|
The Birth & Growth of
1960's:
A number of Special Education
instructors became concerned about
what their graduating students would
do with their lives after they left school.
After years of effort by a growing
number of educators and concerned
citizens, the Linville-Edom Sheltered
Workshop was opened in late 1964.
They operated out of the Agricultural
Building of Linville-Edom School. |
Friendship
|
|
1970's:
Vandals burned the Agricultural Building
of Linville-Edom Sheltered Workshop in
1970. Within weeks a new home was
found for the Workshop in Shenk's
Hatchery.
1971: Friendship Industries, Inc.
incorporates. First Board of Directors
Officers were Dr. John R. Mumaw, President
and Chairman; Lowell Miller, VP; Jared
Clem, Secretary; Don Callison, Treasurer.
1974: In February, thanks to a small
capital fundraising campaign and a
mortgage, Friendship moves into a new
building on Waterman Drive.
1977: Newly available Title XX funds
allow the expansion of the transportation
system to all of Friendship's clients. The
first rehabilitative staff at Friendship
Industries is formed. With new staff,
transportation available, and space for new
jobs, the number of people served more
than doubles.
|
|
|
1980's:
The 80s were years of struggle. A
national recession cut deeply into
production revenues while government
budget deficits reduced the amount of
services purchased by State agencies.
Staff and disabled clients were laid
off. Three of the high points of the
decade occurred toward the end of that
period;
1986: Friendship receives a bequest
from the estate of Mrs. Pearle M. Minnich.
Nearly two years were spent studying the
best use of these funds. More space was
the answer.
1988: Friendship's Board of Directors
approves acquisition of a second building
located at 300 Waterman Drive—the Cuddy
Farms warehouse. Mrs. Minnich’s bequest
provides half of the purchase price while
Cuddy Farms and Rocco donates the
remainder.
|
1988: Friendship pioneers a new placement
approach in this community -- Supported Competitive
Employment -- which moves training to the employer's
worksite and provides for ongoing long-term training
and support for “regular“ jobs in the community.
|
|
1990's:
In the spring of 1994, Friendship
completed a strategic planning process.
This process, and the resulting five-year
plan, led to the creation of our Mail
Management Services and the need for
more space to serve the growing
number of persons with disabilities.
1995: The start of Friendship Mail
Management Services.
1997: Friendship provides all employees
with retirement benefits. Client productivity
increases by 42% in three years. Annual
earnings and benefits nearly triple over
the same period.
|
1999: In June, a groundbreaking ceremony
takes place to kick-off the creation of a new
building.
|
|
2000's:
The culmination of the strategic plan
five years ago was the creation of a new
building for Friendship Industries. The
building consolidates all Friendship
operations under one roof and allows
Friendship to double the number of persons
with disabilities hired.
2000: Friendship moves into the new
location at 801 Friendship Drive. In
September, a Dedication Ceremony
welcomes family, friends, clients and
community to the new 40,000 square foot
facility.
2001: Friendship makes a bold step to
strengthen commercial sales with the
addition of a dedicated new position
Director of Sales & Marketing.
2003: Friendship takes on a new
commercial endeavor, manufacturing, and
expands its packaging customers.
Friendship Industries is the sole
U.S. Manufacturer of Newline retractable
shower doors and the exclusive packaging
source for Reynolds Parchment Baking
Paper. |
2004: Friendship celebrates 40 years
of serving this community’s persons with
disabilities. |
|
2005
Friendship Industries Today....
.....a bustling commercial enterprise with a mission. |
|