FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Arc Joins September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance for Emergency Preparedness

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On this September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance, Athletes for Hope will join thousands of community organizations across the country in turning a day of tragedy into a day of service. These volunteer efforts will pay tribute to the individuals lost and injured in the attacks, as well as honor the first responders and the many others who have risen in service to defend freedom.

This year, Athletes for Hope’s 9/11 activities will focus on emergency preparedness, developing and implementing solutions that ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to receive the help they need should calamity strike. Volunteers with intellectual and developmental disabilities will work alongside volunteers without disabilities to inform others about the need for disaster preparedness that includes all members of communities. 

The Arc of Baton Rouge, the Baton Rouge Fire Department, student-athletes from LSU and Southern University, and other community leaders will take part in on-site safety training, art, and painting for a local military program and write thank you letters for soldiers through Operation Gratitude.

Athletes for Hope’s event details are as follows:

WHAT: #911 Day of Service and Remembrance Event

WHEN: September 11, 2023, 11 am-1 pm

WHERE: The Arc of Baton Rouge, 12616 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

“Every emergency plan needs to be inclusive of people with disabilities. People with disabilities are often disproportionately affected by disaster, but unfortunately, their needs are many times not considered in organizational emergency plans and activities,” said Chief Wellbeing Officer Suzanne Potts, LMSW, MPH. “September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance gives us the opportunity to change this dangerous pattern. We can turn a day of tragedy into a day of doing good by establishing emergency plans that account for the needs of people with disabilities who are important members of every community.” 

AmeriCorps, the federal agency that leads the September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance, selected The Arc and a small group of other organizations to plan and participate in volunteer projects in honor of the victims and first responders of the September 11th attacks and our brave service members. 

The Arc advocates for and serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy, and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of over 600 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with IDD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis. 

For media inquiries, please contact: Kenya Warren-Hollins (kwarren@athletesforhope.org, (504) 428-9737)

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About Athletes for Hope

Founded by Muhammad Ali, Andre Agassi, Mia Hamm, and nine other elite athletes in 2006, Athletes for Hope (AFH) is a cause-neutral non-profit that educates, encourages, and empowers athletes to find their passions and use their time to positively engage with their communities. Over the past 16 years, AFH has educated more than 12,000 professional, Olympic, Paralympic, and collegiate athletes through its Causeway workshop series, and helped athletes volunteer with hundreds of underserved schools and impactful community organizations through core programs that focus on helping underserved children become more physically active, changing the public stigma around mental health, and brightening the lives of children in hospitals. Through their dedication and passion for doing good, AFH athletes have positively impacted the lives of millions around the world.