DANVERS — Northeast Arc will honor Julie Rainer Cummings, Owner at Concept Capital, and Tom Gould, owner of Treadwell’s Ice Cream, at its signature fundraising event, An Evening of Changing Lives, on Tuesday, Apr. 8, at Encore Boston Harbor. Northeast Arc is a not-for-profit organization that helps children and adults of all abilities become full participants in the community.
“The Changing Lives award recognizes both Julie and Tom’s longstanding commitment to Northeast Arc and their dedication to creating inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities,” said Jo Ann Simons, president and CEO, of Northeast Arc. “In addition to being longtime board members, Julie and Tom have been dedicated members of our community for years, supporting our work through advocacy, philanthropy, and volunteerism.”
Julie Rainer Cummings’ family has been involved at Northeast Arc since the agency’s founding in 1954. Rainer Cummings’ late sister Lisa Rainer lived in a Northeast Arc residential home for over 40 years. Rainer Cummings has served on the organization’s board of directors for 19 years, including as board chair.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Changing Lives Award; it is a privilege to be recognized for my efforts, as well as the Rainer family’s lifelong commitment to the Northeast Arc,” said Rainer Cummings, who is from Marblehead. “I am also honored to work with the greatest individuals, volunteers, staff, and leadership who exemplify the resilience, strength, and unwavering determination that is the foundation of the Northeast Arc.”
Tom Gould has served on the Northeast Arc board of directors since 2018 and has supported inclusion through his Challenger Sports program in his hometown of Peabody, where he serves on the city council. The program allows children with intellectual, developmental, or physical abilities to participate in modified sports with their peers.
“I am very humbled to receive the Changing Lives Award from Northeast Arc,” said Gould. “I have seen firsthand what it means when people with diverse abilities have the chance to be fully included in their communities, and it has been so rewarding to work with Northeast Arc and see the difference the organization makes in our community.”
An Evening of Changing Lives features an inclusive fashion show where individuals supported by Northeast Arc are partnered with local celebrities and business executives to highlight their abilities. The chair of the event is Shari Munro, Northeast Arc board member vice president, and senior recruiter at TechPros, Inc.
The presenting sponsors for An Evening of Changing Lives are Encore Boston Harbor and PLAN of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Sponsorship opportunities for Northeast Arc’s An Evening of Changing Lives event are available. For more information, please visit ne-arc.org/gala or contact Dianne Powers at [email protected] or (978) 624-2487.
About the Northeast Arc
Northeast Arc (NeArc) changes lives for people with disabilities and autism — and children at risk of developing them — and their families. The agency, which opened the Center for Linking Lives at Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers in 2020, serves thousands of people in nearly 200 Massachusetts cities and towns each year. NeArc is the largest Arc in the state of Massachusetts and one of the largest in the country. Services include: Adult Family Care, the ArcWorks Community Art Center, Autism Services, Black Box Theater, Breaking Grounds Café, Continuous Care Nursing Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, The Learning Center Childcare and Preschool, parcels retail store, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential, Shared Living and Transition, and Skilled Intermittent Home Health Care. Learn more at www.ne-arc.org.
