Ainsley's Angels ready to start the Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge event.
We recently spoke to Stefanie Riehl, executive director of the Larc School, and Carly LePore, manager of Corporate Communications at AmeriHealth, about the decades-long relationship between AmeriHealth and the Larc School. The interview has been edited for clarity.
What is the Larc School?
Stefanie: The Larc School is a private, non-profit Approved Private Special Education School in Bellmawr, NJ, serving students with a wide range of severe to profound disabilities. We offer effective special education programs and therapies for students ages 3 to 21. We also have an adult day habilitation program, which serves some of those who have aged out of our school program.
We are an out-of-district placement, which is a specialized school for students whose educational needs cannot be met in a traditional school setting. Oftentimes, it’s because students have complex medical or feeding issues, or require complex equipment.
Tell us a little bit about the longstanding relationship between the Larc School and AmeriHealth.
Stefanie: The Larc School and AmeriHealth have had a wonderful relationship for nearly 20 years. We are so grateful that AmeriHealth sees the value that our school brings. There are a lot of worthy causes out there vying for your attention, but AmeriHealth has stuck with us for decades. In fact, our relationship has only expanded over the years, and we’ve seen the miracles it accomplishes. This speaks volumes about what AmeriHealth values.
Carly: It really starts from the top. Mike Munoz, Senior Vice President and President of Diversified Markets, has always instilled in us the value of giving back to the community. He is the executive sponsor of our associate resource group, the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Council. He always encourages us to think about how we can truly make an impact by giving back.
Stefanie: Although not all companies are willing to work with us, AmeriHealth has consistently been a reliable partner.
What are some Larc School initiatives that AmeriHealth has spearheaded over the years?
Carly: We’ve sponsored several initiatives over the years to benefit the Larc School, but the biggest one is the annual Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge event. As the presenting sponsor of this 10K race held every November, AmeriHealth helps ensure the event has everything it needs to run smoothly. There are also many AmeriHealth associates who volunteer at the race.
All proceeds from the Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge event benefit the Larc School. What does this race mean to the Larc School, and how has it benefited the school over the years?
Stefanie: The Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge event presented by AmeriHealth has literally raised millions of dollars over the years. This money has truly made a difference in the lives of our students.
We have 100 students, many of whom require complex and expensive equipment. On average, each student requires three to four pieces of specialized equipment. For example, a speech-generating device or a specialized stroller for transportation can cost [between] $10,000 to $15,000 for one student. We also help families with the necessary equipment they need at home. For example, we’ve helped families build ramps for their homes so their children can get in and out of their houses more easily.
In addition to money for equipment, the race also generates funding for proms, field trips, school playdates, music, art, our new swim program, and other everyday activities that our kids deserve to be a part of.
Larc will never say “no” to a need. But this all costs a significant amount of money. The Run the Bridge event has helped us tremendously with all of this. We would not be able to do any of this without the fundraiser.
The race is also just a wonderful community event for our students, one that is full of great energy. Many of our students come to the race as spectators, and they can also participate in the race through an organization called Ainsley’s Angels. The event raises awareness about the Larc School and the needs of our students. Over the years, many people have said they didn’t even know a place like this existed, so this race really educates our community about what we do at the Larc School.
Last year, the AmeriHealth DEI Council chose the Larc School as their IMPACT partner. What does this mean? How has this new partnership deepened the existing relationship between AmeriHealth and the Larc School?
Carly: Our DEI Council is an associate resource group that hosts fundraisers, organizes listening and learning sessions, and volunteers in the community for organizations that address DEI. Every few years, we choose an IMPACT partner to focus our fundraising and volunteer efforts on. Two years ago, we chose the Larc School as our IMPACT partner, which means our relationship with them isn’t just financial. Yes, we hold fundraisers where AmeriHealth matches associate donations, but we also encourage associates to volunteer onsite, host listening and learning sessions, and really get to know the people and needs behind the scenes.
One of my favorite shared experiences was when we invited Larc to a listening and learning session at AmeriHealth. Larc employees spoke to AmeriHealth associates about what everyday life is like for Larc students. We really wanted to understand firsthand the challenges that Larc students face. Our associates really got a lot out of it and learned how we can best support their community. We had some great discussions.
So, while we’ve long supported the Larc School, that relationship really deepened and became more hands-on when we selected them as our DEI IMPACT partner.
AmeriHealth recently held an initiative to help improve the Larc School library. Tell us a little bit more about the fundraiser and the resulting enhancements that AmeriHealth helped implement.
Carly: I’m a member of our DEI Council, and when we selected Larc as our IMPACT partner last year, my colleague Chris Campellone and I took a tour of Larc. We were able to see the school firsthand and find out where the greatest needs are.
When Chris and I did the walkthrough, one of the first things we noticed was the state of the library. It was dark and gray and wasn’t very inviting. We knew these students deserved a more colorful, accessible, and interactive library space.
To start, in 2023, we held a fundraiser at AmeriHealth. We invited associates to make a monetary donation to the Larc School. And while the donations were critical, it was also important to us as a company to tie the money to a specific initiative, to show associates where exactly the money was going.
So, we worked with Stefanie and Kim Cowperthwait, Manager, Events & Community Affairs at Larc, to get a list of items that the Larc library needed. Books, of course, but also other items such as sensory objects, stuffed book characters, or a new rug to warm up the space. Then, we held a fundraiser/book drive at AmeriHealth offices where associates could purchase items off Larc’s wish list. Afterward, our AmeriHealth associates spent a day cleaning up, organizing, and decorating the library with all of the new donations.
This fundraiser/volunteer effort really laid the groundwork for us on how to approach other community partners. To be able to see, from start to finish, the specific need, the fundraiser, and the clean-up/updating of the space through volunteer efforts was really something special and unique.
As part of the library enhancements, AmeriHealth commissioned a local artist to create an interactive mural. Can you tell us a little bit more about the mural? What are the interactive features that set this apart from other murals and make it more accessible for the students at the Larc School?
Carly: We’re now in our second year of having Larc as our IMPACT partner. And although we helped make some great updates to the library, we knew the chapter wasn’t finished on the space.
Artist Gilman Hanson with the Larc School library mural.
Larc had always wanted to do a mural of some sort, but it was too expensive. We decided to help make the mural a reality. We found a local artist, Gilman Hanson, to create a colorful, interactive mural for the students. The results were amazing! Gil created an interactive masterpiece that uses color, imagery, and sound to engage students. Hearing-impaired students can now explore literacy through touch and smell, and visually impaired students can engage with a book through auditory stimulation. There truly is something for everyone.
Stefanie: The transformation has been amazing. Before, no one really used the library because it was uninviting. Now, the library is a beacon of imagination, a hub where everyone wants to be. Our students want to come to the library all the time, and when visitors tour the school, they all want to come see the library, too. Every child deserves the right to experience a book the way that works best for them. AmeriHealth has given Larc the tools to allow students to experience books in their own way.
A Larc School student enjoys the library mural.
Carly: The mural really capped off a wonderful few years where we could see the results of our work come to life. Earlier this year, Larc recognized us with the Paul Porado Humanitarian Award for continuous years of volunteer work on the Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge event, and, most recently, for support from our DEI Council. The Paul Porado award was named for a Larc School friend and board member who passed away in 2004. It is given to one who consistently champions the needs of individuals with disabilities. We were so honored to receive this award!
How can people get involved in helping the Larc School?
Stefanie: I love this question! There are a variety of ways that you can get involved with the Larc School.
First off, we are a lean organization; everything we have goes to our students and adults. Because of this, we need a strong volunteer base. Not only for the Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge event, but also just for our everyday activities and events. From donations and wish list fulfillment to fundraising and volunteer opportunities, there are so many ways to chip in.
Another way people can get involved is through our inclusivity days. These are days where local students, teams, clubs, companies, or other organized groups can come in and learn about the Larc School and our students.
We’ve hosted sports teams, middle school students, and companies at Larc. These events raise awareness and educate our communities on the importance of inclusivity, compassion, and empathy.
Our inclusivity days help our students and their peers connect and build lasting bonds. We have seen firsthand how friendships form. Because of our inclusivity days, kids invite each other to go trick or treating, choose to write essays about what the day meant to them, observe World Down Syndrome Day by wearing their Run the Bridge shirts, and share baseball caps with each other. It’s incredible to see barriers broken down and watch these kids create lasting friendships.
