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Community Corner

Spotlight: ECHOworks

Patch is profiling local non profit organizations working hard for our community this holiday season.

Throughout this holiday season, Leesburg Patch will be profiling local nonprofits. Do you have a suggestion? Email erica.hendry at patch.com.

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Mission: ECHOworks provides transportation, vocational training and jobs for adults with disabilities.  Their tagline is “Providing jobs, purpose and a future”.

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Contact Information:

71 Lawson Road SE
Leesburg, VA 20175

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703-779-2100

info@echoworks.org

Financials:

The annual budget is $4.5 million dollars.  ECHOworks receives funding from the state and county.  They also hold several fundraisers throughout the year including their annual tennis tournament at Ida Lee Park in the summer.  ECHOworks participates in the Drive for Charity on the Dulles Greenway event, a local golf tournament, and receives donations from other local service organizations. 

History:

For the last 36 years, ECHO has connected adults with disabilities to jobs in  local businesses around Loudoun County.  Currently, ECHO operates 20 buses which takes 145 people to and from work every day.   Business partners include Telos, INOVA Loudoun Hospital, Target, REHAU and the Good Shepherd Thrift Store. 

How you can help:

“We are always looking for businesses who can use ECHO participants.  We specialize in entry level jobs, where there is often high turnover,” said Karen McCarthy, Marketing/Business Development Specialist at ECHOworks.

McCarthy explained that ECHO is looking to make connections with the community, including speaking engagements to get the word out about the work they are doing. 

For the holidays, ECHO is looking forward to a holiday celebration for all of the program participants and their families. 

“It is a huge annual party with over 300 people.  We provide everything for the party, including a small gift for the participants,” McCarthy added.

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