Henrico Area agency honors businesses for support of individuals with disabilities

Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services (MH/DS) is recognizing 20 businesses, employers and other groups for providing work and volunteer opportunities to individuals with cognitive and emotional disabilities.

A banquet to recognize the contributions and partnerships that strengthen the community will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 26 at the Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 N. Laburnum Ave. The keynote speaker will be Ann Happalah, head chef and kitchen manager at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, one of the honorees.

The banquet will recognize: Bonefish Grill, West Broad Street; Bojangles’, Staples Mill Road; Charles City County Public Schools; Henrico County Department of Human Resources, Fitness and Wellness Division; CVS, Richmond; Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen; HandsOn Greater Richmond; Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, Food and Nutrition Services; Henrico County Public Schools, School Nutrition Services; Henrico County Public Library’s North Park Branch, Glen Allen Branch and Tuckahoe Area libraries; Key Support Services LLC; K2 Awards & Apparel; Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden; Office Pride; Publix, Short Pump; Shady Grove Family YMCA; Sunrise of Richmond; and Walmart #4191, Forest Avenue.

The honorees have hired or provided volunteer opportunities to at least one person with a disability or have provided employment opportunities through contract work completed at MH/DS’ Hermitage Enterprises or Cypress Enterprises. MH/DS serves individuals with intellectual disabilities or mental illness from the counties of Henrico, Charles City and New Kent.