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By Bill Demchak
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The PNC Financial Services Group
Chairman of Achieva's Beyond Boundaries Campaign

When I was in high school, Achieva was just a name to me—a place where my brother Brian went to work. At the time, I didn’t understand what it really meant or the role it played in his life. Brian was different from the rest of us. Some of my less kind classmates would call him names. He was maybe a little slower, definitely a little funnier, and always the one who’d join me in whatever wild idea I had—often when he probably shouldn’t have.

As my siblings and I grew up, went off to college, found jobs, and started families of our own, Achieva remained a constant in Brian’s life. For a long time, I assumed it was just a day program or a place that offered some structure. I didn’t realize, until much later, that Achieva was so much more than that.

Achieva gave my brother something we often take for granted—purpose. It gave him the opportunity to contribute, to be valued, to be part of a community that saw him for who he was and not just for what he couldn’t do. It gave him dignity. As our mother aged and Brian did too, the full scope of Achieva’s impact became clear. When Brian saw us leaving home and living independently, he’d often ask: “When’s it my turn?” That question stuck with me. It may seem simple, even naïve. But it wasn’t. It was a yearning we all have—to be independent, to have a space to call our own, and to be part of something meaningful.

Eventually, with the help of Achieva, Brian did get his turn. He moved into his own home. I’ll never forget the smile on his face the day he moved in, or the pride he felt every time I visited. It was a major milestone for him—one that Achieva made possible. It gave his life a sense of accomplishment and self-worth that no one should be denied.

That’s why I am so deeply committed to supporting Achieva. They don’t just serve individuals with disabilities—they empower them. They support families. They build community. And they do it every single day with compassion, dignity, and respect.

But the need is growing. There are countless individuals like Brian—people who just want their turn—who want to live independently, work meaningfully, and feel like they matter. That’s what Achieva is here to make happen. And that’s what the Beyond Boundaries campaign is about: expanding that opportunity to more people, more families, more futures.

So, I invite you to join us. Come see what Achieva is doing in our communities. Support the work. Share the vision. Help us give everyone the chance to live a life of dignity and purpose.

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Read The Beyond Boundaries Magazine