PRDC Quarterly Connection
Volume 2, Issue 1
Spring 2009
Piedmont Residential Development Center
Funding Awarded for Physical
Therapy Center, Construction Begins
The Duke Endowment has recently awarded
PRDC $84,300 in grant money for construction
of a Physical Therapy Center, in the form of a 400
square foot addition to the Children’s Center at
5300 Highway 200, in Concord. Funding was
released in December, and already, the foundation has been poured, with construction underway by R.J. Fisher Construction Company.
This building will create a centralized location for
administering physical therapy to all twenty-five
PRDC residents. Currently, the physical therapist
must travel between the four PRDC homes, carrying selective equipment with her. Having a permanent, working location for the physical therapist will give residents more time in treatment, as
well as an opportunity to experience a greater
diversity of equipment and techniques. As part of
this initiative, $29,000 of new physical therapy
equipment will be purchased for the Center.
As a result of this extension in the physical therapy program, PRDC expects to see improvements
in many of its residents. Due to the increased accessibility and frequency of care, improvements
in physical ability, overall health, and functional
independence can be expected. “We anticipate
really seeing a difference in the lives of many of
our residents as a result of this program,” PRDC
Director, Lisa Azzarello explained. “The main goal
at PRDC is to find ways for our residents to be as
independent as possible, and this program will
Inside this issue:
help with that tremendously. An improvement in
something like flexibility or range of motion could
mean that a resident would now be able to feed
himself, because he can finally reach his hand to
his mouth. We consider this a great achievement.”
The Physical Therapy Center will affect other
changes, as well. It will help to make the location
on Highway 200 a true center for all of PRDC.
When residents visit for physical therapy, they will
also be rotated through other activities. Already,
an Adult Enrichment Program is in place that will
be incorporated into this schedule. And PRDC and
community groups are working to provide activity
areas outside, as well. The addition will also allow
for regular wheelchair assessments and repairs by
the physical therapist, which will cut down on
long-term costs. Eventually, this location will transition into a Day Center for these and other activities, once land is acquired and new homes are
built for the residents currently there.
The Physical Therapy Center is scheduled to be
completed by June 2009, with equipment and
new therapies in place the following month.
In addition to the grant from The Duke Endowment, in-kind donations have been provided by
R.J. Fisher Construction Company and Lorenz
Architecture, and private donations have been
given. Another grant is being sought from The
Cannon Foundation for additional funding.
Did You Know?
Picnic Shelter & Sensory Garden Underway
2
•
Volunteers Needed… A List of Projects
2
3
PRDC was founded by the concerned parent
of a disabled child in 1976.
•
PRDC serves residents currently ranging
from ages 3 to 52.
Distinguished Services Award
Donor & Volunteer Recognition
3
How You Can Help
3
Go to www.PRDC.org to view a video about our
history and services.
Page 2
PRDC Quarterly Connection
Community Groups Provide Outdoor Experience for Residents & Their Families
The lawn surrounding the Children’s
Center is a hubbub of activity, as local
community groups work to make this
space an outdoor activity area for
residents to share with their families.
Currently, there is no space at the
Children’s Center designated for family visits and a lack of activities that
provide enjoyment and stimulation to
share among those with all ranges of
abilities. The outdoor area will remedy this need.
As the first part of this initiative, the
Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce’s
2009 Leadership Cabarrus Class has
chosen to design and build a picnic
shelter at the site for their class project. The shelter will be used for visits,
birthday parties, and family days, as
well as for warm-weather crafts. The
group will also erect a swingset,
which will include both traditional
and wheelchair-accessible swings, so
that residents can play alongside their
siblings. “It’s very important that
brothers and sisters have this opportunity together,” Amanda Hodges,
Development Coordinator and leader
of this project,” stated. “Interactive
play is an important part of
any child’s life
and helps
them learn
how to relate
to the world
them learn
how to relate
to the world
around
them.”
PRDC with hearing and vision impairments, they have chosen plants
that engage all of the senses—those
with strong aromas, vibrant colors,
varied textures, flowers that at-
To provide
both sensory stimulation for
Staff
residents and an enjoy- at F with residents, Janelle
rank Liske
& Brandon
Park. Res
, swinging
ment experience for
enjoy this
idents wil
l soon able
activity in
their own
to
those visiting, the Masback yard
.
ter Gardeners of Cabarrus County is
designing and planting a sensory gar- tract songbirds, and flavorful
den alongside the picnic shelter. Beherbs. And the garden can be enjoyed
cause there are many residents at
during all seasons, as there are plants
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers play an integral role in the personalized care provided at PRDC.
There are a range of opportunities available to both groups and individuals
who are interested in giving their time. Please contact Amanda Hodges at
704.699.0349 if you are interested in a volunteer project.
Sponsor-A-Bedroom
We are looking for individuals or groups who could
sponsor a residents' bedroom to help make this space feel more like a home.
This would include providing a fresh coat of paint, new bedding, and a few
new decorations. Some residents could also use small pieces of furniture, as
well. This is also an opportunity to get to interact more closely with one of
our residents.
Birthday Baskets We are looking for individuals or groups who could
put together a basket for a resident's birthday with items from their wish list.
Adult Enrichment Activities While our younger residents attend
school at Bethel Elementary, we try to enrich the lives of our adults with a
variety of activities to keep them active. We are looking for volunteers who
could teach a craft to residents or help provide music, sensory, and pet
therapy. These activities take place Mon.—Fri. 1:00 to 3:00 PM.
that peak at different points during
the year.
“We have been very fortunate to find
such knowledgeable groups to help us
make our vision a reality,” Hodges
said. “Both the Leadership class and
the Master Gardeners are very passionate about these projects and
about leaving something lasting and
meaningful behind. They realize how
much this will mean to our residents
and their families.”
Completion of the outdoor area is
expected for April 2009. Plans for the
first annual Family Day are underway, so that families and those involved in the project can be invited to
celebrate.
Next, PRDC will focus on the inside of
the house, finding ways to improve
the family experience, there, as well.
Volume 2, Issue 1
Staff Honored with Distinguished Services Award
On Thursday, November 13, representatives from area organizations gathered at
the First Baptist Church in Concord for the Arc’s annual awards banquet. Each
year, the Arc invites local groups who provide services to the mentally and developmentally disabled to nominate staff and volunteers to be considered for
recognition in their field of service.
The Arc is the largest community based organization in the world committed to
providing those with developmental disabilities the opportunities to be active
members of their community.
After dinner and entertainment by the First Assembly Specialized Ministry
Choir, awards were presented by representatives of area organizations.
Sandy Cox, QMRP Assistant for PRDC, was honored with the Distinguished
Services Award. This award honors an individual who has contributed in a distinguished manner to the promotion of rights of and/or services to North Carolina citizens with mental disabilities and other developmental disabilities.
Sandy has been on staff at PRDC for 18 years and provides services to all four
homes. She is known for her dedication and her commitment to modeling active
treatment. Sandy was nominated by a PRDC parent at, which is proof of how
far her dedication extends.
Thank you to our donors & volunteers…
The Duke Endowment—$84,300 grant for Physical Therapy Center
Ben Mynatt Children’s Charities—$9,000 contribution
New Gilead Church—$500 contribution toward the purchase of a van
Barbara Phillips & Ann Porter for making collar bibs for our residents to
wear
Mt. Pleasant High School senior Kourtney Cline & teacher/advisor Johnna
Ritchie — completion of a woodlands mural at the Children’s Center
Cabarrus County Master Gardeners—planning & creation of a sensory
garden
Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2009 Leadership Cabarrus
Class—construction of a picnic shelter and multi-ability playground
Parent, Jan Clayton— regularly volunteers to lead science demonstrations
and crafts for the Adult Enrichment Program.
Salem United Methodist Church junior youth group, Kerr United Methodist
Church, and S&D Coffee—for gifts and services toward PRDC resisdents’
Christmas
We have also been fortunate to receive many private donations from our
recent Thanksgiving mailing that are of tremendous help to our general
operating budget.
Page 3
Vans Needed
With the state of our current
economic situation, foundations
are receiving fewer donations,
and grants and project funding
are become more difficult for
non-profits to obtain. New, specialized vans are one of our biggest needs at PRDC, yet they
have been the most difficult to
fund. Typically, funding is not
available for vehicles at the
grant level; therefore, we are
looking to our community for
help.
Specially equipped vans are necessary to be able to transport
our residents to frequent doctor’s appointments and community outings. Some residents
must regularly travel as far as
Winston Salem for appointments with specialists. Reliable
transportation will also be necessary to the success of the new
Physical Therapy Center, so that
all residents can make scheduled visits there.
Due to their age, our current
vans are in disrepair and have
broken down multiple times
over the past year. We are
working hard to be able to provide our residents more reliable
transportation. Our goal is to
purchase at least one new van in
2009 and, over the next few
years, to replace the remaining
three. Each van costs $44,622,
and every donation helps us get
closer to this goal.
We have attached a giving envelope if you are able to make a
contribution and would like to
help with this initiative. We
thank all of our donors for their
generosity and support. You
help make what we do possible.
Providing Lifelong Residential Care to Persons with Developmental Disabilities
Piedmont Residential Development Center
P.O. Box 909
Concord, NC 28026
704.788.2304
www.prdc.org
About Piedmont Residential Development Center
Piedmont Residential Development Center
(PRDC) is a private, non-profit corporation that
provides 24-hour high quality care to children
and adults with severe to profound disabilities.
PRDC offers each resident an opportunity to
reach his or her full potential both physically
and mentally. The ultimate goal is to have each
resident acquire skills which will enable him or
her to function as independently as possible
and to live in the least restrictive environment
appropriate to his or her needs.
PRDC operates four group homes throughout
Cabarrus County. Its twenty-five residents
range in age from two to fifty-one, and many
have been with PRDC since childhood.
Residents are cared for a professional group of
staff, including a physical therapist, psychologist, doctor, dentist, social worker, dietician,
and teacher. In addition, medical personnel are
on-call 24 hours a day.
Funding is received through Medicaid reimbursement, the North Carolina Department of
Public Instruction, grants, and business and
private donations.
PRDC is governed by a volunteer board of directors, a group of dedicated and concerned
citizens and professionals. These members include Chairperson Joann Jerman, Vice Chair
David Montaque, Treasurer Bobby Smith, Secretary Leslie Cook, Cathy Cook, Laura Hatley,
and Bruce Wright.
PRDC also utilizes a Human Rights Committee
to review, approve, and monitor risks to client
protection and rights. Committee members
include Chairperson Ann Hess, Jan Clayton,
Markl Kies, and Lisa Azzarello.
If you would like to make a contribution to
PRDC, please mail to P.O. Box 909; Concord,
NC 28026 or call the administrative office at
704.788.2304.