Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” Another wise person – my mother – said, “Find a job to support yourself and find a passion and give your heart to it.”

My passion is Minute Man Arc. My youngest brother Emmett was born with Down Syndrome in the late 1950’s. He wasn’t supposed to live, but he did. According to the doctors, he would never walk or talk but thanks to the Hartford (CT) Arc, he did. He lived into his late 50’s, had a job that he loved, a wonderful second family with his group home roommates, and an adoring birth family. We were so blessed to have had him in our lives for so long.

Although Minute Man Arc wasn’t the Arc that supported my family, it is part of the national organization that gave my brother such a wonderful life. When I accepted a job in Concord in 2009, one of the first calls I made was to Minute Man Arc to ask what I could do to help them. I have been an active member of the Board of Directors since then. My career provided me the financial ability to support the Arc but, more importantly, those we support have given me the passion to keep giving of my time.

Nancy Graham,
Sister of Emmett Powers
Billerica, MA