Osage Connection Spring 2010
- 1. A Publication for Friends and Supporters of Orange Grove Center Vol. 3, Issue 2 TheOsage April - June 2010 C NN C O “To recognize, support and celebrate the qualities of the individual”
- 2. THE OSAGE 4 Insid Inside Inside nside nsid sid ide OGC’s OG ’ OGC’s A OGC’s Adult Services a major source for GC C NN C O 2 employment 5 From Community Participation, to Personal Assistance, we offer supports to fit everyone’s needs 4 7 Thank you to our customers! 8-9 Around the Grove 10 A Salute to Tom Caldwell and Chuck Comer 11 “A Breakfast for Champions” 2010 features UTC’s Wes Moore 8-9 A quarterly publication of Orange Grove Center Inc. Board of Directors © 2010 Dillard Edgemon All rights reserved. No part of this President newsletter (verbiage or photos) may be copied, used or reproduced Michael A. Barto without written permission. Chairman Design: Dr. Bruce Hutchinson Susan Gouger Rouse Leslie Smith, Coordinator President-Elect Vice President Public Relations and Marketing lesmith@orangegrove.org Heidi Hoffecker Thomas H. Cox Thomas A. Caldwell Secretary Treasurer Member-At-Large Photography: Dennis Wilkes Melissa Robideau John F. Germ Jerry Summers Leslie Smith Member-At-Large V.P., Legal Committee Printer: Graphic Impressions Barton C. Burns John Buhrman Tom Cofer Chattanooga, TN Daniel J. LaGraff Bill Lusk Sharon Matthews Hugh J. Moore, Jr. Andrew “Skip” Nardo Neal Pinkston Rosie Russell Richard Sadowitz, MD S. Scott Short Dr. Ben Tyber ON THE COVER Linda Romans interacts with the HONORARY BOARD children in her classroom at Lil T. Hicks Armor T. Maxfield Bahner Larry Cash Miss Mag Day Care. Charles A. Comer Morton J. Kent Mrs. Helen C. Mahn Mrs. Emily C. McKenzie William R. Russell Mrs. Janet Strang
- 3. 3 From theExe Executive Director Living is All About Giving Orange Grove is only as strong as the benevolence of our community. This statement is vividly evidenced through our humble beginnings in 1953 and in every year of our struggle to assist our most vulnerable citizens in creating stable lives. In my 26 year tenure as an administrator for community agencies serving people with intellectual dis- abilities, my amazement over the generosity of volunteers and supporters has never ceased. When on a precipice of a financial catastrophe, we always seem to encounter a new outpouring of love from a donor who sees the value and worth of a teetering program and, consequently, services continue. I wish we could claim responsibility for the many innovative means by which people choose to support our services. The truth is that the myriad of creative activities that have generated financial support for our organization came directly from benefactors, most of whom were completely unsolicited. I recall receiving a donation one day from a gentleman who worked in a nearby industry. He delivered cash in a crumpled envelope in the amount of $2,535. Intrigued by his demeanour and denomination of the gift, I had to inquire of the impetus for his contribution. His Dennis Wilkes story was straightforward, but clearly motivated by an honest intent to create good. He said he had been driving past our agency for years and could not help but notice the people who were benefiting from our services. He had never had the financial wherewithal to invest in our work. On that particular day a “power that he could not explain” told him to give that particular amount. In order to avoid your quick judgement of over-dramatization on my part, I will not go into detail as to how that specific gift was needed at that particular time, but I’ll suffice it to say that the tim- ing was impeccable. Obviously, some people have the resources to give much more than others. A family who lives outside of our community provides a $10,000 gift to Orange Grove every year just like clockwork. They don’t “We makeget, we by what we a living have a family member who has been served by Orange Grove, but they have personal knowledge of the validity of our mission. The donation makes a critical difference in the effectiveness of our services. Equally important, however, is the love and trust which accompanies the gift. It is almost impossible make a life by what to put into words the affect that this kind of gift has upon the morale of our organization. we give. ” To be entrusted with a gift that has so much emotion driving it, is a powerful engine that sets people in our ministry on fire. We enjoy numerous contributions in honor or memory of individuals throughout the year. We were especially proud to receive gifts on behalf of Tom Caldwell, our founding board member, and John Germ, a longstanding board member, for their retirement from professional organizations. If you followed their life’s work, you would find that every rite of passage was marked in some way through philanthropy. The dichotomy of a memorial gift creates complex emotions for all concerned. It is an incredible responsibility to be entrusted with such funds. There have been so many dear souls whose death has brought more joy and benefit to humanity than some people’s entire lives have created. Just recently, we were the recipient of gifts from all over the United States and two other continents in memory of Sharon Thorn. Sharon did not have a relative with a disability and had very little contact with our organization. However, she had a deep-seated love for our work and the people we serve. She was able to encapsulate in a song what many people can’t ever seem to grasp. Three years ago, Sharon came to us with a song she had written for the Orange Grove Center. The minute you hear the music and the lyrics you recognize a palpable empathy and appreciation for all human beings. The melodious refrain reminds everyone who takes the time to listen to the Orange Grove song that, “I’m not so different after all.” Sharon died last year in an automobile accident. Almost immediately, our agency was inundated with a showering of contributions. Because of these gifts, our music program will have a completely new face-lift and people’s lives will be enhanced for years to come. I have learned much about life and success from the people we serve and even more from the people who ensure that our services continue. I think Sir Winston Churchill summed it up best when he said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” Kyle Hauth
- 4. Adult Services fortified by The Discovery Curriculum Adult Day Services at Orange Grove Center includes the Industrial Training Center (ITC), Adult Comprehensive Training (ACT), Community Supports, Personal Assistance Services and the John F. Germ Recycling Center. The most recent addition to the services offered by Adult Services is 4 ADULT SERVICES The Discovery Curriculum. The Discovery Curriculum is available for adults in day programs. The program allows individu- als to have exposure to 50 new activities in an ISP year, while helping staff determine their areas Dennis Wilkes of interest in the activities. The program also gives them valuable opportunities and experiences they have never had. Adult Comprehensive Training (ACT) provides vocational and lifeskills training to adults ages 22 years and older. The program prepares individuals for full-time vocational experiences and personal achievements toward a well-rounded, interdependent lifestyle. A year ago, ACT began implementing The Discovery Curriculum, which entails themes for the 14 classrooms within the department. The goal is to provide meaningful activities to those of ACT, according to Tera Roberts, Director of Adult Services. “Themed rooms bring about structured activities, and give individuals a chance to learn about numerous experiences, as well as learn from another teacher,” Roberts said. “They expose them Dennis Wilkes to new learning environments.” For example, Room 34 is considered the “Literature Room.” In it, you will find images of Alice in Wonderland decorating the walls, and stories of Alice’s adventure are read during storytime. The client program coordinator (CPC) develops a curriculum to match each theme. Linda Romans, top and bottom, takes pride in teaching music to children at Lil Miss To date, the program has been well received. Discovery provides staff with instructions in order Mag Day Care. to know what new activities to expose to each class. During the course of the ISP year, clients are exposed to activities such as, horticulture, where they make and sell their products. Romans takes charge with Discovery Individuals also engaged in everything from playmotion!® to Snoezelen®, to vacuuming floors Linda Romans is a member and soloist and academic exercises. The goal is to provide the whole spectrum of activities they will enjoy, in the Orange Grove Chorus, and has while monitoring their reaction and participation. If they enjoy their experiences, then staff con- been part of the Orange Grove family for tinue to build upon those activities. more than 40 years. Through the Discovery process she is able to share her love of music and in- terest in singing and reading to young children as a volunteer instructor at Little Miss Mag Day Care. On any given day, you may find Linda typing her music in Braille, or learning to use JAWS (Job Access With Speech) screen reading software for individuals who are visually impaired. Leslie Smith Linda attends and participates in her Individual Support Plan meetings using Braille documents made available from Vital Center for the Blind. Joseph Hansel, Tammy Buttner, Tonya Clay, Toni Munsey (family Recently, she was asked to present her friend to Melissa White), Joann Banahene, Tony James, Melissa White story about her experiences with the Dis- and Cindy Turner make every day an adventure through the Alice in covery process to groups in Knoxville Wonderland theme. and Nashville, as they begin implement- ing similar programs in their areas. Through Discovery, Linda has continu- ously proven that there are no limits to *The Discovery Curriculum was originally modeled after the Discovery philosophy of the Divi- living her dreams! sion of Intellectual Disabilities Services (DIDS), but Orange Grove built the curriculum to serve the needs of its individuals. DIDS embraced this new curriculum, which may be a model of programs like Orange Grove around the state.
- 5. 5 Community Supports program benefits clients with the rewards of meaningful employment Community Supports serves over 130 individuals, and places them in vocational settings that lead to meaningful work opportunities and job placement in the community. The department has become a multi-faceted collaborative of Supportive Employment/Job Placement, Community Partnerships, Enclaves, Georgia Employment Programs, and School-to-Work Transition Programs. Dennis Wilkes Clayton Fults works in the Clayton Beal packages boxes at Eddie Pickering (seated) and Robert McDonald work in the kitchen at Memorial Hospital. Chattanooga Bakery. warehouse at Erlanger Hospital. There are 14 Enclaves throughout Chattanooga, with each providing community work opportunities for individuals at companies that are contracted with Orange Grove provid- ing services or product fulfillment. Enclave Companies Jobs are developed for individuals, and referrals are accepted from various state entities and the community for employment through Supportive Employment/Job Chattanooga Bakery placement. Erlanger Hospital Memorial Hospital Community Participation exposes individuals to real life, meaningful activi- Chattanooga Zoo ties, such as paying bills, shopping, banking, volunteering opportunities and more. Camp Jordan Under Community Participation, they go out into the community under the tutelege of the Middle Valley Baptist Church staff. Southern Champion Tray Children’s Home/Chambliss Shelter TVA Georgia Employment is a division of Community Supports that includes commu- nity employment, community work adjustment, and in-house work adjustment. Cur- UTC rently, four counties are served, including Catoosa, Dade, Walker and Whitfield. Orange NHC Grove works closely with the Georgia Department of Labor. Carta Incline Railway Komatsu School-to-Work is based on referrals from the Division of Rehabilitation Servic- es for individuals who have completed high school. They provide individuals with work adjustment training, job readiness training and community employment. The program Community Employers serves all high schools in the Chattanooga area. Walgreens For more information about Community Supports, call (423) 629-1451, ext. 3907. Wendy’s Wal-Mart Vine St. Market Taco Bell Subway Shirley Pierce spends her days work- ing with patients at NHC Health Care, while Chris Baumia (center) and Rashid Raheem recycle materials for TVA. (All unmarked photos taken by Leslie Smith)
- 6. ITC eyes partnerships, public Personal Assistance meets the needs of individuals 6 support for continued productivity and their families For more than 50 years, the Walter The Personal Assistance (PA) department serves approximately Lerch Industrial Training Center 67 individuals. Most of these individuals are actively involved (ITC) has been a focal point in the job in a day program at OGC, either at work or school. placement and vocational training of many of the individuals served by the The PA program is typically utilized in the afternoons and center. evenings to help aging family caregivers provide needed care. The PA meets the individual and family needs during those hours by trans- For a number of porting the individual to community activities, shopping or years, the facility activities chosen by the individual. has subcontracted with local businesses The PA could, however, stay with the person at his or her to provide quality home to help with activities of daily living, such as, food services and paid preparation, hygiene, etc. The needs of these individuals work experiences for vary, therefore, the PA service varies from person to person. its workforce. Personal Assistance is often an alternative to residential Each day approxi- placement because this program allows the individual to mately 150 individu- live at their family residence and still receive support from als work in the areas trained professionals. of packing, kitting, sorting, labeling, Contact Sally Brown, heat sealing and as- Coordinator of Personal sembling. This work Assistance, at 629-1451, experience is often the ext. 2574, or email to first step in a voca- sabrown@orangegrove.org. tional continuum that may lead to competi- tive employment. Business partnerships are needed in the day-to-day opera- tion at the center, in order to maintain a steady workload for employees. The more Top: Gail Banner packages Rozzell named new projects businesses give the center, BMW floorboard fasteners. manager for Orange the more ITC and Orange Grove Bottom: Kenny Pittman Grove’s document benefit. disassembles computers for destruction In late 2009, ITC resurrected its elec- ITC. tronic recycling operation. The goal Nikki Rozzell is Orange Grove’s new Business Development is to be stewards of the environment, (Photos above taken by Leslie Manager for the document destruction program. while providing a viable sustainable Smith) business for the ITC workforce. Rozzell joined the OGC family in January 2010 to help grow and expand the new secure document shredding program. Collection of recyclables is on Tuesday and Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 720 Arlington Avenue. Business Partners For the past eight years, she has been active in the insurance industry. Her past experiences with persons with disabilities, They accept computer components and her sales background led her to Orange Grove. and other electronics that are later Amazing Glaze recycled. Dixie Industries She has also had the opportunity to work with students in Spe- Georgia Pacific Company cial Olympics and the Orange Grove adaptive aquatics program. A small fee is charged for the safe Gold Bond and responsible recycling of computer To learn more about secure document destruction at Orange Norfolk Southern Grove, contact Nikki at: monitors and televisions. Racemark International For more information about business Starkey Printing John F. Germ Recycling Center partnerships or electronic recycling, Suburban Manufacturing Co. 460 Dodson Avenue call Phillip Royal, ITC Coordina- Chattanooga, TN 37404 WNA tor, at (423) 493-2927, or email to (423) 493-2944 Woodbridge Foam Fabricating nrozzell@orangegrove.org proyal@orangegrove.org.
- 7. 7 Tera Roberts stands near Rocky the Raccoon inside the Caldwell Learning Place at the Recycling Center. Leslie Smith Leslie Smith Far right: The assembly line during the recycling process. We are grateful to our customers The Recycling Center continues to be a community focal point Allen Stein Dentistry Approved Cash Advance Gone are the days of crushing cans with the can crushing machine and recycling Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC bottles with the glass hopper, gifts that were given to Orange Grove back in 1987 Barnett & Company when the center first ventured into recycling. Blood Assurance Bluff View Art District Today, you will find a much greater workforce with even greater machinery at Central Baptist Church their disposal making the John F. Germ Recycling Center what it is today - a Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, PC major player in the local recycling industry. The Center has become a conglom- Charles McBrayer, MD erate of city-wide recycling services, secure document destruction and electronic Chattanooga Bakery, Inc. recycling. Chattanooga Federal Employees Credit Union Chattanooga Gastroenterology - Dr. Richard Sadowitz You can expect to have your plastic, paper, aluminum products sorted, baled and Chattanooga Podiatry Center sent to be recycled in the center’s efforts to be environmentally friendly. More Children’s Medical Center than 100 persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities sort approxi- Chattanooga Vision Center mately two million pounds of material each month on the assembly lines, or at Citizens Savings and Loan one of our ten recycling endeavors throughout Chattanooga. Comprehensive Medical Care Country Inn and Suites Last year, we saw the return of bi-weekly curbside recycling under the center’s Digestive Disorders Endoscopy long-time partnership with the City of Chattanooga. Rocky the Raccoon has also Dorothy Lee-Grisham - Allstate Insurance played a role in the partnership, making appearances around town as the official Dr. Chirag Patel mascot of the city’s recycling endeavors with Orange Grove. Dr. Mark Bookout - Ear, Nose and Throat Dr. Yong Oh Electronic recycling has made a splash, with manpower from ITC lending a hand Electric Power Board in disassembling computers and other electronics and harvesting parts for waiting Ester Suggs - Allstate Insurance buyers. Fielding Atchley Gerald Payne, CPA Businesses and individuals can be assured that their sensitive documents are dis- HealthSouth posed of under the strictest and secure industry standards. Orange Grove Center’s Honors Learning Center Secure Document Destruction is the most recent addition of services offered by Johnson, Hickey & Murchison, PC the Recycling Center. Keith Thompson - Allstate Insurance Agency Kerry Friesen, MD Questions about Recycling, Lattimore, Black, Morgan & Cain, PC contact: Lucy Wright, Atty. Misti Gipson M&M Industries (423) 493-2949 Manhattan Construction mgipson@orangegrove.org Memorial Mission Surgery Miller and Martin, PLLC N. Georgia YMCA NorthWest Georgia Dentistry Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies Leslie Smith Pediatrics on Dodds Cheryl Hampton, Propex Manufacturing Bruce Smith and Signal Centers Jewel Jackson ensure Speech and Hearing Center that materials are St. Nicholas School properly sorted at the Stellar Therapy Brainerd Rd. drop- Tennessee Aquarium Warehouse off center. Tennessee Safety & Health Council The Law Office of Morgan Adams United Capital Lending Leslie Smith United Way of Greater Chattanooga YMCA - Downtown YMCA - Shallowford Rd.
- 8. Volunteers honored at annual luncheon Each year, Orange Grove says thank you to the many volunteers who have contributed to the success of its varying programs and departments, and to making a difference in the lives of our clients. 8 In April, the annual luncheon was held in honor of their volunteerism, accompanied by a small gift as a token of appreciation. Guests included the center’s board and committee members, foster grandparents and other volunteers. Orange Grove volunteers (left to right): Back row: Dr. Henry Groseclose, Dr. Janice Wheeler, Herbert Haile, Grady Williams, prominent local busi- Rosie Russell, Chuck Comer, Rusty Aytes, Andrew Nardo and Dan LaGraff. Middle row: Janet Strang, nessman, who is known community-wide Patricia Davis, Sharon Matthews, Sherry Campbell, Bertha Ware, Evelyn Jackson, Shirley Johnson and for his community service, was the guest Maezelle Childress. Seated: Marcia Guilbert, Dillard Edgemon, Michelle Swoboda and Erica Swoboda. speaker. Orange Grove, YMCA Y-CAP garden for healthier living Orange Grove Center and the YMCA Community Ac- tion Program (Y-CAP) have established a partnership to benefit both the youth in the Main Street area, and the residents of Orange Grove’s Main Street homes. The two organiza- tions are col- laborating for an organic garden Michael Hale accepts his diploma project, located at from Margaret Abernathy, Director of Orange Grove’s Exceptional Education for Hamilton Main Street homes. Andy Smith, project coordinator for County Schools He is assisted by his Participants will Y-CAP, Bailey Bunn, Camp Holder, teacher, Richard Russell. do all the cultivat- Lowe’s project volunteer, and Terry ing and gen- Thomas stand alongside the garden at Congratulations to the Class of 2010! eral maintenance, Orange Grove’s Main Street homes. while learning Orange Grove Center proudly announces the graduation of Brandon Kennedy, Ricky about the ecosystem and gardening. Beagle, Emily Smith, Joseph Barbree, Domique Hitchcock, Nicara Terry, Robert Ogbuozobe, Michael Hale and Whitney Kidd from the center’s school program. Eventually, the vegetation will be nourishment for the residents and youth, presenting opportunities Eight of the nine students were in atten- for healthier dining. In addition, each child will be dance at the ceremony, which was held in responsible for caring for their own duck, which will be the Bucky Williams Auditorium. raised on-site. Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey This community service learning project was made gave the address to the graduates and possible through a $20,000 grant from the YMCA of their families. He was presented a gift Chattanooga. from Executive Director Kyle Hauth for Orange Grove’s appreciation for his Y-CAP is an intervention/prevention program of the contributions to the center. YMCA of Chattanooga that works to change the lives of at-risk middle students between the ages of 10-14 We salute each of our graduates, and wish who are referred to Y-CAP through the juvenile court them well with their future endeavors. system or the school system. They offer tutoring, mentoring and counseling to students and their families, resulting in improved aca- Left: Reba Smith walks with Brandon demic progress and behavior modification. Kennedy during graduation services. All photos on this page were taken by Dennis Wilkes.
- 9. 9 Melissa Robideau Groundbreaking for new Chandler Avenue homes, one in honor of John Strang Recently, the staff, board members, and supporters of Orange Grove broke ground for the new Chandler Ave- nue homes, located at 3400 Chandler Avenue in South Chattanooga’s Alton Park community. One of the homes will be named in honor of John Strang, who has been served by the center since its inception. In attendance were Mr. Strang himself, along with his mother, Janet, his house manager, Tony Jeno. Also in attendance were Orange Grove directors, ICF and Therapy Services staff and board members, City Councilman Manuel Rico, school board member, Jeffrey Wilson, representatives from Chattanooga Neighbor- Leslie Smith hood Enterprises, Helton Construction, First Tennessee Bank and other supporters. State awards Health Care Services for role in H1N1 vaccination program Orange Grove Center brings McCravey Health Care Services recently received a merit award in recognition of their partnership with the home Be More Award for Tennessee Department of Health in the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Distribution Network. The award was Creativity-Innovation for its role in the vaccination campaign against the H1N1 pandemic virus, and is only one of a few to be pre- sented across the state. Orange Grove Center is the winner of the 2010 WTCI Be Under their care, 500 injections were given to individuals served by the center, their families, and Orange More Award for Innovation. Grove employees. Medical staff received an intensive education for three months prior to administering the vaccine, and all departments took extra precautions with prevention of the spread of H1N1 and the seasonal flu Fellow nominees included virus. Very few cases of the flu were reported as a result. Girls Preparatory School HAR- VEST Program, Jewish Com- munity Federation of Greater Tracy Wilkerson is the new RN for Supported Living Chattanooga/First Church of the Nazarene, and Partnership As far back as she can remember, Tracy Wilkerson has always wanted for Families, Children and to be a nurse. She began her career with OGC in October 2001 as an Adults. assistant house manager at Glenwood B. After four years she returned to school to become a licensed professional nurse. In 2006, she had reached Dennis Wilkes The award is based on creativ- her goal, graduating from Chattanooga State Community College. ity, which has been demon- strated through the Morton J. The same year, Wilkerson transfered to Health Care Services, becoming a Kent Habilitation Center and ICF nurse. In 2007, she graduated with an associate of science degree, the services it provides to in- and was accepted to the LPN to RN Transition program at Chattanooga dividuals with developmental State. She graduated on December 12, 2010. and intellectual disabilities. Wilkerson says Rachel Tolliver, a nurse supervisor for Residential Habilitation, approached her about the The Be More Awards recog- Non-ICF Residential Health Oversight RN position in Residential/Supported Living. She accepted the job, and nizes the impact and unsung officially transfered from Health Care to her new position on February 15, 2010. heroes of area nonprofit organizations and volunteer According to Wilkerson, the RN’s focus is on a caseload of 15 to 30 individuals who have been identified as leaders. The winner of each a level four through six on their ICAP (Inventory of Client and Agency Planning) funding by the Division of category represented a differ- Intellectual Disabilities Services. She follows them monthly and assures that all medical needs are addressed ent aspect of success at making and evaluated with the appropriate treatment interventions. a positive difference in our community. Back in April, she took a step further with advancing her career when she took the RN State Boards to become a licensed registered nurse. The award is on display in the breezeway in the Administra- “I love being a nurse, and working with the clients that I serve here at OGC,” she said. tion Building at the center. Wilkerson was the recipient of the Emily McKenzie Award of Merit in 2008 for meritorious and outstanding contribution, service, dedication and support to the Health Care Services department.
- 10. A Salute to Tom Caldwell and Chuck Comer by Kyle Hauth, Executive Director 10 Longtime volunteers and founding board members, Thomas A. Caldwell, Jr., and Charles Comer, were honored for their years of service to the center. Tom Caldwell and many parents and Chuck Comer is well-known in supporters, started the Orange Grove this community, and certainly Center in 1953. For 57 years he has a fixture at Orange Grove. As served in various leadership roles on chairman of the Jaycees’ Public the Orange Grove Center board of Service Committee in the early directors. 50’s, he was an integral part of the development of Orange Grove. The Harvard law graduate and World War II navy veteran has been an advo- Like Tom Caldwell, Mr. Comer cate at the nation’s highest policy- became heavily involved in the making levels to gain equal opportuni- work of Orange Grove with a real ties for persons with intellectual and passion for improving services developmental disabilities. He helped to people with intellectual dis- to draft groundbreaking legislation abilities. He always responded to that would have a positive impact on every challenge with a positive decades of individuals with disabilities mindset and worked diligently to come. to overcome the many barriers that the agency faced in the early In 1955, he drafted the law which allowed Tennessee to utilize education years. funds to support children with IQ levels lower than 75. Children with such IQ scores were not considered to be “educable.” Mr. Caldwell met In the early days, Mr. Comer set up booths everywhere to collect with the then governor Frank Clement, and many other state officials and money and anything else that people would donate for Orange convinced the state to pass the legislation. Grove. During his tenure as board president, Mr. Comer worked tirelessly to create residential services for people requiring ongoing In addition, Mr. Caldwell has provided countless support to individuals supports. With his banking savvy and love for the people we serve, needing legal services in the formation of guardian and conservatorships. he was able to secure homes and ensure that they were properly renovated and furnished. For those of us who have been with Orange Grove over the years, we know that the real passion of Chuck Comer was to see the smiling faces of the adults and children of Orange Grove. For you see, he spent 57 consecutive years as the Orange Grove Santa Claus. Did you know? One of the ICF retirement homes in Tiftonia is named for Chuck Comer, and the Administration Build- ing is named for Tom Caldwell? (All photography on this page is by Dennis Wilkes.)
- 11. 11 A “Breakfast for Champions” is Moore of a success On Friday, April 30, Orange Grove hosted the annual “Breakfast for Champions,” with Coach Wes Moore of the UTC Lady Mocs as guest speaker. Moore, the fifth winningest coach in the nation, and number one in UTC history, humbled the audience of approximately 200 guests with re- Board member, Skip Nardo (left) chats with Chuck cent news of his decision to remain with UTC. Comer, Tom Caldwell, and Caldwell’s daughter, Joanne Beckman, prior to the breakfast. His appearance was marked by a swarm of me- dia buzz regarding his decision to accept a po- Moore is saluted with applause as he steps to the sition with East Carolina’s women’s team. By podium to speak for the first time. the morning of BFC, he was able to share the news with guests that he had planned to stay with UTC. In attendance was Senator Bo Watson and Rep. Richard Floyd, members of the Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments, city and county officials and administrators, Mayor Claude Ramsey, parents of individuals at the center, and many others. “Breakfast for Champions” is a free event, and Coach Moore signs an autograph for Keith Kirby, is by invitation. For more than twenty years, it who is served by the center. has been conducted annually to recognize the supporters and contributors of Orange Grove. Orange Grove soloist, Linda Romans, covers, “The Greatest Love of All.” Previous speakers have included former coach- es Gene Stallings (Alabama), Phil Fulmer and Johnny Majors (UT Vols), and Rodney Allison (UTC); current coaches, John Shulman (UTC) and Bruce Pearl (UT Vols); and football greats, Steve Sloan, Lindsey Nelson, and Mike Keith, the voice of the Tennessee Titans. Lt. Corliss Cooper, of the Chattanooga Police Department, is one of several police officials to show Orange Grove their support. City Chief of Staff Dan Johnson (left), chats with Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey. To learn more about the breakfast, or for information as to how you can be included on the invitation list, call (423) 308-1160 or email Orange Grove board member, to pr@orangegrove.org. Visit and breakfast chairman, Jerry Moore enjoys a moment with former Lady www.orangegrovecenter.org. Summers, presents a gift from Moc, Shamya Sermons. the center to Coach Moore. (All photography on this page is by Dennis Wilkes.)
- 12. The Osage Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage C NN C O PAID Chattanooga, TN A publication of Permit No. 770 ORANGE GROVE CENTER 615 Derby Street Chattanooga, TN 37404 (423) 629-1451 (423) 624-1294 (fax) www.orangegrovecenter.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Showcasing our far-reaching impact in the special needs arena. The osage orange, or the hedgeapple, is a woody shrub with green fruit that was found in abundance around the A United Way location of the original Orange Member Agency Grove School on Main Street in Chattanooga and for which the To correct or change mailing information, call (423) 308-1160. school was named. DIDS executives visit Orange Grove, other agencies during visit to Chattanooga In May, executives from the Tennessee Division of Intellectual Disabilities Services (DIDS) visited Orange Grove Center and similar agencies that serve individuals with intellectual disabilities. Dr. James R. Finch, Deputy Commissioner of DIDS, and his staff stopped by Orange Grove Melissa Robideau Center, where they met with administrators, toured the facility, and interacted with board members, parents and individuals served by the center. They visited the center as well as other agencies throughout the state. Following their visit, the officials made two requests that demonstrate the stature and respect Debbie Payne, Assistant Commissioner for Community that Orange Grove has in the field of proving community services for people with intellectual Services, observes as Brenda Lackey demonstrates the and developmental disabilities. They include: process of bagging floor board parts for BMWs. •A request by Debbie Payne, Assistant Commissioner for Community Services, who asked that Dr. Rick Rader, Director of the Morton J. Kent Habilitation Center, provide leadership and training of end of life counseling and programming for the state (DIDS). •A request by Dr. Finch to Orange Grove executive director, Kyle Hauth, that Dr. Rader is available for consulting in health care and related affairs to the Greene Valley Devel- opment Center in Greenville, TN, as well as mentoring medical educators in the field of developmental health care in a novel partnership between DIDS and the East Tennessee Melissa Robideau State University College of Medicine. Dr. Finch was complimentary about some of the sophisticated and highly technological in- stallation at Orange Grove (i.e, sensory enrichment rooms, computer-client interfaces). The novel dental clinic impressed him, along with the staff-client interactions that he noted oc- Chris Foust (right) acquaints himself with Deputy Com- curred thousands of times a day at the center, as well as Orange Grove sites throughout the missioner James R. Finch, as Mag Hall, Occupational community. Therapy Coordinator, watches. Finch met Foust follow- ing a sensory integration demonstration at playmotion! Assistant Commissioner Payne was most impressed with our sensory integration programs, which Orange Grove has championed and has been a certified regional training center for several years. It was the first visit by Dr. Finch and his staff to the center.