INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — When outgoing Chairperson Mary Beth Vallar was asked to do a site inspection at the west campus, she didn’t expect to find a gathering of Board members, friends and management waiting to give her a champagne toast and thank her for all she has done for the organization.
Under the leadership of Mary Beth Vallar (Sun Up Center Chairperson) and Reese Brackins (ARC Chairperson), Sun Up Center and Abilities Resource Center merged on April 30, 2012. Both organizations provided services/programs for special needs adults in Indian River County. The Board of Directors of these two organizations realized that as one combined agency, they could expand the programs and services, and in so doing help many more of the most vulnerable citizens to have a more fulfilling life.
The merging of the two similar 501(c)3 non-profit organizations was the first of its kind in Indian River County, and as such, the City of Vero Beach and the City of Sebastian both proclaimed that the month of July 2012 be proclaimed Non-Profit Organizations Unite Month, in honor of The Sun Up Center and ARC merging to become SunUp ARC.
Executive Director Chuck Bradley presented Mary Beth with an engraved pen as a reminder of the many documents she signed as chairperson to help the agency achieve both the Mission Statement and Vision
Incoming Chairperson Dick Pippert joked that although Mary Beth has small feet, they are going to be awfully large shoes to fill.
