The Arc Baltimore Presents Employer of the Year Award to Levy Restaurants

The Arc Baltimore has named Levy Restaurants the winner of its 2025 Employer of the Year Award.

Presented during The Arc Baltimore’s recent Catalyst for Change Awards Ceremony, the Employer of the Year Award honors an area business which employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and provides a supportive work environment that allows those individuals to be successful and to contribute to the organization’s success.

“In early 2023, Greg Costa, Levy Restaurants’ Vice President of Hospitality and Strategy, contacted The Arc Baltimore to explore a potential employment partnership,” says Kathleen McNally Durkin, The Arc’s Chief Executive Officer. “With Levy taking over the concessions at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Greg needed to hire new employees and, having previously collaborated with a chapter of The Arc in New York, recognized the value of creating inclusive job opportunities through an untapped workforce.”

In its inaugural season, Levy welcomed two hard-working employees supported by The Arc Baltimore, laying the groundwork for meaningful opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. That partnership grew stronger in 2024, as Levy hired nine more people supported by The Arc.

“Levy has modeled how businesses can foster diverse, inclusive workplaces while getting high-performing employees,” Durkin notes. “Whether you’re cheering on the Orioles or the Ravens or attending an event at the Baltimore Convention Center, Levy Restaurants serves incredible food that elevates every experience while enriching the diversity of their workforce and strengthening their team with standout employees who make a daily impact on their bottom line.”

Kicking off The Arc Baltimore’s yearlong 75th anniversary celebration, The Catalyst for Change Awards allowed The Arc to recognize those individuals and organizations which have gone that extra mile in their commitment and service to the organization and those people with developmental disabilities who are recipients of The Arc’s programs and services.

The awards ceremony was preceded by The Arc Baltimore’s Annual Meeting, which included election of the 2025-26 Board officers and directors. Emceeing the evening’s festivities was former WMAR-TV 2 news anchor Jamie Costello, who with his wife Cheryl produce, shoot, write, and edit compelling video narratives through their company, CosTELLo YOUR STORY.

Since 1949, The Arc Baltimore has been supporting people with developmental disabilities to lead fulfilling lives with a sense of belonging, purpose, and meaningful relationships. With more than 800 full- and part-time employees, The Arc Baltimore provides employment training and support, day and residential services, family support and education, treatment foster care, assistive technology services, respite care, and public policy advocacy.

For more information, visit www.thearcbaltimore.org, email contactus@thearcbaltimore.org, or call 410-296-2272.