New Danville, a Willis-based nonprofit community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, broke ground on multiple additions to its facility on July 24, said CEO Mike Painter.
According to Vision 2025—New Danville’s plans for its expansion—the community will add:
- 15 new homes to house 35 more residents
- A new classroom
- New assisted living facilities
- A community and recreational center
- A nondenominational church with a social hall
New Danville is at max capacity and is currently waitlisting its individual residential living units, Painter said.
The overview
Painter said planning for Vision 2025 started five years ago.
“Every day we're challenging them to go outside of the boundaries of their apartments, outside of their boundaries and their comfort zones into the community—learning, growing and sharing who they are with everybody who's in our community,” Painter said.
New Danville currently has 36 residents, and also offers day habilitation programs which help develop practical and social skills, Painter said. The curriculum for the day programs includes American Sign Language, culinary arts, golf cart driving and dancing classes.
“There ain’t no party like a Danville dance party,” Painter said.
Zooming out
New Danville President Kathy Sanders started the community 19 years ago because of her special needs son, Painter said. When Sanders noticed other private communities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities priced around $6,000, she wanted to build a place that was as nice as those places but more affordable.
More details
Painter said 80% of the funding for New Danville comes from the community.
“It’s the only reason [New Danville] works,” Painter said. “Because so many in our community have been so generous.”
Painter said one of the biggest ways people can help is by spreading awareness of the need New Danville satisfies.
“Be our ambassadors in the community. Talk about this need, talk about these people that we serve. Talk about the work that we're doing, help us open doors, go to your friends, your churches, your employers and talk about what it is that we're doing, and share the message of the wonderful things that are happening in Danville,” Painter said. “Help us open those doors and shine a light on these people and the need in our community.”
To learn more about New Danville, visit www.newdanville.org.
