The Arc of Volusia Installs New Board Member Steve Drago

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Aug. 20, 2018 - PRLog -- The Board of Directors for The Arc of Volusia, Inc. is pleased to welcome Arc veteran Steve Drago as its newest member.

Drago has worked with people with disabilities for more than 40 years in a multitude of settings across the country and served as the Executive Director of The Arc of Alachua County until his retirement in 2017.

He first came to The Arc in 1986 after working as a Behavioral Consultant for the Department of Children and Families Services. The Alachua Arc served 27 people and had a budget of just under $200,000 when he began working there. When Steve left they served more than 300 people, managed 23 residential homes with a budget of more than $10 million. Drago is past recipient of Arc Florida's "Professional of the Year" award.

"Steve's dedication to those living with disabilities is immeasurable to the lives he has changed," said Mary Jo Thorn, CEO of The Arc of Volusia, Inc. "Steve has been heard saying he knew that this would be his chosen profession after five minutes working his first job in a special education classroom and his decades of service prove this to be absolutely true – this is his calling."

Drago has served within a variety of clubs and organizations in the Gainesville community including advisory boards to the Alachua County Commission and a number of School Advisory Councils. He and his wife of 37 years, Dyana, are now permanent residents of Palm Coast, Fla. When he is not boating, fishing or just hanging out at the pool, Steve still offers private consulting services and staff training for The Arc of Florida at various Arc chapters.

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The Arc of Volusia, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded in 1962 by parents who were concerned about their children with disabilities. Fifty-six years later, the Arc continues to lead the way in promoting awareness of the strengths and achievements of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities(I/DD). They currently serve 230 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities – helping them develop life skills, increase their independence, and creating opportunities for them to earn a paycheck.

The Arc's community impact focuses on four areas - education, employment, health and basic needs. The Arc of Volusia, Inc. is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am until 4:00pm. They are located at 100 Jimmy Huger Circle in Daytona and have a DeLand campus located at 1738 Patterson Avenue that has been in existence since 1965. They can be reached via phone at 386-274-4736, or online at www.arcvolusia.org, or https://www.facebook.com/TheArcVolusia. Those interested in assisting The Arc of Volusia Inc.clients can find out more by visiting http://arcvolusia.org/donate/ to donate or sponsor.