A meeting will be held Tuesday at 7:30pm at
the home of Mrs. Burton Bolt, Higby Road to organize parents of retarted children. Interested persons may contact Mrs. Bolt.
September 27, 1955
Little did I think that 60 years later I would still be alive to see all that has been accomplished by MARC since I was its first President in 1955.
I moved to Santa Barbara, California in 1962 but MARC has always been in my heart. I am now 87 but I've never forgotten how much help and support I received in personal and public ways from MARC members and the community at large.
I am writing to thank you for what has been done over the last 60 years by MARC for children with disabilities and their parents. I send you my best wishes for continued success in future years. God bless all of you.
Catherine "Renee" Bolt
Our Story
MARC began as a grassroots organization in 1955 spearheaded by eight families desperate for help and support for their
children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). At that time there was little support or community services
for their children. Public schools were not an option at that time and group homes were non-existent. Large, cold,
impersonal institutions were the only (and unpleasant) alternative to their plight.
Eventually they successfully petitioned the Middletown Board of Education to admit children with I/DD. Through the years
MARC has opened multiple group homes, created business ventures, started a homeownership program, began a
recreation and a self-advocacy group and so much more. Today we are a multi-faceted organization serving hundreds of
adults and children with disabilities in employment, community living, and recreation programs.
MARC Community Resources is an affiliated chapter of The Arc, the largest national volunteer-based organization
devoted solely to advocacy on issues pertaining to individuals with I/DD and their families. On the statewide level we are
also very active with The Arc CT. MARC is also proud and grateful to be the recipients of a Middlesex United Way grant
that supports our Adult Leisure Program and our outreach and advocacy efforts.
President's Welcome
It is an honor to be part of the MARC Community Resources team. MARC has a far-reaching history of empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to realize their dreams and make choices about their lives. MARC provides a continuum of residential, vocational, leisure, advocacy, and outreach services to inspire individuals to achieve their personal best. I am continually moved by the dedication and commitment displayed by staff in all of our departments including residential, day program, vocational, advocacy, outreach, leisure services, administration, clinical, human resources and development. Success is frequently contingent upon the ability of a group to recognize a common goal, a collective understanding of that goal and collaborative efforts to achieve it; MARC has been very successful.
We are a private not-for-profit 501(c) 3 organization and owing to the contributions of our partners, donors, members, sponsors and grantors are able to provide an array of services to individuals. We take pride in our strong community base and support and are thankful for all the volunteers who make our fundraisers and events possible. MARC is very fortunate to have a vested Board of Directors and committee members whose guidance ensures MARC remains viable, progressive and that we continue to provide exemplary services.
I welcome you to contact us for a tour, for information and or links to resources in the community. MARC is an exceptional organization and we offer a host of services to assist you or someone you love. Give us a call or stop by and let us know what we can do for you.
Warmest Regards,
Linda C. Iovanna
President/CEO
Our Team
Amber DeFelice
Director of Day Services
E: amber.defelice@marc-cr.org
P: 860-342-0700 ext 305
Cell: 203-645-0291
Lori-Ann Hoberman
Director of Employment Services
E: lori.hoberman@marc-cr.org
P: 860-342-0700 ext 304
Lisa Christensen
Director of Leisure Services
E: lisa.christensen@marc-cr.org
P: 860-342-0700 ext 813
Trudy Haury
Director of
Independent Support Services
E: trudy.haury@marc-cr.org
P: 860-342-0700 ext 440
Clara Huebenthal
Communications
& Marketing Manager
E: clara.huebenthal@marc-cr.org
P: 860-342-0700 ext 110
Heather Dierberger
Human Resources Coordinator
E: heather.dierberger@marc-cr.org
P: 860-342-0700 ext 123
Heather Ferrara
Behavior Specialist
E: heather.ferrara@marc-cr.org
P: 860-342-0700 ext 115
Cell: 860-426-5197
Venita Barnes
Transportation
Scheduling Coordinator
E: venita.barnes@marc-cr.org
P: 860-342-0700 ext 308
Felicia Freeman
Program Manager -
Classic DSO
E: felicia.freeman@marc-cr.org
P: 860-342-0700 ext 317
Miesha Tyler
Program Manager - Contemporary DSO
E: miesha.tyler@marc-cr.org
P: 860-342-0700 ext 303
Cell: 203-605-4439
Katherine Hugh
Program Manager - Custom DSO
E: katherine.hugh@marc-cr.org
P: 860-342-0700 ext 307
Cell: 203-859-8773
Board of Directors
Chairperson
Rich Knotek
Secretary
Deb Petruzzello
Retired Educator
Director
Nancy Cronin
A.R. Mazzotta Employment Specialists
Director
Allen Stanwix
1st Vice Chairperson
Joe Knee
Treasurer
Igor Bochenkov
Marcum LLP
Director
Darian Boling
Comcast
Guardian Angel Representative
George Johnson
2nd Vice Chairperson
Joseph Hausmann
Immediate
Past Chairperson
Al Santostefano
Director
Elizabeth Lankarge
Director
Linda Jo Sanborn