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Company ProfileFOR Community Services, Inc. / Sunshine Village originated in greater Chicopee, Massachusetts when a group of concerned parents and friends of children with mental retardation and supportive civic groups all pooled their efforts and resources to improve and expand previously inadequate facilities for the recreation, care, and training of individuals with mental retardation. Under the guidance of its founder, P. Joseph Casey, the organization was officially established in 1967 as a private, non-profit, charitable corporation. Appropriately, Mr. Casey was the first president, with a board of directors composed of leading citizens of the community. In 1970, the corporate name was legally changed from Friends of the Retarded Children to Friends of the Retarded, Inc., as the purpose expanded to serve individuals of all ages with mental retardation. Once again, in 1992, the organization changed its name to FOR Community Services, Inc., which focuses attention on what the organization provides rather than on the disabilities people have. F.C.S., Inc. quickly recognized the need for a diversity of services for people with retardation and other disabilities, beyond simple recreation. Mustering an unusually high degree of community support, the “Friends” embarked on a series of fund raising campaigns for the erection of a multi-service building complex. The Sunshine Village property was donated by the City of Chicopee and the Oregon Sportsman’s Club. As funds became available, the building program progressed. A swimming pool complex was completed in 1969, a nine-room multi-purpose building was opened in 1970, and a small warehouse was built in 1971. Following an even more ambitious fund drive, a new workshop building was constructed in the spring of 1974. The multi-purpose building was dedicated in May 1971 in recognition of P. Joseph Casey. The new workshop building was dedicated in September 1974 in memory of George A. Davis, late president of American Saw and Manufacturing Company. It should be noted that no state or federal funds were utilized in any of the construction at Sunshine Village. A third building was constructed on the property in 1980 to house the day habilitation service component, financed by and named for the Knights of Columbus organization. F.C.S., Inc. is presently serving over 360 adults with developmental disabilities, approximately one-third of whom are former residents of institutions, while the other two-thirds are from various cities and towns in the western Massachusetts area. The agency employs over 160 staff members and operates with a budget of seven million dollars, comprised of state, federal and private funding. |
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