Patricia Kominiak Legacy Ambassador
Patricia A. Kominiak has been part of the ARCA family since the 1970s through her son, Tim, who receives services. After moving to Albuquerque from New Jersey, where she had already been involved with The Arc, Pat turned to ARCA for guidance and support in navigating available services for her family.
In those early years, ARCA looked very different. Pat remembers when ARCA was still a parent organization, and meetings were held in church basements. Families would gather each month to talk about what their children needed, share ideas, and figure out how to make things happen. “Little by little, we made things happen,” she says. Looking back, she is proud of what those families were able to build together.
Over the years, Pat became deeply involved with the organization as a Board member, committee member, fundraiser, advocate, and supporter of countless individuals and families. She helped shape a vision in which people with intellectual, developmental, and cognitive disabilities could not only live meaningful lives but also contribute to and strengthen their communities.
For Pat, what has always mattered most is making sure ARCA continues to feel like family. She hopes the organization will always remain focused on helping individuals grow, connect, and experience full and meaningful lives surrounded by support and community.
