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While
visiting their children at a special needs summer camp, a group of parents
discussed the reality of their children approaching adulthood. At the time,
few residential options were available for adults with mental retardation.
Those five couples envisioned creating an appropriate and stimulating
residential community for their sons and daughters, and in 1972 they formed
New England Village, incorporating it as a charitable non-profit
corporation. The Village grew and prospered due to the many efforts of our
founding families and thanks to the extraordinary fundraising skills of the
New England Village Women's Committee. Their inspiring commitment continues
undiminished today.
(For more about the Village's founding
and its Women's Committee read our 2002 Annual Report of Giving.)
The construction of the Village's initial three homes and a community
building took place between 1971 and 1972. Three years later attractive
townhouse style apartments were built for individuals with more highly
developed daily living skills.
The Village's community
building was designed to also serve as a sheltered workshop facility.
However, as enrollment expanded the space available was inadequate and
during much of the 70s and early 80s additional space was leased in
close proximity to the
Pembroke campus. Desiring a custom designed site, in 1986, New
England Village built its modern vocational center in
Hanson, MA. Today it is a thriving workplace consisting of a light
manufacturing area, a classroom used by the Pathways program, a
kitchen and lunchroom, staff offices and warehouse space.
 The Village's residential campus also continues to evolve. A home for
individuals with more severe developmental disabilities was constructed in
1980, two homes were built and occupied between 1994 and 1996, and two
additional homes were completed in the fall of 2002.
In 1993 an attractive bicycle pathway
and walking trails were paved and linked throughout the campus. The
Village's community building was completely remodeled and expanded in
1997. It was named the Sheingold Community Building in honor of one of
the Village's founding families and the Village's first board
president.
In the fall of 2005, the Village dedicated the Sollar Wellness Center on our
campus. This 14,000 square foot building includes a swimming
pool, fitness and exercise rooms, a massage therapy room, an art room
and a wellness education center.
Thanks to the generosity of Village families and other benefactors the
Village's endowment, first established in the mid-70s, has grown into a
significant fund. Income from the endowment enhances all the Village's
programs and enables New England Village to sustain an unparalleled level of
care in highly maintained and continuously improving facilities.
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