Time Line of Significant Events:
1973
St. Mark's begins operation by serving five children in a classroom in St. Mark's Lutheran Church; by the end of the year, attendance more than doubles.
1974
Services for individuals more than 18 years old begin on the campus of Myers Street School.
1976
St. Mark's Center incorporates and forms its first Board of Directors.
1980
St. Mark's Center, located at 601 North Graham Street in Charlotte, opens and enables our programs for adults and children to operate from a single location.
1982
Five men become residents in our first group home on Windsor Drive in Charlotte.
1983
Our Developmental Day Program expands to serve children three to four years old.
1985
Through the United States Department of Education grant # G008530079, together with UNC Charlotte; a curriculum was developed focusing on the relationship between parents and children (0-3). The Charlotte Circle Project, based on a model of reciprocity, taught parents how to care for their children's unique needs, and how to work effectively with teachers. Teachers learned how to support parents, provide training and information, and how to access community support. The program was based on 50% of children having developmental delays and 50% being typically developing. This project demonstrated that inclusion and positive approaches can succeed. The Charlotte Circle Project was replicated in seven states.
1987
A group of our pre-school children experience inclusion by receiving services in traditional day care centers.
1988
Our In School program begins, and our first enclave of individuals completes vocational training and is employed.
1992
The name of our organization changes from St. Mark's Center to St. Mark's, Inc.
1993
St. Mark's, Inc., begins a pre-school inclusion program known as the Circle School. The program enables children with developmental delays and children with typical development to learn side by side.
1995
A $2.5 million capital campaign begins to build a school in Union County.
Employment services begin in Iredell County at Village Place.
1998
St. Mark's, Inc., expands into Guilford County.
St. Mark's Foundation is created to encourage community support of our programs and services.
1999
St. Mark's, Inc., offers services in Surry County and begins operating two rest areas in North Carolina.
2000
The name of our organization changes from St. Mark's, Inc., to LIFESPAN.
LIFESPAN continues to expand services and develop programs.
2001
St. Mark’s Foundation becomes LIFESPAN Foundation.
2002
LIFESPAN begins operation of the Durham Enrichment program.
Expands services into Iredell County at the Troutman Enrichment and Circle School Statesville programs.
2003
LIFESPAN Foundation merges into LIFESPAN and the Department of Community Affairs & Development becomes the fundraising and marketing division of the organization.
LIFESPAN begins operating Iredell Vocational workshop.
LIFESPAN celebrates 30 years of mission driven service.
2004
LIFESPAN concentrates on quality programs and retaining and recruiting high quality staff.
2005
Five LIFESPAN employment programs receive the coveted CARF accreditation for three years.
LIFESPAN acquires services at Cabarrus Workshop.
LIFESPAN acquires services at Alamance Developmental Center for Children.
LIFESPAN senior staff appointed to a state level work group that created an alternative service definition to sheltered workshops
LIFESPAN begins to transition services for adults from the Charlotte sheltered workshop to community services
Federal Grant Contract # 2975-05-0081 for “RAISE: Reading Accommodations and Interventions for Students with Mental Retardation Program” between UNC Charlotte and LIFESPAN (2005-2008)
2006
LIFESPAN began its first business enterprise: Just Plain Country.
LIFESPAN began providing pre-K services at a second school in Mt. Airy.
LIFESPAN received Program of Excellence Award by the North Carolina Council of Community Programs for its work in transitioning adults from sheltered workshops to community services
LIFESPAN partnered with The College of Health and Human Services at UNC Charlotte to provide students clinical, internship, or field placement experiences (2006-2009)
2007
LIFESPAN begins LIFESPAN Education.
LIFESPAN is awarded a contract from Mecklenburg LME through an RFP to provide Community Activity and Employment Transitions (CAET) services. This is the first pilot program in North Carolina that offers an alternative to sheltered workshops. LIFEPSPAN has transitioned all individuals from a sheltered workshop to community based supports in Charlotte. Discussions begin across LIFESPAN service area to transition all adults into community supports from a sheltered workshop model of services.
2008
LIFESPAN returns the in-school programs for children with significant developmental disabilities over to Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools after thirty-four years of service.
LIFESPAN celebrates 35 years of service.
2009
Due to economic decline we are forced to consolidate or close programs in Charlotte, Wilkesboro, Mt. Airy and Asheville.
Combined children’s services in Mt. Airy into one location.
Combined adult services at LIFESPAN Mt. Airy to LIFESPAN Dobson.
Opened LIFESPAN Arts in NODA.
LIFESPAN has transitioned all adult services from sheltered workshops to community services. The final sub-minimum wage checks were issued for individuals that worked in our sheltered workshops.
LIFESPAN makes a proposal to the Guilford Center LME for a pilot for community activity and employment transitions for 12 individuals. The Guilford Center funds a six month pilot for CAET services in Guilford from January-June.
2010
Begin offering Arts & Gardens curriculum training at all adult programs.
All adult facilities are updated or renovated.
Three programs in Guilford County combine into one location.
Due to economic decline we are forced to close LIFESPAN Education, LIFESPAN Farm, and the program in Concord.
LIFESPAN Enrichment Charlotte at Providence Road moves to 601 N. Graham Street and becomes a Creative Campus.
Launch of $1,000,000 campaign for Guilford County (36 months).
LIFESPAN allows sub-minimum wage certificate to expire in January.
LIFESPAN awarded a $100,000 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act grant through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to renovate the kitchen in Troutman and develop a culinary arts training program.
Three year CARF Accreditation for Adult programs.
2011
Rebranding with new logo.
Launch of $300,000 campaign for residential (12 months).
