|
During 2007, Signal Centers, Inc. proudly celebrated its 50th year of service to the community. In May, 2007, Signal Centers, Inc. held its 50th Anniversary Celebration on the Germantown Road site. Over 300 individuals walked through the halls to view exhibits and information related to the agency's history as well as participated in programming currently offered to children and adults through the Adult Center and the Children's Program.
Signal Centers, Inc. now, in 2008, proudly steps forward into its next fifty years of evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of children, adults, and families in Tennesse, Northwest Georgia, and Northeast Alabama.
For more information about the history of the agency, please scroll down to the section entitled "Our Beginnings."
THE ENDOWMENT FUND
One opportunity for the community to continue to celebrate Signal Centers' 50th year of service is to participate in the creation of an Endowment Fund and, along with that, The 1957 Society.
Why an Endowment?
Signal Centers, Inc. is a non-profit organization that relies heavily on governmental funding as well as funding received through foundations, grants, and special events, in order to provide services to the community. These sources of revenue are subject to change, and the agency leadership finds itself constantly looking for new or different funding simply to sustain existing programming.
Endowments are a proven method of maintaining overall financial stability in an agency such as Signal Centers, Inc., enabling it to weather economic changes. Interest is utilized from the Endowment Fund to supplement, not replace, existing dollars so that programs have opportunity to expand or to preserve services while alternative funding sources are being investigated.
The Endowment Fund's 1957 Society:
The year 1957 marks the official incorporation of Signal Centers. The 1957 Society; therefore, honors individuals, families, businesses, and corporations contributing $1,957 and above specifically designated to the Signal Centers, Inc. Endowment Fund.
Interested contributors have three levels within the 1957 Society at which they may donate:
1) The 1957 Circle -- recognizes gifts from $1,957 through $2,499
2) The Founders Circle -- recognizes gifts of $2,500 through $4,999
3) The Gold Circle -- recognizes gifts of $5,000 and above
The 1957 Society members will be permanently recognized in a prominent location within Signal Centers' main facility on North Germantown Road in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This will include names of donors from all three levels of giving: The 1957 Society, The Founder's Circle, and The Gold Circle.
There is opportunity to give at one of these levels in honor or in memory of an individual, group, or organization. The dedicatory area will reflect that special tribute.
For more information on the Endowment Fund, please contact Donna McConnico, Executive Director, at 423.698.8528 x 200 or via email at Donna_McConnico@signalcenters.org
 Our beginnings:
In late 1957/early 1958, the Hamilton County Committee for the Tennessee Society for Crippled Children and Adults, the Hamilton County Chapter of the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, the City of Chattanooga, and Hamilton County Schools collaborated to develop a special kindergarten classroom within the Ridgedale School on Dodds Avenue.
Funds for this classroom were also received from special fundraisers that year such as Easter Seals, Chattanooga Coffee Day, and the Lily Day Parade in the spring of 1958. This classroom also received some proceeds from the Celebrity Parade for Cerebral Palsy held at Memorial Auditorium on April of that same year.
This first classroom utilized many special adaptive devices for the time such as chairs and desks of varying height, adapted toys and therapeutic games involving bean bags and balls. Classes met Monday through Friday for morning sessions. Groups such as the Junior League volunteered to see that special furniture was built to suit any need of the children: special sandboxes, waist-high supports around the room and play areas, and the outfitting of a physical therapy area.
Significant dates in the history of Signal Centers, Inc.
| 
