MAYOR CRAWFORD HONORS HILLTOPPERS AND THE ARC WITH PROCLAMATION
At last night’s City Council meeting, Crossville Mayor R.J. Crawford delivered two proclamations honoring The Arc of Cumberland County and Hilltoppers Inc., both of which provide assistance and education to mentally and physically disabled individuals in the area. The proclamation declares the month of May as a month to honor their years of service.
The Arc of Cumberland County started in February 22, 1975, originally known as the Cumberland County Association for Retarded Citizens (CC-ARC), and was officially chartered as a non-profit on May 1, 1975, affiliated with the National Association of Retarded Citizens. The organization aimed to provide age-appropriate educational, occupational, and social opportunities to reduce stigma and enhance community participation for individuals and their families.
In the mid-1990s, they rebranded as The Arc of Cumberland County to further reduce stigma. Its mission is to empower people with disabilities and their families to actively participate in the community.
The proclamation, issued by Mayor R.J. Crawford and the Crossville City Council, declares May 2025 a month to honor its 50 years of service.
Hilltoppers was also established in the 1970s by concerned parents and community leaders as a non-profit to provide community services for individuals with intellectual disabilities. On May 14, 1975, Hilltoppers, Inc. was chartered and licensed as a non-profit to offer training, occupational, educational, and social services, providing support and respite for individuals and their families.
The organization’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by promoting identity, autonomy, affiliation, attainment, safeguards, rights, and health. May marks Hilltoppers’s 50th anniversary.
Last night’s proclamation designates May 2025 as a month to celebrate Hilltoppers’ 50 years of service, reinforcing its commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities to live safely, happily, and free from abuse or discrimination.
