Bitty & Beau’s Coffee and Child First were recently recognized with Programs of Excellence Awards by the N.C. Council of Community Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Programs. Trillium Health Resources nominated both organizations: Bitty & Beau’s Coffee for “Consumer Directed Supports” and Child First for “Excellence in Best Practice.”
 
Bitty & Beau's Coffee is a locally owned and operated coffee house in Wilmington. The owners, Amy and Ben Wright, are parents of four children, two who have Down syndrome – Bitty and Beau. The idea of Bitty & Beau's Coffee came to the Wrights as an opportunity to create meaningful jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while at the same time creating a place where their community could come together and celebrate diversity. 
 
The N.C. Council of Community Programs presented the awards at a special reception honoring the winners during its annual conference & exhibition in Pinehurst.
 
Each year the N.C. Council of Community Programs seeks to identify innovative and effective community programs that have been instrumental in serving persons with disabilities in North Carolina. Winners were selected by a committee that includes directors and board members of local management entities for MH/DD/SA services. N.C. Council of Community Programs represents the Medicaid public managers of MH/DD/SA services.
 
Bitty & Beau’s Coffee operates a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, “Able to Work USA,” where the public can donate to help create more jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.