Annandale Village Receives Transformative Donation

Annandale Village announced today that Steve Keadle, a Thomaston, Georgia businessman, and his wife, Sandra, have donated $800,000 to launch the second phase of its Help for Today – Hope for Tomorrow capital campaign to expand services for people with developmental disabilities and those that have experienced a traumatic brain injury.

The transformative gift, among Annandale’s largest ever received, will help to fund the construction of a new transitional care facility to meet the unique medical and supportive needs of aging adults with developmental disabilities.  The new state-of-the-art facility will be named The Keith Keadle Center for Continued Care in honor of Keadle’s brother, a resident of Annandale Village.

Keadle is the President/CEO of Keadle Lumber Enterprises, and is the Managing General Partner of Keadle Land Company, LLLP.   Keadle also serves on local boards in his community including the Gilmore Center for those with developmental disabilities in Upson County for which Keadle and his companies have provided residences for many of their consumers. This landmark contribution reflects the Keadle family’s passion for helping people with developmental disabilities.  “As the brother of an individual with a developmental disability, I have seen firsthand the extraordinary impact and the quality of care and service that Annandale provides to its clients.  We are tremendously impressed by their entire team and how they selflessly dedicate themselves to doing everything they can to allow their clients an opportunity to lead lives that reflect quality, value, self-worth, and achievement.”

"This historic gift holds the promise to change lives," said Adam Pomeranz, Chief Executive Officer of Annandale Village.  “I view the Keadle family as our partners. They have been extraordinary in their generosity and understanding of our vision for the future. They're very special."

Annandale’s three-year comprehensive capital campaign –– the organization’s first ever –– was launched in November, 2011 during the slow recovery period of the economic downturn.  Trying to raise $4.0 million in this financial climate was a challenge the organization said it had anticipated.  Yet, the difficulties paled in comparison to the challenges and concerns many families experience when they are seeking quality programs and services for a loved one with a developmental disability. Pomeranz explained, “When we weighed our options – trying to raise money in a recession against turning people away who needed our services because we hadn’t grown enough to accommodate them – it was an easy decision.”       

Annandale Village raised $2.4 million during the first phase of its capital campaign, reaching its initial goal 16 months ahead of schedule.  Several major campaign gifts were received –– including a $400,000 gift from the Scott Hudgens Family Foundation and a $250,000 gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. 

Highlights of the campaign objectives that are in progress or have been completed include:

* To meet the needs of individuals experiencing a decrease in independent living skills due to aging and/or characteristics of their disability, Annandale constructed the Amy Somers Center for Continued Care, an 18-bed, 9,000 square foot transitional care facility.  

* Annandale completely renovated and expanded the existing Laura Grier Center for Special Care which effectively doubled the number of individuals Annandale was capable of serving at the nationally recognized D. Scott Hudgens Center for Skilled Nursing.

* To more effectively and efficiently serve the needs of its clients, Annandale invested in a campus-wide technology improvement plan to significantly upgrade its technology infrastructure and systems.

* Annandale is currently in process of renovating the Jackson Day House to accommodate safety issues, ensure structural integrity and functionality, abate water damage, and to provide new spaces for expanded offerings in vocational and daily living skills training.

Keith Fenton, Annandale’s Chief Development Officer, credits the leadership of Annandale’s Board of Trustees and the philanthropic community for the campaign’s success.    “Some people dream dreams, other people invest in those dreams,” he said. “We are blessed with many friends and supporters like the Keadle family, who have invested in the dreams and aspirations of this great organization.  The donors are too numerous to name individually, but they are true heroes and we are proud of their investment in Annandale Village.

Now begins the task of maintaining momentum as Annandale embarks on accomplishing the goals and objectives set-forth in its recently developed five-year strategic plan, as well as raising additional funds to successfully realize the overall campaign goal of $4 million.  "We're very thankful for the gifts we've already received, and we'll be working hard to seek broad-based community support for the final $760,000 toward our overall campaign goal," Fenton said.

ABOUT ANNANDALE VILLAGE:  Located on a beautiful 54-acre campus in Suwanee, Georgia, Annandale Village is an award-winning nonprofit organization dedicated solely to serving adults with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries.  Characteristically, individuals served at Annandale Village are 18 years of age or older with a primary diagnosis of an intellectual disability, autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, other developmental disability, or have experienced a traumatic brain injury.  Annandale Village is the only nonprofit in the state of Georgia to offer residential living and training alternatives that provide a continuum of service and care for adults with developmental disabilities.  The mission of Annandale Village is to provide progressive life assistance to adults with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries so that they can maximize their abilities and maintain their independence in the least restrictive environment.