The Arc of Fort Bend County is a privately funded, non-profit organization which recieves no state or fereral funding.  In order to provide programs and services to support individuals with intellectual and related developmental disabilities and their families, fund raising events are necessary.  The annual Best in the West is held each November and is one of two primary fund raising events each year.  The 2009 event raised over $250,000 and could not be possible without tremendous community support.

They did it again! The “Best in the West” gets better and better each year! Commissioner James Patterson, Ann Smith and JoAnn Stevens again organized and produced the annual Best in the West dinner, dance and auction benefiting The Arc of Fort Bend County on Saturday, November 21, 2009, at George Ranch Arena. This year’s event was the 31st such evening of wonderful music, great food, and incredible silent and live auctions. Rowdy Yates of KILT served as master of ceremonies, making the introductions and opening the live auction. Commissioner James Patterson demonstrated his powers of persuasion as the auctioneer. The Triumphs, a Rosenberg-based band, entertained the crowd that filled the George Ranch Arena and enticed dancers to two-step their way through the evening. The Swinging Door dished up excellent barbecue. Arc supporters spent the evening dining, dancing and bidding on auction items.

The silent auction corral sponsors were: The Arc of Fort Bend County, Big Boys’ Woodshed, By Design, Classic Mortgage Company, Fort Bend ISD, Fort Bend Law Enforcement, Meyers/Prosperity Bank, OakBend Medical Center, Fort Bend Political and RE/MAX. Prosperity Bank was the presenting sponsor for the evening. Sprint Waste Services joined Prosperity as a Scout Master sponsor. Aliana and Sugar Land Rotary Club were Trail Boss sponsors. Silver Spurs sponsors were: AECOM; AllenBoone Humphries Robinson LLP; Aviles Engineering Corporation; Brown & Gay Engineers, Inc; Bud Light/Silver Eagle Distributors; Dannenbaum Engineering; Huitt-Zollars, Inc.; IDC/Crossland; Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.; JDC/Firethorne, LTD; KBR; Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP; Newland Communities; OakBend Medical Center; Property Acquisiton Services; Riverstone/Imperial Redevelopment.

The 31st Best In The West truly was an evening to remember!