at our Shamrock group home.”
Volunteers, too, are at the heart of the organization. “Volunteers are our Arc ambassadors, Santoski said. “Volunteers help support the events and contribute in meaningful ways [in] the way that they share our work with their network. The community all has a better understanding of who we are because of them!”
One of the things that Santoski harbors the utmost gratitude for is the people he works alongside every day. “I can tell you that over all the years, I am always the most thankful for people who want to do this type of work," he said. "As I look on the horizon, my hope is that there [will] be a willingness for others to advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves.”
To support the Arc of The Piedmont, consider attending its upcoming events: The Santa Fun Run on December 6th, 2025, at 10 am on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall and the Spring Gala on April 18th, 2026, at 5:30 pm at the Hotel Forum.
John Santoski said, “There is nothing more satisfying [than] seeing a sea of Santas every December at our Santa Fun Run & Walk. The event is the Arc’s way to give back to the community and to say: thank you! The heart of the event is that when you see a sea of Santas, we all look the same, you can’t tell who has a disability and who doesn’t, and this is how it should be every day.
The Gala is also a wonderful opportunity for us to share our stories about our people and for people to see us. It’s a fun, elegant night to celebrate our work and raise money at the same time.”