On May 17, 2017 we received a 50th Anniversary Salute from the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce at the May Breakfast. Below is the introduction from the breakfast:
Sunshine Village was founded in 1967 by a small group of parents who came together to create an organization to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities.
Their dream was to create a warm and welcoming organization that would improve the lives of their children – and other people’s children. Their dream was to serve people with developmental disabilities, regardless of the level of disability. Their dream was to found an organization that would be around for more years than them – and continue in their tradition of caring. Their dream was, and is, Sunshine Village. Sunshine Village presently serves over 450 adults with disabilities – including those on the autism spectrum – who live and work throughout the Pioneer Valley. The agency employs over 250 staff members and operates with a budget exceeding 12 million dollars, comprised of state, federal and private funding.
Through innovative Day Habilitation Services, Employment Supports and its newest program of Community Based Day Services, Sunshine Village exceeds the expectations of the many people it is fortunate to serve. In addition to providing services at Sunshine Village’s main campus, the organization also operates community-based sites in Three Rivers, Westfield, Springfield, in the Chicopee Falls section of Chicopee – and at two of its integrated businesses, VillageWorks and Westover Maintenance Systems.
All of what Sunshine Village is today – the people participating in services, the experienced and caring employees, the innovative programs and effective outcomes – is a realization of the founders’ dream. A dream shared and supported by the agency’s Board of Directors – chaired by Ernest N. Laflamme, Jr.- Sunshine Village is proud of its history and their founders’ dream – a dream that now maximizes opportunities for people to live and learn – work and earn – and give and grow.