About SunriseArc…..

SunriseArc was founded in 1964 in Leesburg, FL as SunriseWorkshop by families with member who had intellectual or other developmental disabilities.  Its facilities were located on Highway 44i directly across from the campus of Lake Sumter Community College where numerous commercial businesses now stand.

In 1979 the Association for Retarded Citizens of Lake County (ARC) was founded and co-located a pre-school program on the grounds of SunriseWorkshop.  In 1986 the two organizations merged under the umbrella of the ARC.  In 1988, the ARC opened its first group home, Pilot House on South Grove Street in Eustis.  In 1992, the ARC replaced its group home in Eustis with a new 12 bed facility called Hestia House located at 1312 Sumter St. in Leesburg.

In 1993, the ARC changed its name to SunriseArc of Lake County and later shortened its name to the present SunriseArc.

By 1995 SunriseArc’s long-awaited new headquarters was opened on Radio Road in Leesburg just north of Lake Square Mall.  It soon opened a second group home in Mount Dora and in 1997 built and opened a state of the art pre-school program.  In 1998 SunriseArc opened the first home in the region dedicated to persons with severe or intensive behavioral challenges.  By the year 2001 SunriseArc opened two additional group homes in Eustis and in 2003 closed its pre-school program.

Between 1993 and 2003 SunriseArc more than doubled its service capacity operating two day programs and six group homes in addition to support services such as community employment and mobile work crews.

By 2010 SunriseArc had advanced its mission by opening additional group homes in Florida’s Panhandle to serve citizens with disabilities in that area.  Additional services are planned for that region in support of persons with very special needs.

SunriseArc is governed by a volunteer board of directors, is a participating agency of the United Way of Lake and Sumter County and is an affiliated chapters of The Arc of Florida and The Arc of the United States.