A message from Dr. Mark Carlson, Eggleston CEO:
Starting in 1955, Eggleston became one of the first organizations of its kind on the east coast. A special place dedicated to finding employment for people with disabilities. With just a handful of families and some small seed funding, the organization, then known as Tidewater Vocational Center, set out to find work for people with disabilities. Our board members and volunteers called on local businesses and we found jobs sorting coat hangers for a local dry cleaner. What we discovered then, and what is still known today is that every person is unique, and every person has special skills, talents and deserves to be treated with respect and afforded opportunities in their life. Over the years the organization expanded quickly.
Tidewater Vocational Center grew and by 1979 we went from employing 7 individuals to over a hundred individuals with disabilities. It was the generous gift of a large building given to us by Mrs. Louise Eggleston that allowed us to expand at a critical time. After her passing, to honor her legacy, we renamed the organization Eggleston.
In the beginning the focus was to help individuals with disabilities such as Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and Autism. Over the years we have expanded to serve individuals with all disability types. One thing that has stayed consistent is all individuals are treated with respect and value and are given the opportunity to have the satisfaction that comes with earning their own living, having a job and working towards their greatest level of independence. Each contributed to society by having structure in their lives and being part of the community.
Today, Eggleston operates over 30 programs in over 20 locations, providing tasks such as laundry services, landscaping, a retail garden center and farmers market, vehicle donation, document shredding, and document conversion. Additionally we operate day services, residential, Veteran, and brain injury programs. And we place more than a thousand people into the community in jobs with local businesses each year. Through the help of a supportive and generous community of giving individuals and business customers, Eggleston serves almost two thousand people annually.
While those figures are encouraging, we are only able to employ less than 10% of adults with disabilities in the region who want to work. That is why we need your support to increase opportunities for people with disabilities. We are proud of Eggleston’s past 70 years and look forward to a bright future. I hope you will join us in this endeavor.
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