THE STORY OF THE STARFISH

Early one morning, a young man walked along a beach upon which many starfish had washed ashore during the night. In the distance he could see an old man walking toward him. The old man paused often and bent down to pick up a starfish and toss it into the sea. When they finally met, the young man asked the old, “Why do you waste your time? There are hundreds of starfish stranded on the beach, and you cannot possibly save them all. What does it matter if you save one here and one there?” In answer, the old man bent again and lifted a starfish and threw it into the sea. “It matters to that one,” he said. This is how we at Arkansas Support Network see our job. We can make a difference one life at a time.

FROM THE CEO

It has always been our goal to be as responsive as possible to the needs of people with disabilities in Northwest Arkansas. We’ve worked hard to consistently provide the highest quality supports for the people we serve, and we’ve developed a reputation as one of the premier service providers in this state. We pride ourselves on our willingness to collaborate with other groups and organizations who are interested in breaking down the barriers experienced by people who have disabilities, and the partnerships we’ve developed with other groups and organizations continue to be models for the country.

Like all nonprofit organizations, we continue to be asked to “do more with less.” The need for our services grows each year, and support from the state and federal government has not kept pace with that need. In many cases, it has been decreased. It’s clear that if we are to continue providing quality services at a level that you, our supporters, expect and deserve, we must have your help. Please contact Chelsea Barker or Katrina Osborne in our development office to learn more about how you can help.

Keith Vire
Chief Executive Officer
Arkansas Support Network