Exceeding Expectations
DAMAR announces largest expansion in 40 year
history, $4.3 million in major gifts
Lt. Governor Skillman commends growth plan that will create 250 local jobs
INDIANAPOLIS (July 24) – DAMAR Services will dramatically increase its service to Indiana through a major expansion and capital campaign effort announced today that has received $4.3 million in generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc., Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and The Indianapolis Foundation (a CICF affiliate) among others; and support from Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson.
Surrounded by a supportive crowd of local community leaders and government officials, DAMAR President and CEO Greg Johnson today unveiled plans for the largest expansion in the organization’s 40-year history, which will include both facilities and program expansion to other parts of Indiana, and the creation of 250 new jobs.
“The initiative represents DAMAR’s mission-focused response to the increasing national demand for treatment and support services for children and adults with autism and other intellectual disabilities,” Johnson said. “We have long seen a growing need for an expanded outreach from DAMAR Services, and today formally marks the beginning of an era in which we can achieve that goal.”
“For four decades, DAMAR has provided Hoosiers with high-quality treatment services for people with developmental disabilities and severe behavioral challenges,” said Lt. Gov. Skillman. “The company is a role model for how a non-profit can effectively work with government and philanthropies to provide much-needed care for our most vulnerable citizens.”
According to Johnson, DAMAR‘s expansion plans include:
- Construction of three new residential buildings, which will increase the capacity of residential services to 154 on DAMAR’s 38-acre campus. Current capacity is 105, and DAMAR currently turns away more than 160 children annually who would benefit from its residential treatment.
- Construction of a gymnasium and conference center, which will provide a much-needed large gathering space and expand to meet space requirements for recreational programs and community trainings.
- Construction of a family services and administration building, to accommodate staff expansion and family programs.
- A dedicated DAMAR Academy (school) building, allowing DAMAR to meet the increasing demand for effective and efficient educational support services. DAMAR Academy will serve 200 students during the 2007-2008 school year.
- Additional outdoor recreation facilities, which help provide vital therapeutic refuge for children served on DAMAR’s campus.
- Community education and training outreach, to sustain and enhance DAMAR’s role as a leader in developing, applying and exporting industry best practices and strengthen education outreach and training efforts.
- Expanded programs and program sites, to implement new specialized community-based services not currently available through other Indiana providers.
- Additional program capacity to enable the organization to double the number of children and adults served annually from approximately 400 to nearly 1,000.
Major gifts to DAMAR’s Exceeding Expectations campaign include $3.25 million from Lilly Endowment Inc.; $250,000 from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust; and $100,000 each from The Indianapolis Foundation (a CICF affiliate) and the DAMAR Guild, the latter representing the first gift to the campaign. Other major gifts include $100,000 from a local philanthropist, marking the single largest gift from an individual in DAMAR’s history.
“For 40 years, Damar has offered hope to countless individuals with behavioral and intellectual challenges and their families,” said N. Clay Robbins, president of Lilly Endowment. “The Damar staff provide their clients with exemplary services in a caring and wholesome manner and in so doing have enabled their clients to achieve more fully their potential. Lilly Endowment is most pleased to support Damar’s ongoing efforts to enhance and expand its ability to fulfill its mission. Lives are changed because of Damar.”
In addition to fulfilling DAMAR’s mission of empowering children and adults with intellectual and behavioral challenges to achieve their fullest possible potential, the Exceeding Expectations campaign will benefit the region with its positive economic impact. Likewise, DAMAR will gain more visibility in Central Indiana through a new public awareness initiative also launched today aimed at creating understanding of the organization’s important mission and services.
“While we’ve been successful in securing more than $4 million toward our expansion, we still have significant needs to meet our aggressive goals,” Johnson said. “As DAMAR steps up to meet the needs of the community, we need the community to support our mission. With one in 10 families caring for someone with a developmental disability, this truly is an issue that we must work together as a community to address.”
In her remarks, Lt. Gov. Skillman commended DAMAR for representing Indiana as a national model for quality services for people with intellectual disabilities; officials from Mayor Peterson’s office presented DAMAR officials with a Proclamation designating July 24 as DAMAR Services Day.
With more than 600 employees sustaining a comprehensive network of residential treatment and outpatient services, DAMAR now serves more than 500 children and adults with intellectual disabilities such as autism and mental retardation and behavioral challenges such as ADHD and communication disorders. DAMAR has achieved a remarkable success rate of 90 percent in fostering higher degrees of independence and quality of life for its clients, many of whom other treatment providers are either incapable or unwilling to support.
“We look forward to the day that we can completely serve all of the children who need us,” said Johnson. “The generosity of those contributing to this campaign will accelerate us toward this goal.”
Johnson thanked the DAMAR board of directors and current campaign supporters. He also acknowledged the Exceeding Expectations campaign cabinet, specifically the service of honorary campaign co-chairs David Reed, managing director of CB Richard Ellis in Indianapolis, and his wife Judy Reed.
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About DAMAR Services, Inc: DAMAR is a national leading provider of residential and community-based treatment and support services for children and adults facing a dual diagnosis of an intellectual disability such as autism and mental retardation, and behavioral challenges such as communication and conduct disorders. For more information about DAMAR’s important mission, visit www.damar.org.
CONTACT: Nicole Woods CELL: 317-439-8972 (office: 317-856-5201)
To learn more about the Exceeding Expectations Initiative, click here.
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