TARC ANNOUNCES 2016 BOARD MEMBERS

TOPEKA, Kan. (December 3, 2015)- TARC is pleased to announce the 2016 Board Members. Board members were elected at TARC’s Annual Meeting held November 23, 2015.

TARC Foundation Board:

Ann Shelton (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas), President
Matthew Bergmann (Frieden, Unrein & Forbes LLP), Vice President
Travis Stryker (CAS Constructors, LLC), Secretary
Kim Savage (Westar Energy), Treasurer
Ken Scott (Capitol Federal Savings), Past President
Carolyn Annand (Hill’s Pet Nutrition), Trustee
Ron Gwaltney (Westar Energy), Trustee
Tom Lemon (Cavanaugh & Lemon PA), Trustee
Keith Mazachek (Washburn University), Truste
E.Lou Bjorgaard Probasco (Probasco & Associates, Inc.), Trustee
Andrew Wiechen (Architect One, PA), Trustee
Todd Reeves (Legacy Trust Partners), Trustee

TARC, Inc. Board of Directors:

Joell Chockley (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas), President
Barb Duncan (Stormont-Vail HealthCare), Past President
Richard Martinez (Kansas Department of Commerce),
Secretary
Mike Kongs (Stormont-Vail HealthCare), Treasurer
Virginia Lockhart, Director Emeritus
Mary “Mert” Bradshaw (Community Volunteer), Director
Jim Colson (City of Topeka), Director
Judy Dowd (Cotton O’Neil Dermatology Clinic), Director
Carol Huffman (Policy Studies), Director
Karen Moore (Educational Credit Union), Director
Mike Munson (Gay, Riordan, Fincher, Munson & Sinclair, PA), Director
Bruce Myers (Midway Wholesale), Director
Mike Morse (KS Commercial Real Estate Services), Director
Jayme L. Painter, CPA (Summers, Spencer & Company, P.A.) Director
Nathan Girard (se2) Director
Carmen Hill (Security Benefit Corporation), Director

TARC is a not-for-profit service organization that works to enhance the lives of people with developmental and related disabilities and their families, with service, support, advocacy and community involvement.

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TARC DAY AND SENIOR SERVICES TO JOIN AUGUST FRIST FRIDAY ART WALK

 TOPEKA, Kan. (August 5, 2015) — TARC’s Day and Senior Services is a stop on the August First Friday Art Walk, August 7, 2015 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at TARC’s Geers Building, 2701 SW Randolph, Topeka.

The summer art show will feature art that was designed to enhance our newly renovated Geers building. The renovation included the addition of a fully functional kitchen, an aquatic therapy pool, health center and an art center to allow our Art from the Heart program to have adequate space for persons supported to enjoy creating art.

“The art program is really great for Day Services because it gives people the opportunity to be creative, to get with friends and have a great time working on fun projects,” said Cassandra Phillips, educational coordinator. “One of the benefits we’ve seen from our program is it allows people to express themselves through paint, markers or other media and they come out with a smile on their face.”

TARC’s Art from the Heart Program offers structured art classes each week with an art teacher from the Mulvane Art Lab at Washburn University. Classes allow persons supported to learn new and different art media and to complete different projects.

The artworks, featuring a wide range of subjects, have been created using a variety of media including: iPad, pencil, charcoal, crayon, pastels, tempera and mixed media on a variety of papers and canvas. Reprints and notecards are available to purchase to help fund the Art from the Heart Program.

TARC is a not-for-profit service organization that works to enhance the lives of people with developmental and related disabilities and their families, with service, support, advocacy and community involvement.

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TARC TO HOST JOURNEY OF HOPE CYCLISTS

TOPEKA, Kan. (July 12, 2015) – A 4,200 mile ride with a purpose – TARC is set to host the Journey of Hope cyclists Sunday, July 12. The Journey of Hope cyclists consist of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity men from across the US who commit to raise awareness and funds for people with disabilities in hopes to increase their quality of life. TARC invites the public to meet the inspirational athletes and welcome them to the Topeka community.

The Journey of Hope cyclists will arrive at TARC’s GEERS building, 2701 SW Randolph Avenue, Topeka on Sunday, July 12 at about 12:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

Each year, TARC hosts the Journey of Hope Cyclist who raise money and awareness for individuals with disabilities. The members of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity annually raise more than $500,000 to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. The journey is service beyond self and the men of Pi Kappa Phi have been dedicated to people with disabilities since 1977.

TARC is a not-for-profit service organization that works to enhance the lives of people with developmental and related disabilities and their families, with service, support, advocacy and community involvement.

See below for a complete Schedule of Events

Schedule of Events July 12-13 – Journey of Hope Cyclists

July 12, 2015

• 12:30 p.m. | Welcome Journey of Hope Riders | TARC, Inc. Administrative Building | Free

July 13, 2015

• 6:00 a.m. | Journey of Hope Riders Send Off | TARC, 2701 SW Randolph, Topeka | Free

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TARC IS LOOKING FORWARD TO DELIVERY OF VAN DONATED BY WESTAR ENERGY.

TOPEKA, Kan. (March 31, 2015) –TARC is looking forward to delivery Wednesday morning of a van donated by Westar Energy. The van will be used for TARC Industries Document Destruction and Recycling pickups in the Topeka and Shawnee County Area. TARC Industries is a non-profit production facility that provides employment opportunities and work related experience s for persons with developmental, intellectual and related disabilities. The van will help TARC Industries continue to provide excellent service for their document destruction and recycling customers while providing work opportunities to those with developmental disabilities.

The Chevy One Ton Express will be delivered at 9:00 a.m. April 1 to TARC Industries at1800 SW 42^nd St., Topeka. Media are invited to attend.

“Westar has been an amazing, long-term partner with TARC. From providing leadership on our board and support for our programs to volunteering and helping with major projects and events,” said Eileen Doran, executive director. “Support from community partners like Westar helps us continue to provide excellent service, support and advocacy for those we serve.”

The van will be delivered by Westar employees who currently serve or recently concluded service with the TARC board of trustees: Kim Savage, executive director, corporate compliance and internal audit; Angela Cool, manager, corporate insurance; and Ron Gwaltney, staff engineer.

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TARC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides service, support, advocacy and community involvement to over 2,500 infants, children, adults and seniors with developmental and related disabilities throughout the Topeka and Shawnee County community.

TARC’S 61st ANNUAL AWARDS CELEBRATION HONORS DEDICATED WORKERS

 TOPEKA, Kan. (March 30, 2015)- TARC hosted its 61^st Annual Awards Celebration Monday evening, March 30,2015 at the Topeka Masonic Center. The evening’s festivities were hosted by KSNT news personalities, Brooke Lennington and Kyle Brochert with the Awards presented by Eileen Doran, executive director.

The TARC Customer of the Year award was presented to Kids Stuff Marketing; The Museum of the Kansas Air National Guard was named TARC’s Employer of the Year.

TARC’s Children’s Services Division presented three special awards. Dr. Linda Lawrence, MD received the Children’s Services Medical Professional Award; Children’s Service Advocacy Award was given to Lisa, Alex and Madisyn Collette, and the Children’s Services Service and Support Award went to the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center.

Our honorarium awards were presented to Jessie Ramirez (Marlin Blosser), Linda Dunn (Chuck Harpham), Terry B. (Ralph Fisher), Dr. Thomas Leonard (Timili Garnter Award), Richard Martinez & Family (Bob Geers Award) and Scott Gales (Virginia Lockhart Award).

The gift of time in the form of volunteerism was also recognized. Westar Energy’s Employees were honored with the Volunteer Group of the Year and the Volunteers of the Year for TARC were awarded to Gary & Angela Cool.

TARC is a not-for-profit service organization that works to enhance the lives of people with developmental and related disabilities and their families, with service, support, advocacy and community involvement.

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TARC Staff Years of Service

Five Years of Service

Jim Dozier

Jan Garton

Ten Years of Service

Ardie Meadows

Tammy Huddleston

Kelly Frantz-Langford

Twenty Years of Service

Cheryl Davenport

De Jones

Thirty Years of Service

Debbie Wolgast

Customer of the Year

Kid Stuff Marketing

Employer of the Year

The Museum of the Air National Guard

Marlin Blosser Award

Jessie Ramirez

Chuck Harpham Award

Linda Dunn

Volunteer of the Year

Gary & Angela Cool

Volunteer Group of the Year

Westar Energy employees

Children’s Services & Support

Kansas Children’s Discovery Center

Children’s Service Advocacy Award

Lisa, Alex & Madisyn Collette

Medical Professional

Dr. Linda Lawrence, MD

Timili Gartner Award

Dr. Thomas Leonard

Bob Geers Award

Richard Martinez & Family

Virginia Lockhart Award

Scott Gales

Record Breaking Winter Wonderland Thirty-six nights of twinkling lights at Lake Shawnee entertained area residents and helped raise funds for TARC. Thanks to the support of the community and sponsors, TARC’s Winter Wonderland XVII set a new fundraising record. Over 11,000 vehicles enjoyed the two-mile holiday light display this year to benefit TARC – setting a new record for funds raised at Winter Wonderland. The $167,582.01 will benefit TARC programs that provide services to children, families and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. News Story from KSNT News: