As printed in The Business Monthly (June 2, 2008) – Jim Greenfield has a long history with The Arc of Howard County. It started in 1976, when The Arc stepped in to help Greenfield and then wife Sheila with newborn Mark – the couple's "little guy" who was stricken with Down syndrome.

Today, Greenfield wistfully recalls memories of the son with whom he shared an extraordinarily close bond. Father and son were "synonymous," said Greenfield, who had founded Columbia Builders the year before his son's birth.

So close were they, in fact, that the day came when Greenfield knew he needed to encourage the adult Mark to live more independently for his own future good. "I assumed I would predecease him, and I decided it was critical that he and I learn to separate from one another so it wouldn't be as much of a shock someday," he said.

Greenfield built a custom-designed group home in 1999 for Mark and a roommate, both of whom received services from The Arc. But in January 2001, after living just more than a year in the home, Mark suddenly died at age 24 from adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Loyal Support

On the heels of that tragedy and no longer in need of services, Greenfield understandably could have ended his relationship with The Arc – but he saw things differently.

"People give money to people, not organizations, and I could never drift away from The Arc," he said. So instead, he has maintained close ties to the organization that was founded by parent volunteers in 1961 and had been indispensable to him and his son for two decades.

It is his unwavering loyalty and commitment to The Arc's mission to help persons with cognitive and developmental disabilities, and to be of service to the community, that the nonprofit organization will celebrate with "A Tribute to Jim Greenfield" on Thursday, June 12, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Greenfield will receive the newly-minted Award for Compassionate Leadership at a fundraising dinner in his honor, to be held at the Spear Center in the General Growth Properties building in Columbia Town Center. The award will thereafter be given out annually in his name.

"Most of the time, Jim likes to be in the wings," said Greg DesRoches, who has known Greenfield for more than 30 years and will serve as the evening's emcee. "He's most comfortable in his boots and blue jeans, kicking around the dirt," said the president of Cornerstone, a Baltimore ad agency. "But at the end of the day, he knows he's a good citizen, strong community leader and great friend."

Jacquelyn Ring, who is senior program officer of The Horizon Foundation, had previously served as director of The Arc's residential program and then as its deputy executive director, encompassing a 30-year span from 1975 to 2005. Greenfield's son attended an infant stimulation program that she helped develop in those early years, and "a bond was formed" from the first day, she said.

One Big Family

"The Arc sent a couple to talk to us about our situation who also had a child with Down syndrome," said Greenfield. "Ten days later, we put Mark in Early Beginnings with children from six other families. We parents were tight, and we really stuck together. I'm not sure what we would have done without that program."

Greenfield began to assist The Arc in many ways, large and small, during the next 30 years, Ring said, "from saving his change and then rolling the coins with the staff over pizza to being the major driving force for our capital campaign. In addition, he was often a quiet, behind-the-scenes supporter in meeting the needs of the organization.

"Jim was also a wonderful mentor," she said. "I could phone him anytime and say, 'What do you think of this? We need your help,' and we always got it. Jim was, and still is, very giving of himself."

Kari Ebeling, director of resource development at The Arc, said, "It is rare that you find a parent of a child with a disability who makes an impact on a scale larger than just for their child. Jim wanted the best for his child as well as every other child with a disability."

The new award not only gives The Arc the opportunity to recognize his leadership, she said, but also "to tie it back to a core objective" Greenfield has long felt strongly about – housing.

"The Arc supports 48 residential homes in Columbia and they are aging, just like the individuals we support," Ebeling said. "Repairs and maintenance are seldom covered in governmental funding for individuals, and so the funds raised through the Greenfield award will continue our efforts to ensure all individuals we support will have access to quality and affordable homes and facilities here in Howard County."

Friends in Green

Barbara Lawson, outgoing president and CEO of The Columbia Foundation, has crossed paths with Greenfield many times as well.

"Jim believes strongly in building quality of life across the community and trusts in us to make good decisions" in regard to the Columbia Builders Fund that he long ago established with the foundation, she said. "He has continued this support and friendship over the last 20 years."

Ebeling said it is important to emphasize that Greenfield's amazing commitment to The Arc has never lessened in its intensity. This summer, he has championed a new project in which one of The Arc residences will be demolished and a new one built in its place.

"This project won't cost The Arc anything, and I am working with contractors to build it for less than their normal fees," Greenfield said. "The new house will have universal designs and environmentally-friendly features which dovetail with the county's 'green' push."

The Right Thing

That is another example of Greenfield doing what he does best – "combining his life experience as an astute businessman with his personal ability to be sensitive to the needs of people," said DesRoches. "He directs his tremendously focused energies to making things happen and we are all the better for it."

Ebeling wholeheartedly agreed. "For Jim, it is always about raising awareness about disabilities and raising monies to help improve lives. This annual award will be a lasting legacy of the leadership he has displayed throughout the years."

Jim Greenfield, his current wife, Michelle, their three young children, and Jim's two older children from his first marriage will join other family members and friends at The Arc's tribute dinner in Greenfield's honor. Tickets are still available.

For information on purchasing $100 tickets to the tribute dinner, contact Kari Ebeling at 410-730-0638 or kebeling@archoward.org. All proceeds will enable The Arc to provide quality housing and services for the clients they serve.