Guest Commentary | A remarkable year of growth, empowerment, and new opportunities
As we begin 2026, I am filled with gratitude for the extraordinary community that surrounds Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens (LARC). This dedicated network of supporters fuels our mission to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live fulfilling, independent, and connected lives-and in 2025, that mission came to life in powerful ways.
LARC is a Southwest Florida nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through vocational training, residential supports, and life-enriching programs that promote independence, dignity, and community inclusion.
2025 truly was The Year of a Million Dreams. Those dreams became everyday realities unfolding in our classrooms, workplaces, homes, and throughout Southwest Florida. Individuals served by LARC gained new skills, confidence, and opportunities to fully participate in community life.
Inclusive employment remained a cornerstone of our work. Employer partnerships expanded, opening new paid positions and hands-on training opportunities. Cypress Cove and many other forward-thinking businesses demonstrated what’s possible when inclusion leads the way. We celebrated these efforts at our Exceptional Employers event and through our annual Career Camp for teens with IDD, where participants explored career paths, built confidence, and gained real-world experience.
This year also brought meaningful recognition. LARC was honored with the Non-Profit Excellence Award at the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Awards, recognizing our team’s dedication and impact. Volunteer Virginia King was named Volunteer of the Year, board member Ross Webb was a finalist for the Community Foundation’s ENPY Lifetime Achievement Award, and I was honored to be a finalist for the Development and Fundraising Excellence Award. Two successful fundraisers-Aiming for Abilities and the inaugural Shaken, Stirred & Served-brought our community together and helped build momentum for the future.
Beyond employment, LARC served as a vibrant hub of connection. School groups, universities, nonprofits, and businesses engaged with individuals on our campus through hands-on learning experiences, from EMS and nursing students to music therapy, pet therapy, art, and equine programs. These partnerships fostered mutual understanding and extended LARC’s message of inclusion far beyond our walls.
In the broader community, individuals served by LARC volunteered, performed, explored, and learned-caring for animals, singing throughout Lee County as the LARC Songbirds, navigating public transportation, serving families through food bank work, and enjoying arts, wellness, and nature-based experiences. Each outing represented a milestone toward greater independence, confidence, and belonging.
Looking ahead to 2026, our vision is bold and clear: Expand inclusive employment, enhance skills training through innovation, grow community partnerships, and create more life-changing opportunities — one dream at a time. We are also embarking on a major campus expansion, including a new 8,000-square-foot program building that will serve individuals with higher support needs and function as Southwest Florida’s first IDD-specific hurricane shelter. A third residential group home on our campus will further strengthen our continuum of care.
Together, we are building a future where every individual feels valued, included, protected, and empowered. Your donations can help bring our vision to life.
To learn more or to donate, visit larcleecounty.org, email angela.katz@larcleecounty.org, or call (239) 334-6285 x 210.
Angela Katz is the executive director of the Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens.