Message from Mike
A Celebration to Remember
Friends,
Recently, we had the opportunity to celebrate people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Throughout March, we raised awareness of how far people with disabilities have come in recent years, but how much work we still have to do together to create truly inclusive communities.
I hope you saw our amazing live concert with top Christian artist Crowder, our visit to Johnny Cash’s family farm, and our intimate gathering with American Idol finalist Jessica Meuse at Cornerstone Village in Minnesota. Plus, several of our ambassadors who attended a NASCAR race last March had a chance to reconnect over Zoom with racing legend Michael Waltrip. Many thousands of people were reached with a positive message of inclusion, and you can read all about the month in this edition of the Messenger.
Meanwhile, we continue to work our way out of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many of the people we support and team now fully vaccinated, allowing for visits from families and more freedom. This is exciting news and a step toward normal that has been a long time coming. I sincerely appreciate everyone’s efforts and patience during a very challenging year. I am especially grateful to our donors who have made it possible for us to continue providing critical services.
We have a lot of great things on the horizon and I can’t wait to share with you the new ways we will be serving people with disabilities in the near future. For now, please enjoy the Messenger, and stay healthy.
Regards,
Mike Thirtle, PhD
President & CEO Bethesda
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of
Christ.
– Galatians 6:2 NIV