CIT Group made a donation to The Arc of the Bay, a nonprofit organization based in Lynn Haven, FL, that provides support and opportunities for adults with disabilities. The donation will support the organization’s Culinary Institute, which helps individuals with disabilities obtain employment. This community need was identified by a CIT equipment financing customer as part of CIT’s Acts of Caring initiative.

CIT’s donation will provide kitchen essentials, including food ingredients, personal cutlery kits and uniforms to help maintain the The Arc of the Bay’s Culinary Institute, a vocational-focused culinary arts program established in 2019. The program’s training relies on these supplies in order to provide a hands-on experience for individuals to obtain employment in the culinary and hospitality industries of Panama City, FL. CIT’s donation also will cover the cost of ServeSafe Certification tests for students graduating the Culinary Institute.

The Arc of the Bay has worked with adults with disabilities since 1957, and its programs, training and one-on-one services help individuals to become as self-sufficient and independent as possible. The Arc of the Bay currently supports more than 200 individuals in its programming.

“CIT’s donation is a great support, allowing us to deliver our Culinary Institute program to over 50 students in the months ahead,” Ron Sharpe, executive director at The Arc of the Bay, said. “We work every day to ensure people with disabilities have the opportunity and support to participate in valued adult activities.”

“CIT is proud to support organizations like The Arc of the Bay that are addressing important needs during challenging times,” Mike Jones, president of Business Capital at CIT, said. “Through our Acts of Caring initiative and guided by our customers, we are able to advance key programs that truly make a difference in our communities.”

As part of CIT’s Acts of Caring program, the company invited customers to nominate a need in their hometown and share how the company could support those efforts on their behalf. Identified by CPC Office Technologies, a customer of CIT’s equipment financing business, The Arc of the Bay is one of 10 projects nationwide that was selected to receive a donation from CIT this summer.

The customer program follows a month-long social good project where CIT employees completed more than 3,000 Acts of Caring and dedicated nearly 5,000 hours in support of causes such as COVID-19 relief, addressing food insecurity, improving the environment, and advancing social and economic justice.