“To recognize, support and celebrate the qualities of the individual”

A Publication for Friends and Supporters of

TheOsage

OOrangerange Groverove C CenterenterVol. 3, Issue 2

April - June 2010

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THEOSAGE

4 OGC’s Adult Services a major source for employment

55 From Community Participation, to Personal Assistance, we offer supports to fi t everyone’s needs

77 Thank you to our customers!

8-98-9 Around the Grove

10 10 A Salute to Tom Caldwell and Chuck Comer

11 11 “A Breakfast for Champions” 2010 features UTC’s Wes Moore

Board of Directors

Dillard Edgemon President

Michael A. Barto Chairman

Dr. Bruce Hutchinson Susan Gouger Rouse President-Elect Vice President

Heidi Hoffecker Thomas H. Cox Thomas A. Caldwell Secretary Treasurer Member-At-Large

John F. Germ Jerry Summers Member-At-Large V.P., Legal Committee

Barton C. Burns John Buhrman Tom Cofer 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

HONORARY BOARD T. Hicks Armor T. Maxfi eld Bahner Larry Cash Charles A. Comer Morton J. Kent Mrs. Helen C. Mahn Mrs. Emily C. McKenzie William R. Russell Mrs. Janet Strang

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A quarterly publication of Orange Grove Center Inc. © 2010

All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter (verbiage or photos) may be copied, used or reproduced without written permission.

Design: Leslie Smith, CoordinatorPublic Relations and Marketinglesmith@orangegrove.org

Photography: Dennis Wilkes Melissa Robideau Leslie Smith

Printer: Graphic Impressions Chattanooga, TN

ON THE COVERLinda Romans interacts with the children in her classroom at Lil Miss Mag Day Care.

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From theExeExecutive 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 fi nancial 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 fi nancial 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 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 benefi ting from our services. He had never had the fi nancial 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 specifi c gift was needed at that particular time, but I’ll suffi ce 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 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 to put into words the affect that this kind of gift has upon the morale of our organization.

To be entrusted with a gift that has so much emotion driving it, is a powerful engine that sets people in our ministry on fi re. 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 fi nd 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 benefi t 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

““We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.””

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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 to new learning environments.”

For example, Room 34 is considered the “Literature Room.” In it, you will fi nd 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.

To date, the program has been well received. Discovery provides staff with instructions in order 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.

Individuals also engaged in everything from playmotion!® to Snoezelen®, to vacuuming fl oors and academic exercises. The goal is to provide the whole spectrum of activities they will enjoy, while monitoring their reaction and participation. If they enjoy their experiences, then staff con-tinue to build upon those activities.

Romans takes charge with Discovery

Linda Romans is a member and soloist in the Orange Grove Chorus, and has been part of the Orange Grove family for 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 fi nd Linda typing her music in Braille, or learning to use JAWS (Job Access With Speech) screen reading software for individuals who are visually impaired.

Linda attends and participates in her Individual Support Plan meetings using Braille documents made available from Vital Center for the Blind.

Recently, she was asked to present her story about her experiences with the Dis-covery process to groups in Knoxville 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 living her dreams!

Adult Services fortifi ed 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 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 of interest in the activities. The program also gives them valuable opportunities and experiences they have never had.

Linda Romans, top and bottom, takes pride in teaching music to children at Lil Miss Mag Day Care.

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*The Discovery Curriculum was originally modeled after the Discovery philosophy of the Divi-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.

Joseph Hansel, Tammy Buttner, Tonya Clay, Toni Munsey (family friend to Melissa White), Joann Banahene, Tony James, Melissa White and Cindy Turner make every day an adventure through the Alice in Wonderland theme.

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55Community Supports program benefi ts 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.

Jobs are developed for individuals, and referrals are accepted from various state entities and the community for employment through Supportive Employment/Job

placement.

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 fulfi llment.

Community Participation exposes individuals to real life, meaningful activi-ties, such as paying bills, shopping, banking, volunteering opportunities and more. Under Community Participation, they go out into the community under the tutelege of the staff.

Georgia Employment is a division of Community Supports that includes commu-nity employment, community work adjustment, and in-house work adjustment. Cur-rently, four counties are served, including Catoosa, Dade, Walker and Whitfi eld. Orange Grove works closely with the Georgia Department of Labor.

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 serves all high schools in the Chattanooga area.

For more information about Community Supports, call (423) 629-1451, ext. 3907.WalgreensWendy’s

Wal-MartVine St. Market

Taco BellSubway

Eddie Pickering (seated) and Robert McDonald work in the warehouse at Erlanger Hospital.

Chattanooga BakeryErlanger HospitalMemorial HospitalChattanooga Zoo

Camp JordanMiddle Valley Baptist Church

Southern Champion TrayChildren’s Home/Chambliss Shelter

TVAUTCNHCCarta

Incline RailwayKomatsu

Companies

Community

Enclave

Employers

Clayton Fults works in the kitchen at Memorial Hospital.

Clayton Beal packages boxes at Chattanooga Bakery.

(All unmarked photos taken by Leslie Smith)

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Shirley Pierce spends her days work-ing with patients at NHC Health Care, while Chris Baumia (center) and Rashid Raheem recycle materials for TVA.

66ITC eyes partnerships, public support for continued productivity

For more than 50 years, the Walter Lerch Industrial Training Center (ITC) has been a focal point in the job placement and vocational training of many of the individuals served by the center.

For a number of years, the facility has subcontracted with local businesses to provide quality services and paid work experiences for its workforce.

Each day approxi-mately 150 individu-als work in the areas of packing, kitting, sorting, labeling, heat sealing and as-sembling. This work experience is often the fi rst step in a voca-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 projects businesses give the center, the more ITC and Orange Grove benefi t.

In late 2009, ITC resurrected its elec-tronic recycling operation. The goal is to be stewards of the environment, while providing a viable sustainable business for the ITC workforce.

Collection of recyclables is on Tuesday and Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 720 Arlington Avenue. They accept computer components and other electronics that are later recycled.

A small fee is charged for the safe and responsible recycling of computer monitors and televisions.

For more information about business partnerships or electronic recycling, call Phillip Royal, ITC Coordina-tor, at (423) 493-2927, or email to proyal@orangegrove.org.

Nikki Rozzell is Orange Grove’s new Business Development Manager for the document destruction program.

Rozzell joined the OGC family in January 2010 to help grow and expand the new secure document shredding program.

For the past eight years, she has been active in the insurance industry. Her past experiences with persons with disabilities, and her sales background led her to Orange Grove.

She has also had the opportunity to work with students in Spe-cial Olympics and the Orange Grove adaptive aquatics program.

To learn more about secure document destruction at Orange Grove, contact Nikki at:

John F. Germ Recycling Center460 Dodson AvenueChattanooga, TN 37404(423) 493-2944nrozzell@orangegrove.org

Rozzell named new manager for Orange

Grove’s document destruction

Business PartnersBusiness PartnersAmazing GlazeDixie Industries

Georgia Pacifi c CompanyGold Bond

Norfolk SouthernRacemark International

Starkey PrintingSuburban Manufacturing Co.

WNAWoodbridge Foam Fabricating

Top: Gail Banner packages BMW fl oorboard fasteners.

Bottom: Kenny Pittman disassembles computers for ITC.

(Photos above taken by Leslie Smith)

Personal Assistance meets the needs of individuals and their families

The Personal Assistance (PA) department serves approximately 67 individuals. Most of these individuals are actively involved in a day program at OGC, either at work or school.

The PA program is typically utilized in the afternoons and evenings to help aging family caregivers provide needed care. The PA meets

the individual and family needs during those hours by trans-porting the individual to community activities, shopping or activities chosen by the individual.

The PA could, however, stay with the person at his or her home to help with activities of daily living, such as, food preparation, hygiene, etc. The needs of these individuals vary, therefore, the PA service varies from person to person.

Personal Assistance is often an alternative to residential placement because this program allows the individual to live at their family residence and still receive support from trained professionals.

Contact Sally Brown, Coordinator of Personal

Assistance, at 629-1451, ext. 2574, or email to sabrown@orangegrove.org.

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e are grateful to our customers

Allen Stein DentistryApproved Cash Advance

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PCBarnett & Company

Blood AssuranceBluff View Art District

Central Baptist Church Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, PC

Charles McBrayer, MD Chattanooga Bakery, Inc.

Chattanooga Federal Employees Credit Union Chattanooga Gastroenterology - Dr. Richard Sadowitz

Chattanooga Podiatry CenterChildren’s Medical Center

Chattanooga Vision Center Citizens Savings and Loan

Comprehensive Medical Care Country Inn and Suites

Digestive Disorders EndoscopyDorothy Lee-Grisham - Allstate Insurance

Dr. Chirag Patel Dr. Mark Bookout - Ear, Nose and Throat

Dr. Yong Oh Electric Power Board

Ester Suggs - Allstate Insurance Fielding Atchley

Gerald Payne, CPAHealthSouth

Honors Learning CenterJohnson, Hickey & Murchison, PC

Keith Thompson - Allstate Insurance AgencyKerry Friesen, MD

Lattimore, Black, Morgan & Cain, PC Lucy Wright, Atty.

M&M Industries Manhattan Construction

Memorial Mission SurgeryMiller and Martin, PLLC

N. Georgia YMCANorthWest Georgia Dentistry

Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies Pediatrics on Dodds

Propex ManufacturingSignal Centers

Speech and Hearing CenterSt. Nicholas School

Stellar TherapyTennessee Aquarium Warehouse

Tennessee Safety & Health Council The Law Offi ce of Morgan Adams

United Capital Lending United Way of Greater Chattanooga

YMCA - Downtown YMCA - Shallowford Rd.

Cheryl Hampton, Bruce Smith and Jewel Jackson ensure that materials are properly sorted at the Brainerd Rd. drop-off center.

The Recycling Center continues to be a community focal point

Gone are the days of crushing cans with the can crushing machine and recycling bottles with the glass hopper, gifts that were given to Orange Grove back in 1987 when the center fi rst ventured into recycling.

Today, you will fi nd a much greater workforce with even greater machinery at their disposal making the John F. Germ Recycling Center what it is today - a major player in the local recycling industry. The Center has become a conglom-erate of city-wide recycling services, secure document destruction and electronic recycling.

You can expect to have your plastic, paper, aluminum products sorted, baled and sent to be recycled in the center’s efforts to be environmentally friendly. More than 100 persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities sort approxi-mately two million pounds of material each month on the assembly lines, or at one of our ten recycling endeavors throughout Chattanooga.

Last year, we saw the return of bi-weekly curbside recycling under the center’s long-time partnership with the City of Chattanooga. Rocky the Raccoon has also played a role in the partnership, making appearances around town as the offi cial mascot of the city’s recycling endeavors with Orange Grove.

Electronic recycling has made a splash, with manpower from ITC lending a hand in disassembling computers and other electronics and harvesting parts for waiting buyers.

Businesses and individuals can be assured that their sensitive documents are dis-posed of under the strictest and secure industry standards. Orange Grove Center’s Secure Document Destruction is the most recent addition of services offered by the Recycling Center.

Questions about Recycling, contact: Misti Gipson (423) 493-2949 mgipson@orangegrove.org

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Tera Roberts stands near Rocky the Raccoon inside the Caldwell Learning Place at the Recycling Center.

Far right: The assembly line during the recycling process.

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8Volunteers 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.

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.

Grady Williams, prominent local busi-nessman, who is known community-wide for his community service, was the guest speaker.

Orange Grove volunteers (left to right): Back row: Dr. Henry Groseclose, Dr. Janice Wheeler, Herbert Haile, Rosie Russell, Chuck Comer, Rusty Aytes, Andrew Nardo and Dan LaGraff. Middle row: Janet Strang, Patricia Davis, Sharon Matthews, Sherry Campbell, Bertha Ware, Evelyn Jackson, Shirley Johnson and Maezelle Childress. Seated: Marcia Guilbert, Dillard Edgemon, Michelle Swoboda and Erica Swoboda.

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 benefi t 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 project, located at Orange Grove’s Main Street homes. Participants will do all the cultivat-ing and gen-eral maintenance, while learning about the ecosystem and gardening.

Eventually, the vegetation will be nourishment for the residents and youth, presenting opportunities for healthier dining. In addition, each child will be responsible for caring for their own duck, which will be raised on-site.

This community service learning project was made possible through a $20,000 grant from the YMCA of Chattanooga.

Y-CAP is an intervention/prevention program of the YMCA of Chattanooga that works to change the lives of at-risk middle students between the ages of 10-14 who are referred to Y-CAP through the juvenile court system or the school system.

They offer tutoring, mentoring and counseling to students and their families, resulting in improved aca-demic progress and behavior modifi cation.

Andy Smith, project coordinator for Y-CAP, Bailey Bunn, Camp Holder, Lowe’s project volunteer, and Terry Thomas stand alongside the garden at Orange Grove’s Main Street homes.Congratulations to the Class of 2010!

Orange Grove Center proudly announces the graduation of Brandon Kennedy, Ricky Beagle, Emily Smith, Joseph Barbree, Domique Hitchcock, Nicara Terry, Robert Ogbuozobe, Michael Hale and Whitney Kidd from the center’s school program.

Eight of the nine students were in atten-dance at the ceremony, which was held in the Bucky Williams Auditorium.

Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey gave the address to the graduates and their families. He was presented a gift from Executive Director Kyle Hauth for Orange Grove’s appreciation for his contributions to the center.

We salute each of our graduates, and wish them well with their future endeavors.

Michael Hale accepts his diploma from Margaret Abernathy, Director ofExceptional Education for Hamilton County Schools He is assisted by his teacher, Richard Russell.

Left: Reba Smith walks with Brandon Kennedy during graduation services.

All photos on this page were taken by Dennis Wilkes.

Tracy Wilkerson is the new RN for Supported Living

As far back as she can remember, Tracy Wilkerson has always wanted to be a nurse. She began her career with OGC in October 2001 as an assistant house manager at Glenwood B. After four years she returned to school to become a licensed professional nurse. In 2006, she had reached her goal, graduating from Chattanooga State Community College.

The same year, Wilkerson transfered to Health Care Services, becoming a ICF nurse. In 2007, she graduated with an associate of science degree, and was accepted to the LPN to RN Transition program at Chattanooga State. She graduated on December 12, 2010.

Wilkerson says Rachel Tolliver, a nurse supervisor for Residential Habilitation, approached her about the Non-ICF Residential Health Oversight RN position in Residential/Supported Living. She accepted the job, and offi cially transfered from Health Care to her new position on February 15, 2010.

According to Wilkerson, the RN’s focus is on a caseload of 15 to 30 individuals who have been identifi ed as a level four through six on their ICAP (Inventory of Client and Agency Planning) funding by the Division of Intellectual Disabilities Services. She follows them monthly and assures that all medical needs are addressed and evaluated with the appropriate treatment interventions.

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.

“I love being a nurse, and working with the clients that I serve here at OGC,” she said.

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.

State awards Health Care Services for role in H1N1 vaccination program

McCravey Health Care Services recently received a merit award in recognition of their partnership with the Tennessee Department of Health in the 2009 H1N1 Infl uenza Vaccine Distribution Network. The award was 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.

Under their care, 500 injections were given to individuals served by the center, their families, and Orange 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 fl u virus. Very few cases of the fl u were reported as a result.

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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-hood Enterprises, Helton Construction, First Tennessee Bank and other supporters.

Orange Grove Center brings home Be More Award for Creativity-Innovation

Orange Grove Center is the winner of the 2010 WTCI Be More Award for Innovation.

Fellow nominees included Girls Preparatory School HAR-VEST Program, Jewish Com-munity Federation of Greater Chattanooga/First Church of the Nazarene, and Partnership for Families, Children and Adults.

The award is based on creativ-ity, which has been demon-strated through the Morton J. Kent Habilitation Center and the services it provides to in-dividuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

The Be More Awards recog-nizes the impact and unsung heroes of area nonprofi t organizations and volunteer leaders. The winner of each category represented a differ-ent aspect of success at making a positive difference in our community.

The award is on display in the breezeway in the Administra-tion Building at the center.

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1010Chuck Comer is well-known in this community, and certainly a fi xture at Orange Grove. As chairman of the Jaycees’ Public Service Committee in the early 50’s, he was an integral part of the development of Orange Grove.

Like Tom Caldwell, Mr. Comer became heavily involved in the work of Orange Grove with a real passion for improving services to people with intellectual dis-abilities. He always responded to every challenge with a positive mindset and worked diligently to overcome the many barriers that the agency faced in the early years.

In the early days, Mr. Comer set up booths everywhere to collect money and anything else that people would donate for Orange Grove. During his tenure as board president, Mr. Comer worked tirelessly to create residential services for people requiring ongoing supports. With his banking savvy and love for the people we serve, 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.

Tom Caldwell and many parents and supporters, started the Orange Grove Center in 1953. For 57 years he has served in various leadership roles on the Orange Grove Center board of directors.

The Harvard law graduate and World War II navy veteran has been an advo-cate at the nation’s highest policy-making levels to gain equal opportuni-ties for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He helped to draft groundbreaking legislation that would have a positive impact on decades of individuals with disabilities to come.

In 1955, he drafted the law which allowed Tennessee to utilize education funds to support children with IQ levels lower than 75. Children with such IQ scores were not considered to be “educable.” Mr. Caldwell met with the then governor Frank Clement, and many other state offi cials and convinced the state to pass the legislation.

In addition, Mr. Caldwell has provided countless support to individuals needing legal services in the formation of guardian and conservatorships.

Longtime volunteers and founding board members, Thomas A. Caldwell, Jr., and Charles Comer, were honored for their years of service to the center.

A Salute to Tom Caldwell and Chuck Comerby Kyle Hauth, Executive Director

Did you know?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.)

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 to pr@orangegrove.org. Visit www.orangegrovecenter.org.

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 fi fth winningest coach in the nation, and number one in UTC history, humbled the audience of approximately 200 guests with re-cent news of his decision to remain with UTC.

His appearance was marked by a swarm of me-dia buzz regarding his decision to accept a po-sition with East Carolina’s women’s team. By 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 offi cials and administrators, Mayor Claude Ramsey, parents of individuals at the center, and many others.

“Breakfast for Champions” is a free event, and is by invitation. For more than twenty years, it has been conducted annually to recognize the supporters and contributors of Orange Grove.

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.

Orange Grove soloist, Linda Romans, covers, “The Greatest Love of All.”

Moore is saluted with applause as he steps to the podium to speak for the fi rst time.

Coach Moore signs an autograph for Keith Kirby, who is served by the center.

Board member, Skip Nardo (left) chats with Chuck Comer, Tom Caldwell, and Caldwell’s daughter, Joanne Beckman, prior to the breakfast.

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City Chief of Staff Dan Johnson (left), chats with Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey.

Moore enjoys a moment with former Lady Moc, Shamya Sermons.

Lt. Corliss Cooper, of the Chattanooga Police Department, is one of several police offi cials to show Orange Grove their support.

Orange Grove board member, and breakfast chairman, Jerry Summers, presents a gift from the center to Coach Moore.

(All photography on this page is by Dennis Wilkes.)

A publication ofORANGE GROVE CENTER615 Derby StreetChattanooga, TN 37404(423) 629-1451(423) 624-1294 (fax)www.orangegrovecenter.org

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDShowcasing our far-reaching impact in the special needs arena.

A United Way Member Agency

To correct or change mailing information, call (423) 308-1160.

The osage orange, or the hedgeapple, is a woody shrub with green fruit that was found in abundance around the

location of the original Orange Grove School on Main Street in Chattanooga and for which the

school was named.

Nonprofi t Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDChattanooga, TNPermit No. 770

C NN C OTheOsage

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 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 offi cials made two requests that demonstrate the stature and respect that Orange Grove has in the fi eld of proving community services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They include:

•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 fi eld of developmental health care in a novel partnership between DIDS and the East Tennessee 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-curred thousands of times a day at the center, as well as Orange Grove sites throughout the community.

Assistant Commissioner Payne was most impressed with our sensory integration programs, which Orange Grove has championed and has been a certifi ed regional training center for several years. It was the fi rst visit by Dr. Finch and his staff to the center.

DIDS executives visit Orange Grove, other agencies during visit to Chattanooga

Debbie Payne, Assistant Commissioner for Community Services, observes as Brenda Lackey demonstrates the process of bagging fl oor board parts for BMWs.

Chris Foust (right) acquaints himself with Deputy Com-missioner James R. Finch, as Mag Hall, Occupational Therapy Coordinator, watches. Finch met Foust follow-ing a sensory integration demonstration at playmotion!

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