The GATE Foundation recently presented The Arc Jacksonville Village with a check for $90,000 from the annual GATE Foundation Charity Golf Tournament held in October 2016, despite several event cancellations due to Hurricane Matthew. Since the tournament’s inception, GATE has donated more than $1 million to charitable organizations.
“We are pleased to have partnered with such a praiseworthy organization,” said Kathy Brady, executive director of The GATE Foundation. “The impact of The Arc Jacksonville Village on the lives of these individuals is incredible. We can’t thank our registrants enough for being committed to making their donations even when the tournament was cancelled due to Hurricane Matthew."
“This generous gift will directly support the 121 residents living independently at The Arc Jacksonville Village, which just opened last spring,” The Arc Jacksonville President and CEO Jim Whittaker added. “By hosting this annual charity golf tournament, The GATE Foundation is changing countless lives in our community.”
Created at the request of young adults and their families for a safe environment where individuals in needs of lifestyle support count independently establish a home, The Village is an apartment-style neighborhood housing 121 adults aged 18 and older. Since its inception, it has become a national model for custom design to promote socializing and sharing among residents in addition to engagement with the surrounding community. Residents live among peers and choose the educational, recreational and employment opportunities they wish to pursue in greater Jacksonville. The Village opened in May of 2016, and was fully leased by August.
“The Arc Jacksonville has helped me to become more confident in my ability to do more things for myself,” said Jermaine, an Arc Village resident. “Living on my own makes me feel free to make my own choices.”
The Arc Jacksonville advocates for and serves community members with diagnoses including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other conditions of developmental delay. Arc promotes and actively supports the full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes of all persons without regard to diagnosis of a disability.
