LRCS’ Celebrates 40 Years in the Community

Over 150 people filled the Beane Conference Center in Laconia on April 9 for the LRCS Annual Celebration marking 40 years of service to the community. Guest were welcomed by LRCS Board President R. Stuart Wallace and with remarks from  LRCS Executive Director, Christine Santaniello, reflecting on the four decades of hard work, still ongoing, to support a comprehensive community-based service system designed to be inclusive of all members in our communities.

Santaniello honored the long term partnerships that LRCS has fostered over the decades including the Bureau of Developmental Services for their vision and commitment to community-based services; the schools that serves as an essential partner in a lifetime of education; and the most essential partner – the families who serve as advocates, support their family members for a lifetime and help one another with the challenges they face. Wallace and Santaniello also honored 22 employees of LRCS who received longevity awards for 25, 20, 15 and 10 years of services to the community.

LRCS40-35Keynote speaker and award winning documentary filmmaker Dan Habib of the UNH Institute on Disability, shared the experiences of his son Samuel, born with cerebral palsy and his family.  Through personal stories and film clips, Habib’ showed how a culture of inclusion improves everyone’s quality of life, not just those with disabilities.  His remarks hit home with an audience of individuals and families served by LRCS, past and present employees and board members, community and business leaders and partners, educators and Developmental Services system advocates – who all came together for this milestone celebration. For video of Habib’s remarks click here.

“We have made great strides and have much to be proud of, yet we still have people with disabilities who are not included in their communities, who feel lonely and isolated. It is our responsibility to get out and ensure that no person is a stranger in their community, to strengthen our communities to become inclusive of all – the elders, the child, the family in poverty, the person struggling with substance abuse, mental illness and individuals with disabilities. A central tenet of LRCS is to support, create and steward a culture of inclusion,” said Christine Santaniello, LRCS Executive Director.

LRCS40-39The closing reception featured 40th anniversary cupcakes baked by the Cooking Club for individuals with Down syndrome sponsored by the Family Support Council  and by Ann Labbe’s Cakes and Cupcakes business.