We are excited to announce that April Pinch-Keeler, MVLE President and CEO, has received The Fairfax Area Disability Services Board’s 2018 Martha Glennan Inclusion and Equality Award for her exemplary work ensuring that people with disabilities are fully included in the community.
The Fairfax Area Disability Services Board’s Martha Glennan Disability Inclusion and Equality Awards are presented annually to recognize people, businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and other organizations that excel in successfully demonstrating integration and equal rights for people with disabilities in the Fairfax area. Honorees demonstrate a strong commitment to the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life, including (but not limited to) housing, employment, public accommodation, integration, education, transition, home based supports, recreation and transportation.
Under April’s leadership, MVLE has forged partnerships with over 125 business, government and community organizations that support people with disabilities. April’s vision and energy resulted in MVLE becoming the first nonprofit accepted into the national Department of Defense Mentor Protégé Program, with Northrup Grumman as MVLE’s mentor.
More than 160 MVLE staff each provide 300+ volunteer hours annually. Under April’s leadership MVLE has launched many new programs and business lines and expanded to three community centers.
Over a career spanning 30 years April has found innovative strategies for creating meaningful employment for people with disabilities and military veterans. She continues to demonstrate to the business community that people with disabilities and military veterans make valuable employees and that employing them makes good business sense.