When Carol speaks about her life today, her words are filled with purpose, determination, and joy. She lives independently in her own apartment, proudly takes care of her cat, Angel, and spends her time volunteering, coaching, and advocating for others. But her journey to this place of confidence and independence wasn’t easy—and it might never have happened without The Arc of Frederick County.
“I was in an institution when I was younger. My parents didn’t want me, and they put me at Rosewood,” Carol said. “That’s a place to forget. No one should send their loved ones to Rosewood [Rosewood Center was an institution for individuals with developmental disabilities that closed in 2009].”
Eventually, Carol began receiving support from The Arc of Frederick County, and everything changed. She worked with a tutor named Brett who helped her learn to read, write, and spell. She completed a food service training program, secured a job at Wendy’s, and gained the life skills and support needed to live on her own.
Now, Carol is thriving—and giving back. She is a volunteer coach with Special Olympics and presents self-advocacy presentations across the state. And she has a powerful voice in her community as a member of The Arc’s Board of Directors.
She is a proud advocate and takes every opportunity to champion the efforts of The Arc and other resources for those in need. Every year, she travels to Annapolis to speak directly to legislators about protecting resources for people with developmental disabilities.
“I’m a people person, a collaborator,” Carol said. “I love the work I do. I’m taking control of my life and spreading it to others.”
That ripple effect—supporting one individual who then empowers others—is exactly what The Arc of Frederick County is rooted in. “We tailor our services to meet the community’s ever-changing needs,” said Executive Director Shauna Mulcahy. “We’re not a cookie-cutter program. We evolve to fill gaps and help where we’re needed most. Whether it’s children in the school system, adults looking for job training, or individuals simply needing guidance, we’re here.”
The Arc serves more than 650 individuals through core programs, workshops, referrals, and family support and employs more than 300 staff members. The Arc is a cornerstone of care and inclusion in Frederick County, but like many nonprofits, the need for services is increasing and funding is unpredictable.
“There’s so much uncertainty around Medicaid and future funding,” Shauna said. “But what we can rely on is our community—and the Community Foundation is a big part of that.”
In fiscal year 2025, the Community Foundation provided more than $110,000 in designated grants to The Arc.
Thanks to deep-rooted partnerships—from The Arc, from the Community Foundation, and from the Frederick community—Carol has found her voice. And she’s using it to help others find theirs. 
This article was featured in the Community Foundation’s fiscal year 2025 Annual Report.