Above: Rachel, Dave, Kristen and April attend Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding Business Awards event. They stand in front of the Community Impact Award banner, proudly showcasing L'Arche Saint John as a finalist.
If there’s one thing Saint Johners know how to do, it’s knowing how to come together and celebrate good things happening in the community.
Among the full roster of fall awards ceremonies and fundraising events was the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce’s Outstanding Business Awards event hosted earlier this month.
L’Arche Saint John was among the nominees in the Community Impact Award category – a meaningful recognition of what we live out and aspire to each day.
The room was filled with businesses, entrepreneurs and organizations making a meaningful difference in the Saint John region. I was inspired by the initiatives being celebrated, some of which I had admittedly not yet heard of – leaving me with an even deeper sense of encouragement with how committed Saint Johners are to bettering their community in a myriad of ways.
Our sincere congratulations to BGC Greater Saint John for taking home the Community Impact Award – a well-deserved recognition of all they do and have done over the decades to support children and youth in the city.
Friends, we are speeding ahead into the holiday season, which is an important season for supporting the work of nonprofits and charities working hard each day to support folks who live on the margins.
This season – including GivingTuesday on Nov. 28 – is an important period of awareness-raising and fundraising for L’Arche Saint John to help us drive forward our mission of making known the gifts of adults with intellectual disabilities, lived out through housing and day program support.
As you embark on your holiday shopping and the flurry of festivities that accompany, please consider a donation to L’Arche Saint John, purchasing our beautiful holiday cards or sharing the story of L’Arche with your networks.
After all, if there’s one thing us Johners do well, it’s coming together and celebrating good things happening in the community.
With deep gratitude,
Rachel Vander Vennen
Community Leader / Executive Director