By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas launched a $5 million capital campaign during its annual Fall Fest on Tuesday.
This is the first capital campaign in the organization’s 50-year history.
Jerry L. Michaud, DSNWK president and CEO, said the money will be used to make much-needed repairs and upgrades to its facilities. The organization has locations in Hays, Norton, Atwood, Hill City, Hoxie, Russell and Stockton. It serves 18 counties in Kansas.
“With a capital campaign, generally it is usually to build a building or a one thing,” he said. “In our case, we are spread over the 18 counties and the focus is to bring back and focus on some of those things that have been long-delayed — repairing roofs, fixing things that are broken, the kinds of things that are most generally people just build into their budgets. Those have been pushed off because of long-standing lags in support for the services that we do.
“We are fixing the stuff we should have fixed years ago.”
Some of the funds will also be directed at technology to comply with legal and government mandates and streamline employee communications and document access. A portion of the money will be set aside for an endowment to serve as another source of revenue for DSNWK. Michaud said this additional money will be used to support the recruitment and retention of the employees.
“Our world is about people serving people, but you have to be able to earn a living wage,” he said.
About $1 million has already been raised toward DSNWK’s goal. Michaud thanked major contributors, including the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, the Robert and Pat Schmidt Foundation, the Beach family, Bart Betzen, and Rick and Gail Kuehl.
“To create a stronger future for DSNWK, your help is needed,” Michaud told the crowd. “To grow endowed funds that will provide a stable future funding source, your help is needed. To address current needs, such as repairing aging buildings, updating technology that is outdated and other needs.”
Steve Keil, director of development for DSNWK, said intellectual and developmental disabilities do not discriminate. Anyone you know is capable of having a child with a disability. About one in six children ages 3 to 17 have a developmental disability.
Not so long ago, he said, people with developmental disabilities were hidden away or institutionalized. People did not think people who had developmental disabilities could develop intelligence, work, own their own home or business, or be active community members, he said.
“Fifty-plus years ago, that all changed through a grassroots movement of compassionate parents and volunteers. A new future with hope and opportunity began and became a reality,” Keil said. “Today people with disabilities have jobs, passions, personal growth, experience greater acceptance and dignity than ever before. Parents are realized, families thrive, families are supported.”
Keil said the community’s support is needed. DSNWK supports more than 500 people in northwest Kansas, yet 3,700 people remain on the statewide waiting list for services for people with developmental disabilities. Nonprofits like DSNWK can change the game for families caring for loved ones with disabilities, he said.
Betzen, president of the DSNWK board, had a brother, Andy, who received services from DSNWK for 28 years.
He said modern adults are living longer and so are DSNWK’s clients. As a result, the need for resources is growing to care for DSNWK clients as they age.
“We believe it is necessary to evolve with the changes in the needs for the people we serve in western Kansas,” he said.
Amy Schmierbach’s 11-year-old son, Lucas, has been diagnosed with autism and recently started receiving services through DSNWK.
“This summer was the first time he qualified for a personal assistant, and it changed our lives,” Schmierbach said. “It was the first time in probably seven years, I felt like I was able to breathe that someone was working with my son that I trusted. He made such tremendous gains this summer, it was really quite amazing.”
Schmierbach, a FHSU art professor, has received grant money for a Collaborative Art Project. DSNWK clients have been weaving. She had looms set up at the Fall Fest event Tuesday. A “Drawing to Music Workshop” will be 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at DSNWK Employment Connections. Call 785-625-2018 and ask for Crystal to RSVP.
Upcoming workshops will also include collage and weaving.
Jim Blume, former president and CEO of DSNWK, also took to the podium and said seeing everyone in the crowd was like a family reunion.
Blume said the parents of DSNWK clients going back years sacrificed for their children. They loved them and worried about them moving away from home and coming home from state hospitals.
“The second way that you saw love was through the staff,” he said. “Each day the staff would take care of you, worry about you and helped in every way because they loved you.”
Blume acknowledged the DSNWK staff does not get paid what they deserve — some after as much as 30 years of service. He said it was a love for their clients that kept them with DSNWK.
“I am honored to be part of [the capital campaign], because I love each one of you,” he said to the crowd of clients, parents, guardians and staff. “I pray for you. I don’t get to see you very often, but you will always be close to me in my heart.”
Donations can be made online at www.dsnwk.org or make checks payable to DSNWK and mail them to Capital Campaign, PO Box 310, Hays, KS 67601.