F&H Cares' 2024 Donation Is Presented to The Arc

Lorie Thur Katz and Jeffrey Katz, owners of Fabrics & Home, presented a donation to Mike Salous, associate director of individual philanthropy at The Arc, on May 16, 2024, as part of the company’s philanthropic initiative, F&H Cares.

“Your donation will help power our advocacy in Washington D.C., in the courts and in state capitals across the nation,” said Mike Salous, associate director of individual philanthropy at The Arc.

“The Arc’s persistent advocacy has made a huge difference in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families over the years," he continued. "Our advocacy has been critical to winning civil rights protections for people with IDD and putting in place the programs, services and related funding streams that they and their families depend on in their daily lives.”

The donation is part of an ongoing company mission to help school-aged children who are impacted by one of the 13 disabilities listed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by giving 25 cents per yard for each yard sold from fabrics purchased on our website to a charity. Through this annual initiative, Fabrics & Home hope to provide students, families, teachers and staff impacted by a disability with resources and support.

What is The Arc?

As the organization describes itself on its website, The Arc “is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and with people” with IDD, “… serving them and their families. We work tirelessly to uphold our vision that every individual and family living with IDD in the United States has access to the information, advocacy and skills they need to support their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.”

The Arc started in 1950 when parents and communities started advocating for their children. Now it’s charter network contains more than 600+ chapters. The group seeks to do several things:

• protect and increase state, local and federal support services for the IDD community
• assist with individual and public policy advocacy
• provide residential, educational and vocational services along with recreation activities, among other things

What is F&H Cares?

F&H Cares started in 2019. Thur Katz, who has worked with children with disabilities for more than 15 years, developed the philanthropic initiative with the intent of widening her impact on organizations that support the 13 disabilities impacting school-aged children and their families. Each year, Fabrics & Home randomly chooses one of 13 disabilities from IDEA. This year we were glad to support The Arc and thank them for all their hard work they do for children and families.

Read more about F&H Cares and The Arc. F&H Cares has donated to several nonprofit organizations, including The Youth Mental Health Project, Autism Speaks and the National Center for Learning Disabilities.