Tributes are a beautiful way to acknowledge those you care for, and at the same time, help further The Arc’s mission. To purchase a tribute, please call Ann Burleigh at (973) 535-1181 ext. 1245 or visit our tribute page here. Tribute Donations (April to June 2026): In Memory of Davey OwensAl Lasso In Memory of Mary TranchettiNicolas SchmidtMark IppolitoBarbara Aranowitz In Memory of Nancy Barrett WalshJoanne Walsh PrierBruce BirdEd Grossman In Memory of Nicole FiorillaVeronica M. Hunt In Honor of Glennise Renae HillmanSherleen Hillman In Honor of Bob GebroeKevin Reilly In Honor of Montclair Rock VoicesLisa Cerasia In Honor of Robert DunphyCaitlin DiRuggiero Supporters can host Facebook and Instagram Fundraisers for [...]

Camp Hope officially opened its gates to campers on June 29, welcoming children, teens, and adults with IDD for another summer of growth, fun, and friendship. This year marks a special milestone as The Arc of Essex County's Camp Hope celebrates its 70th season serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Campers arrived at the East Hanover campground for the start of the 2026 season and immediately reunited with friends, met new counselors, and jumped right into a full schedule of activities designed to create lasting memories throughout the summer. The opening week's theme, "Four Seasons Week," gave campers the [...]

Students, families, and staff gathered at Studio Arc on June 17 to celebrate the end of the 2025-2026 school year at Stepping Stones School. The annual moving-up ceremony highlighted the achievements of students throughout the year and recognized those who will be moving on to new schools in the fall. Students processed from the school to the nearby Studio Arc multi-purpose space, where families and friends were ready to cheer them on as each class performed songs they had practiced with their classmates. The ceremony included an acknowledgement of children who are moving up to the next classroom level, and extra special [...]

A group of architecture students from the New Jersey Institute of Technology visited The Arc of Essex County's Beechtree Group Home on June 15 to learn firsthand how thoughtful residential design can support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities while maintaining the comfort and character of a neighborhood home. The visit was part of an NJIT architecture course focused on inclusive and community-based housing design. Accompanied by their professor, Judy Choi, seven students toured the home and met with members of The Arc's team to better understand the challenges and opportunities involved in creating living environments that are both accessible and [...]

A heartfelt story originally published in the Guardian about the dedicated women who have spent decades caring for residents at Arc Essex's Claremont Group Home recently gained even wider attention, inspiring News12 New Jersey to share their remarkable story with viewers across the region. The News12 segment, which aired multiple times on May 16, highlighted the extraordinary commitment and compassion of the Claremont team members whose careers have been defined by their unwavering support of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their decades of service have helped create a warm, stable, and nurturing home for generations of residents. To watch the segment, [...]

The Arc of Essex County welcomed Robert D. Laurino, Esq. as the next President of its Board of Trustees, effective July 1, as Stephen V. Falanga, Esq. concluded his four-year tenure leading the organization. Laurino, who previously served as President from 2006 to 2010 and had been the most recent First Vice President, was handed the gavel at the end of the board’s Annual Meeting in June. Falanga’s connection to The Arc began through his son, Matthew, who attended Stepping Stones School. Motivated by a desire to give back to the organization that played an important role in his family’s life, [...]