The Arc Foundation of Monroe Announces New Board Chair
ROCHESTER, NY – During its March 2022 annual meeting, The Arc Foundation of Monroe Board of Directors officially welcomed Chris Flores as Board Chair. He succeeds Lisa Powers who has led the non-profit board for the last three years.
The mission of The Arc Foundation of Monroe is to raise and manage funds to enhance the quality of life for those supported by The Arc of Monroe. Since its inception, the Foundation has continually expanded in innovative ways to meet the needs of people supported and employed by the agency. Powers has led the way for the Foundation to grow over the last three years and is confident that Flores will continue to pave the way for future success.
“I’m so excited for Chris Flores to take the helm,” Powers said. “I’m not going away. I get to stay on the board a little bit longer, but Chris has a personal connection having worked for the agency in the past, so he’s so tied in. And he still knows a lot of the people; he knows the folks we serve. He just has such deep roots with The Arc that I couldn’t think of a better person to succeed me.”
Flores is no stranger to The Arc. Years of working at The Arc of Monroe as a diet technician helped him garner a wealth of knowledge about the people The Arc supports, their needs, and what makes the agency such a great resource in the Rochester community. Having been an employee of The Arc of Monroe, Flores can attest to the support the Foundation provides not only to programs and services for the people the agency supports, but also to staff.
“I’m excited to continue to raise awareness, as well as manage funds that can only better the lives of everyone that The Arc helps,” Flores said. “I think that’s something cool that I talk about with my friends, family and coworkers. I’m excited to be able to hopefully impact the community and The Arc of Monroe in a positive way for a few more years and still be involved after my term is over.”
Tracy Crosby, executive director of The Arc Foundation of Monroe, is eager to see the impact of Flores' drive to serve the community in his new position.
"The role of the board chair in any organization is vitally important. The chair sets the tone for the entire board, cultivating an energy that informs the work of the team," Crosby said. "They also elevate the organization throughout the community, which makes it easier to garner widespread support. We’re grateful for Lisa’s commitment and tenacity, leading through the pandemic and navigating leadership and staff changes within the Foundation. We look forward to Chris’ thoughtful determination and unique perspective guiding us through this next leg of our important journey.
About The Arc of Monroe
The Arc of Monroe has been providing a variety of programs and services for over 1,400 people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their families in the Rochester community for over 65 years. The Arc works to enhance the quality of life and self-esteem of people in its programs, providing them with meaningful social development, supported employment, residential community living and enrichment opportunities. The Arc has over 40 locations in Monroe County that support and empower people with intellectual and/or other developmental disabilities. To learn more about The Arc Foundation of Monroe, including upcoming events, campaigns and how to get involved, visit http://www.ArcMonroe.org/Foundation.