Garth Larcen

Garth Larcen, Positive Vibe Cafè

Garth Larcen, winner of the prestigious New Freedom Initiative Award, began the GLMD Foundation in 2001 - a charitable foundation to operate a training restaurant for people with disabilities called The Positive Vibe Cafè. Having opened The Positive Vibe Cafè in January 2005, he has since successfully trained and/or employed 152 people with either cognitive or physical disabilities.

Garth´s restaurant is located at Stratford Hills Shopping Center, and is open for lunch and dinner every day except Monday. All waiters, waitresses and bartenders are volunteers. Training programs for employees with disabilities occur all throughout the year.

The Positive Vibe Cafè has received awards from the National Restaurant Association for the States Community Neighborhood Award also from the Virginia State Board of Education and Career Transitional Department as the Employer of the Year. Locally, the restaurant has received awards from The Virginia Museum for Creativity in Business, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, and the Chamber of Commerce for innovative employment programs.

Garth has also delivered keynote speaking engagements ranging from events held at NASA, Cape Kennedy Center to speeches along with his son, Max, at the 15th Anniversary of the American Disabilities Act.

Positive Vibe Cafè has received tremendous press for its innovative approach to disability employment, and has been published in the Wall Street Journal as well as covered nationally on the CBS Early Show and the NBC Nightly News.

To arrange for a presentation please contact us today.