BY: RACHEL WUMKES
Great ideas are a dime a dozen. People come up with them daily. Thoughts flittering around pertaining to ways we can improve life, fulfill a need, or provide a service to others.
But this idea? Well, it became a reality 50 years ago, and has proven it can stand the test of time.
It was the vision of a sole community member. A dream. To build an inclusive place for everyone. To find a hope, a purpose, for people living with disabilities. And thus, the first cottage was opened.
In its infancy, it was named Handicap Village. The goal was to create a place with better services available for the people within our community with disabilities. What eventually became of that goal surpassed any dream. Not only did it become the first of its kind in the state of Iowa, but The Village served as a template for many organizations across the country. Suddenly, similar services to assist people with disabilities began to pop up, each modeled after this unique organization.
Just a like a young child going through the years of life, growing, evolving, so did the organization. In 1994, the name was changed to Opportunity Village. Same organization, but evolving to focus on the opportunities for them to live life to the fullest.
Since that first cottage opened its doors fifty years ago, they’ve grown to meet the needs of over 500 people in 30 different communities across Iowa. Then, in 2017, Opportunity Village rebranded to become One Vision. With the growth and development, the organization branched into a wide variety of areas to best utilize their strengths to meet the needs within not just the Clear Lake community, but the North Iowa region and even the state.
Having ‘one vision’ over the entire scope of the organization, which was to better the lives of those in need, and to create an inclusive community where they could live, work and play.
One Vision will be honoring their achievements from the past 50 years during their annual meeting, which is scheduled to be held on October 19th. It will be a look back in time, highlighting the different facets of growth through the years, and will also give a glimpse into the future as they reveal where they see themselves in the next 5 years and the strategic plan to get there.
Incidentally, their 50th Anniversary celebration falls in the middle of their annual fundraising campaign. With a goal of $500,000, the funds will help meet the objective of continuing services for those in need. To donate to the “Building BRIDGES of Opportunity for 50 Years” campaign, simply click here.
We offer a heartfelt ‘Congratulations’ to One Vision. A staple of excellence in our community, it’s the dedication to helping others that makes you stand out. Your guidance, your willingness to help those who are not fully capable of helping themselves… that’s what makes you special.
Cheers to the next 50 years!