SENATOR GREENLEAF RECEIVES ARC HUMANITARIAN
AWARD
Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf is the recipient of the Vince Fitzpatrick
Humanitarian Award presented by ARC of Montgomery County.
The award, presented June 24, 2002, at the William Penn Inn, Lower
Gwynedd Township, honors the senator for his leadership directing state
government attention and funding toward increasing residential placement
opportunities for mentally retarded citizens whose parents are not longer able
to care for them at home.
The award also recognizes the senator’s sponsorship of the Standby
guardianship Law, which created a procedure for terminally ill parents to
designate a standby guardian for their children in the event of their
incapacitation or death.
“I am truly honored to receive this award from ARC because this is an
organization that represents the humanitarianism to me.
The people of ARC work tirelessly so that retarded citizens can reach
their full potential in the community. This
organization makes a positive difference in the lives of so many,” Greenleaf
said.
The senator was contacted in 1994 by ARC members seeking help to reduce
the waiting list for residential placement of mentally retarded adults.
“I was contacted by a group of older parents concerned about future
living situations for their mentally retarded children.
These people had devoted years of unselfish attention to their children,
and they were worried about the future,” Greenleaf said.
As a result, the senator arranged for Department of Public Welfare
Secretary Feather Houstoun to come to Horsham Township to meet with the parents
in 1995. Since that time,
additional state funds have been directed toward reducing the waiting list and a
long term plan has been developed by the State Office of Mental Retardation to
address the waiting list issue. As part of this effort, then-Governor Tom Ridge
proposed a five-year, $850 million initiative for more community services and
choices for mentally retarded citizens in need of residential placement.
Greenleaf , upon receiving the award, told the members of ACR
of Montgomery County that he will continue to work with them
on the issue of placements.
