DENVER (May 7, 2024) – Lloyd Lewis, president and CEO of Arc Thrift Stores, one of Colorado’s largest nonprofits, employers of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and relief organizations, was recently honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award in Public Service by his alma mater, the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
Lewis, a father of a young man with Down syndrome, is a passionate champion on a crusade to promote a new way to think about inclusion and diversity. Under his tenure Arc Thrift has funded over $250 million to nonprofit causes and charities since 2005.
“I am so honored to receive this award from my alma mater,” Lewis said. “My time at the University of Chicago was the spark of my business career. The birth of my son, Kennedy, was the spark for my passion of advocacy for people with disabilities. The combination has made for a fulfilling career and one that I am very proud of. I want to be a steward of compassion and catalyst for change. This honor underscores the collective effort of our dedicated team and reaffirms our commitment to turning empathy into action, one community at a time.”
In addition to the award from the University of Chicago, Lewis is the recipient of a Civil Rights Award and received the World Citizenship Award from the International Civitans, an honor that has included such noted past winners as England’s Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Eunice Shriver, the founder of Special Olympics.
Lewis sits on the board of The Arc of the United States Foundation and is treasurer of Inclusion International, a worldwide organization advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with members in over 100 countries.
He is also the author of Why Not Them? a book about how his life was transformed by the birth of his son. In it, Lewis hopes to change the way our communities think about, connect with, and employee people with disabilities.
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ABOUT ARC THRIFT STORES: Arc Thrift Stores operates 35 thrift stores and 15 “donation stations” throughout Colorado. Store operations provide funding to Arc Chapters, which in turn provide advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Arc Thrift Stores is one of the largest employers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the state of Colorado. http://www.arcthrift.com/