Gale Kirk of Richfield was awarded The President’s Award by The Arc of North Carolina. It was awarded during The Arc of North Carolina’s Annual Awards Luncheon held Sept. 22 in Wilmington.
The President’s award is presented each year to someone who has made a significant impact on the lives of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The award is intended to represent what is best about The Arc and the people who are a part of it.
Gale became a part of The Arc, like most family members, through her daughter Angela. Her involvement and commitment to The Arc reads like a highlight reel of programs and initiatives of The Arc. These include leadership roles on such boards as: Past President of The Arc of N.C. Board; Past Member of The Arc of U.S. Board; Member of The Arc U.S. Governmental Affairs Committee; Member of the LIFEguardianship Council; former President of the N.C. Guardianship Association; and Member of the Board of the National Guardianship Association.
According to Ann Balough, President of The Arc of North Carolina, “Gale is one of the people who has used her involvement to better not just Angela’s life, but the lives of many. She asks the hard questions, understands the math and isn’t afraid of what people may think about what she has to say when she sees something that isn’t right.”