50Stories_and Cover_comp

GRATITUDES 

A special thanks 

to the Pathfinder Foundation 

whose monetary donation 

made the production of this 

book possible. 

2016 Pathfinder Foundation Board of Directors 

Rich Beaver 

Tiffanney Drummond 

Lisa Garrott 

Bill Hancher 

Cindy Krumanaker 

Todd Landrum 

Bill Reeds 

J. Ryan Wall - Chair

1 

gratitudes 

A special thanks to those who gifted their 

time and talents to make this book possible. 

Midge Decker - 50th Anniversary Book Committee member 

Julie Goetz - 50th Anniversary Book Committee member 

Carla MacDonald - 50th Anniversary Book Committee member 

Mike Perkins - 50th Anniversary Book Committee member 

Robin Alexander - Writer 

Richard Beemer - Writer 

Rebekah Shaffer - Writer 

Nichole Howard - Photographer 

Jim Kramer - Photographer 

We appreciate all the staff who worked tirelessly in the 

production of the book. 

Most importantly, we thank the people featured in our stories 

that allowed us to join them on their path.

2 

This book is dedicated to the 

thousands of stakeholders who 

have helped Pathfinder Services to 

enrich the lives of those we serve. 

Without the time, talents and 

treasures given by our dedicated 

employees, volunteers, board, 

committee members and donors 

this valuable work would not be 

possible.

3 

Table of Contents 

Forewards: 

∙ Mayor Brooks Fetters 

∙ Paul Weech 

· Steve Cook 

4 

6 

7 

Introduction: 

John Niederman 

Past, Present and Future 

8 

Timeline 

10 

Founding Fathers: 

14 

Lives enriched along our path 

16 

Services offered: 

114 

50th Anniversary 

GOLDEN AWARDS 

116

4 

FOREWORD 

by: Brooks Fetters 

Mayor of Huntington, Indiana 

Pathfinder Services 50th Anniversary is a great event in the life of Huntington, 

Indiana and the wider community. When I think of the good of this organization, 

I’m reminded of James 1:7 that says, “True religion is taking care of the widows and 

the orphans.” I don’t know of any organization in the United States of America that 

is planted right here in Huntington, Indiana that takes care of widows and orphans. 

Now you may begin to wonder who’s a widow and who’s an orphan. I’m talking 

about individuals who have been widowed by the death of finances or by the death 

of a marriage. Or the death of health. Or individuals who have been orphaned by 

the death of an ability. Or the death of a skill. Or the death of a neighborhood. 

Whatever it is that orphans and widows someone, Pathfinder Services for 50 years 

has been at the forefront of meeting those needs, and solving those problems, and 

serving those people. That honors God, and makes our community a great place 

to live. 

There are two words that I think of when I think of Pathfinder Services. I 

think of impossible and I think of the phrase of St. Francis of Assisi when he says, 

“First we do what’s necessary, then you do what’s possible, and before long you’ve 

accomplished the impossible.” When I meet the Pathfinder ladies who come down 

once a month to dust the woodwork at the City Building and I see how polished 

and beautiful it is, I thank God for the people who thought of creating what is now 

known as Pathfinder Services 50 years ago, and made it a reality for someone 

else’s impossibility to become a possibility. 

I also think of inclusion. What I am proud of as the Mayor of the City of 

Huntington is that we live in a city that is inclusive, but that inclusive ability and

that active inclusion is a direct choice. And here is what I want all of us to walk 

away with knowing today. We hear so much about entitlement mentalities and 

people who think someone owes them something or they deserve something. If 

you’ve been around me very long you know that my eyes start to fog over, my ears 

bleed and my tongue falls out of my mouth when I hear entitlement. But I’m telling 

you here today, everybody deserves an opportunity to live an independent life, 

and to live a life as rich and as full as they possibly can. Not only is inclusion an 

opportunity, but for those of us who are the most able, we have a moral obligation 

to make sure that all who deserve opportunity have that opportunity. And that’s 

what Pathfinder Services has done well for 50 years. 

So on behalf of the City of Huntington, and in recognition of all those 

before you, with you, and who will lead after you, I want to present you and your 

team one of the City of Huntington Leadership Medallions that reminds us that 

it’s not about your title, it’s about what you do. If you serve people and you solve 

problems, you are a leader. 

“Pathfinder Services today, on March 28, 2016, whereas Pathfinder Services 

Incorporated, a comprehensive human and community development organization, 

is serving the City of Huntington, Huntington County, and the surrounding 

area and whereas Pathfinder Services was incorporated on March 28, 1966 in 

Huntington, Indiana, and today celebrates their 50th year of a corporation and 

whereas Pathfinder Services envisions a community where all people are accepted 

regardless of their abilities, and have control of their own destinies and whereas 

Pathfinder Services for the past 50 years has continually looked for opportunities 

to grow, and support services that provide a hand up to those on their road 

to self-reliance, and whereas Pathfinder Services through its various programs 

has provided services for thousands of individuals in Huntington and whereas 

the mission of Pathfinder Services is to strengthen communities primarily by 

enabling people experiencing developmental or economic challenges to achieve 

independence, inclusion and stability. 

Now, therefor I, Brooks Fetters, Mayor of the City of Huntington, do hereby 

proclaim March 28, as Pathfinder Services 50th Celebration and in doing so I call 

upon citizens in Huntington to observe this day. In testimony thereof, I have set my 

hand and affixed this great seal of the City of Huntington, this 28th day of March 

2016, Mayor Brooks Fetters.” 

Congratulations, Pathfinder Services. 

5

6 

FOREWORD 

by: Paul Weech 

President & CEO 

NeighborWorks America 

“NeighborWorks America creates 

opportunities for people to live in 

affordable homes, improve their lives 

and strengthen their communities. 

We are honored to invest and partner 

with Pathfinder Services to help build their skills, supplement their resources and 

amplify their reach so they can expand their HomeOwnership Center, rehabilitate 

more houses, and provide more inclusive supportive housing. The result is more 

people becoming self-reliant and communities strengthened. 

Pathfinder Services, is a diversified human and community development 

organization. They strengthen communities by enabling people facing physical, 

developmental, or economic challenges to achieve independence, inclusion, and 

stability. Building and strengthening communities of opportunity requires strong 

nonprofit institutions like Pathfinder Services, who have the organizational capacity 

to: play the role of community catalyst, engage residents, work with the public 

systems, bring in other partners, and deploy capital. 

At NeighborWorks, we strongly believe that creating places of opportunity 

and community strength comes from encouraging diversity and inclusion — across 

race, income, age, ability and culture. An affordable, safe and healthy place to call 

home is first and foremost to creating a place of opportunity. Pathfinder Services 

works to help a diverse population of individuals achieve and maintain the dream 

of homeownership by providing homebuyer education and counseling, downpayment 

assistance, and if needed, foreclosure prevention. Pathfinder Services’ 

programs create places of opportunity for individuals of all abilities, no matter 

where they are on life’s path. 

At NeighborWorks, our ultimate vision is that every community in America 

will become a place of opportunity and that every individual has a place to call 

home. Our valued member, Pathfinder Services, is making that happen in Indiana.”

FOREWORD 

by: Steve Cook 


INARF 

The Indiana Association of Rehabilitation 

Facilities, Inc. (INARF) is committed to 

strengthening the system of services and 

supports for Hoosiers with disabilities. 

We envision a sustainable network of 

provider agencies delivering high quality services to support the aspirations of all 

people with disabilities. Pathfinder Services assists us with our mission of working 

to influence the disabilities services industry by presenting a unified voice and by 

building capabilities. INARF is blessed to have had the support and dedication of 

Pathfinder Services’ President, John Niederman as he has whole-heartedly helped 

to blaze the path for the work that we do in Indiana. Mr. Niederman served in 

various positions with our association from 1986-1998 and 2010- present. 

Today, we celebrate the past 50 years of accomplishments of Pathfinder 

Services. They have delivered high quality programs, services and supports to 

those of varying ability levels. We are excited to recognize and commend them 

on their diligent efforts providing intensive educational opportunities, community 

integration, housing, as well as employment opportunities for those they serve. 

Our valued member, Pathfinder Services, is making a difference in lives across 

Northeastern Indiana everyday. We are equally excited to welcome the future vision 

of Pathfinder Services where all people are included and have control over their 

destiny. We find pride in knowing that Pathfinder Services comes along side people 

to help them where ever they are in life’s path. 

7

8 

Past, Present and 

Welcoming the Future 

John Niederman 


Pathfinder Services 

The pathway to our growth and success was established from the beginning 

by dedicated leaders who envisioned a better life in the community, not apart from 

the community, for those who could easily have been considered not welcomed. 

Acceptance and control over one’s destiny has been our vision for those we 

serve and the community they live in. This vision has propelled the development 

and expansion of services that today enable people facing developmental and/ 

or economic challenges to become self-reliant and included in the life of the 

community. For the organization to make this adaptation to creating services 

designed not only for people with disabilities, but also for others with economic 

and/or social barriers, visionary leaders on the Board and in the community agreed

on an integrated services model that had as one of its principals, improvement of 

the quality of life in the community. Many of the success stories found in the 50th 

Anniversary Book illustrate the use of the complex service mix that has evolved to 

enable those we serve to move down the self-reliant path. 

As we welcome the future, we envision a greater 

integration of our services into the community 

and the sharpening our focus on how to better 

educate, create employment and develop 

affordable housing for those we serve. We want 

to become a more vibrant community asset that 

uses its resources to tackle the complex issues 

facing those we serve today in navigating their 

paths to success, which we believe strengthens 

the community in which they live. 

Reading through the stories of our 50 years, I hope you become as excited 

as I am about the potential of Pathfinder 

Services to make a greater impact on 

people’s lives and their communities in 

the next fifty years. I hope you will be 

encouraged to join us as a part of your 

desire to make a difference as well for 

those seeking self-reliance and inclusion 

in their community of choice. 

9

10 

MEMORABLE 

MILESTONES 

•Village Workshop moved to 

Byron School 

•First Executive Director 

hired, Donald Kartepeter 

1967 

1966 

•Huntington County Association 

for Retarded Children Incorporated 

•Moose March generates 

1001 members and $2000 

1968 

1969 

•Preschool services began 

•William Kruzan becomes Executive Director 

•Workshop and administrative offices 

moved to old Clear Creek School 

1971 

•Dale Francis becomes 

Executive Director 

•Charles DelMonico becomes 


•First Residential Center, 

The Villa, opens 

1973 

1974 

•Name Change to Huntington County 

Association for Retarded Citizens 

•Thomas Pomeranz becomes 


1975 

1976 

• State Street groundbreaking 

•Steven Gerber becomes Executive Director 1978 

•Employment Services began, 

designated as a state Vocational Rehabilitation Center 

•State Street Office and Service Center opens 

•First group home opens 

1979 

• First group home opens for ladies

11 

1980 

•Name Changed to 

Pathfinder Services 

1981 

•New programs: infant stimulation, 

respite care and aluminum recycling 

1982 

•Manufacturing expanded 

to serve local industries 

1983 

•Pathfinder Foundation founded 

1984 

•Services began in 

Marshall and Starke Counties 

•John Niederman 

appointed President/CEO 

1985 

1987 

1986 

•Supported Independent 

Living Program (SILP) begins 

• 1st LaMont Award 

•Community Living Services 

expanded in Marshall 

and Starke Counties 

1989 

•Two completely accessible 

group phomes built 

•Huntington Memorial 

Park renovation and 

contract awarded 

1992 

•HUD Transitional Housing Grant Awarded 

for Homeless Families 

1988 

1990 

•Community Living Services 

began in Wabash County 

•Supportive Employment Services began 

• Kids Kampus opened 

• Recycling and Refuse Division begins

12 

•Employment Services 

renamed Resource Connection 

1994 

1997 

• Rural LISC Grant Awarded establishing 

Community Connections 

2000 

• SouthPointe Development, LLC 

established in Wabash 

2003 

• Manufacturing earns ISO 9001 certification 

• Community Connections 

expands services to Fort Wayne 

2006 

2008 

2007 

•New recreation program added 

for teens with disabilities - Teens on the Town 

•Teen summer camp started 

• Chartered as a NeighborWorks ® 

America organization 

2012 

• Drover Town Owner 

Occupied Rehabilitation program 

2014 

• Ash Street Front Porch 4-plex opens 

• Kids Kampus earns Early Education 

Matching Grant allowing for free preschool slots 

• Creative Abilities opened 

2010 

2013 

•Purchased first Amramp franchise 

•Community Connections starts 

free tax preparation program 

•Community Connections starts 

Acquisition and Rehabilitation program 

•Early Head Start services 

offered by Pathfinder Kids Kampus 

• NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership 

Center Certified 

• Community Connections name changed to 

Pathfinder NeighborWorks® 

HomeOwnership Center 

• Celebrating 50 years

PATHFINDER SERVICES 

Board Chairs 

13 

1966 Dr. John Regan 

1967 David Brewer 

1968 Royce Ruckman 

1969 Stephen Zahn 

1970 Richard Poole 

1971 Dr. Peare 

1972 Warren Rider 

1973 Lee Woolridge 

1974-75 Dale Ridgeway 

1976 John Branham 

1977 Lee Woolridge 

1978 Dennis Opal 

1979 Dr. B. J. Krueger 

1980-81 Kent Schenkel 

1982-83 Wil Hahn 

1984-85 Joe Blomeke 

1986-87 Charles Nelson 

1988 Ann Eckert 

1989 Bob Garrett 

1990 Barbara Rupley 

1991 Joe Wiley 

1992-95 Bill Hancher 

1996-97 Midge Decker 

1998-99 Bill Horoho 

2000 Cindy Kardatzke-Hohe 

2001-03 Debbie Dyson 

2004-05 John Branham 

2006-07 Tom Hanlon 

2008-09 Craig Johnson 

2010-11 John Mignone 

2012-13 Dave McEowen 

2014 Randy Sizemore 

2015-16 Chant Thompson 

Herbert D. LaMont 

Award Recepients 

1986 Judy Vandespool- 

Frischman 

1987 William Kruzan 

1988 Helen Brandt 

1989 Kay LaMont 

1990 Eugene Habecker 

1991 Dr. John Regan 

1992 Chuck Nelson 

1993 Wynfield & Lyn 

Wetherbee 

1994 Kent and Sally 

Schenkel 

1995 Royce Ruckman 

1996 Tom Butler 

1997 Fred Teddy 

1997 Mary Brennan 

1998 Roger Strickler 

1999 David Brewer 

2000 John and Midge 

Decker 

2001 George Brown 

2002 Lola Lee Peters 

2003 Fr. Ron Rieder 

2004 Altrusa International 

2005 Suze Ann Eichhorn 

2006 Harriet and Leo Zahm 

2007 Bill Hancher 

2008 Jim Scheiber 

2009 Greta Schenkel 

2010 Tim Allen 

2011 John Mignone 

2012 William Horoho 

2013 Keith and Nancy 

Hartley 

2014 Rose Broyles 

2015 Bob Burnsworth

14 

Four founding fathers 

Gene Snowden • David Brewer • Royce Ruckman • Dr. John Regan 

Back in 1965, a gentleman sent a note asking to speak to Gene Snowden 

who was in session at the House of Representatives in Indianapolis. Mr. Snowden 

took the time to speak with the young man at a break in session and found that 

he wanted to start an organization in Huntington, Indiana to take care of those 

with disabilities. He asked Mr. Snowden if he would help to acquire some “good 

people” to be on the Board of Directors. Luckily, Mr. Snowden was up for the 

challenge and started by speaking with local community member, Herb LaMont. 

That discussion lead him to talk with Royce Ruckman and Dave Brewer. 

“It all worked out perfect. I enjoyed being a part of a great nucleus of 

people to start this organization. Every piece of the puzzle fit.” 

– Gene Snowden, Founding Father, 2016 

Royce Ruckman and his wife, Janice came to Huntington in 1964 after 

graduating from college. At that point, the young couple had a 1 year old daughter 

with Down syndrome. They soon found that there was not an organization in 

Huntington or the surrounding area able to provide services for her. 

The young parents were not sure what they were going to do, but they

knew their daughter, Melissa would need help to realize her full potential. 

Soon after they came to Huntington, Mr. Snowden contacted Mr. Ruckman 

to see if he would be willing to be involved in creating a new organization to serve 

those with disabilities. He agreed and became a Founding Father as well as Board 

Chair in 1967. Melissa started receiving care at the Village School. 

The Ruckman Family is still very involved in the organization and Melissa is still 

served by Pathfinder Services. 

“I feel very privileged t o be a part of helping to put this together.” 

– Royce Ruckman, Founding Father, 2016 

15 

David Brewer became involved with the board of directors in 1966, but to 

the children first served by the Village School, he was known as Santa Claus. Mr. 

Brewer enjoyed embracing the personality of Santa every year. The village school 

was started in May of 1966. Mr. Brewer still gets emotional when he tells a story 

of his first time as Santa in December of 1966. A young girl cautiously climbed 

on to his lap and sang Silent Night, word for word. Mrs. Lola Peters, the teacher 

at the Village School, later told Mr. Brewer that when the little girl first started 

receiving care, she was not able to utter a single word. 

“We were very fortunate in bringing on board the people to start the Village 

School and Workshop programs. Their dedication, enthusiasm and love laid the 

foundation on which Pathfinder Services has developed and grown. We are all 

deeply indebted to these individuals for their involvement and contribution.” 

– David Brewer, Founding Father, 2016 

In 1966, Dr. John Regan was an enthusiastic and persistent young man 

looking to make a difference in the Huntington community. He worked tirelessly 

to gain funds and remembers visiting the LaMont family late into the evening one 

night. Dr. Regan was an integral part of the Moose March for 1001 Members and 

eventually built membership up so much so that the Huntington ARC became the 

largest member group in the state. Dr. Regan was the first Board Chair in 1966. 

“If you couldn’t get excited over doing something good like this, you 

couldn’t get excited over anything. It was a labor of love to get this organization 

started.” 

– Dr. John Regan, Founding Father, 2016

16 

“A life of service to children” 

Education 

“Everyone has a reason for being in this world, and it’s our job 

to figure out our purpose and pursue it.” 

Not many people have had a front row seat to the growth of Pathfinder 

Services over the years, but William Kruzan has enjoyed that very privilege. He was 

30 years old when he moved to Huntington and became the Director of Special 

Education for the school corporation, a position he held for almost the next 30 

years. 

Because of his role at the school, he was invited to serve on the first board 

established for Pathfinder Services, even back before it was called Pathfinder 

Services. And Mr. Kruzan is amazed at how much has been accomplished in the 

50 years this organization has served the community. 

Now over 85 years old, Mr. Kruzan is still passionate about the work of 

Pathfinder Services. His own zeal to work in special education was born after 

watching his dad and step-mother advocate for their son who had cerebral palsy. 

Between that experience and watching some friends help their hearing-impaired 

daughter, Mr. Kruzan majored in special education and devoted his life to helping 

those in need of those services. 

EDUCATION ∙ Employment ∙ Housing ∙ Community Integration

Obviously in the last fifty years, there have been marked changes in not 

only the world of special education, but in Pathfinder Services, too. Mr. Kruzan 

fears that people in the community may still think of Pathfinder Services as the 

small workshop it was when it started, and not as the complex and competent 

entity it is today. He never dreamed there would ever be a housing program or tax 

preparation assistance. When he thinks of all that has come about that he never 

could have envisioned, he certainly has no idea where the organization could go 

in the next fifty years. 

Mr. Kruzan believes everyone has a reason for being in this world, and it’s 

our job to figure out our purpose and pursue it. He never would have imagined, as 

a child, that advocating for special needs children would be part of his life, and it 

became his lifes work. He encourages everyone he can talk with to figure out why 

they’re here and pursue that passion with perseverance, even when it’s hard to do. 

And as for Pathfinder Services, Mr. Kruzan says, “It was good when we 

started it, but it’s better now.” He’s excited to see what lies ahead for Pathfinder 

Services and the community it serves! 

17 


18 

“Dedication 

spanning 

50 years” 

Education, Employment 

Community Integration, Housing 

“A deeply faithful woman who believed in 

doing good service for others.” 

When reading the 50 year history of Pathfinder Services, it doesn’t take 

long for the name Mary Kay LaMont to surface. Kay was a humble, generous 

woman who was dedicated to Pathfinder Services for decades. She was known in 

the Huntington community for being dedicated to children and their growth. A 

true trailblazer, she was the first woman named Chief of the Flint Springs Tribe in 

1981. 

In 1989, Mary Kay LaMont led the charge to raise over $300,000 to create 

an integrated child care facility in Huntington, what we now know as Pathfinder 

Kids Kampus. She was an advocate for children and the lifetime benefits that are 

enjoyed by children of all abilities when they are a part of an early learning program. 

Kay also served on the Pathfinder Foundation Board of Directors and was integral 

in establishing the prestigious Herbert D. LaMont Award in 1986 in honor of her 

late husband. Kay was the fourth recipient of this award, with appreciation for her 

work with the Kids Kampus capital campaign. 

Kay was adored and appreciated beyond the Pathfinder community. “Kay 

EDUCATION ∙ EMPLOYMENT ∙ HOUSING ∙ COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

was just a very beautiful person. My wife and I loved her. She was a gracious, 

elegant human being,” said Dr. Eugene Habecker, former Huntington University 

President. “She had a heart for everything good within the community.” 

Kids Kampus would not be the facility it grew to be without Kay. “When 

we embarked on the capital campaign, I didn’t even have to finish asking Kay 

before she agreed to chair the committee,” said Dr. Carla MacDonald, former Kids 

Kampus Director. “From the moment I met her, I knew she loved people and had a 

special heart for children.” Kay’s love of children went beyond her time on boards 

or committees; Kids Kampus staff remember her antics of dressing up as Mother 

Goose to read to children, sparking their passion for learning and reading. 

“As a volunteer, it’s important to find a place to stand, then stand up and 

be counted. Often a person will pull back when asked to be involved with one who 

is slightly different than what society calls ‘normal’; but inside, we are all the same 

and God loves us equally,” LaMont said in a 1991 interview. “Kids Kampus is so 

important to the whole community, for people of all ages, who need to know that 

they are worthy of love.” 

To honor her memory, a fund has been established to support Kids Kampus. 

“Kay believed that all children deserve equal footing,” said MacDonald. All dollars 

raised for this fund will help Kids Kampus provide additional support for children 

with special needs. “Kay befriended children with special needs. It was one of 

her joys to spend time with them,” said John Niederman. “She was a deeply 

faithful woman who truly believed in doing 

good service for others. That’s why we’ve 

established this fund in her honor.” 

According to Habecker, “Though 

she never sought to be honored by anyone, 

because of her deep sense of humility, this fund 

fully aligns with her heart and her generous 

spirit. She wanted to serve children, especially 

those with special needs.” If you would like to 

continue Kay’s legacy and provide a child with 

special needs with support, you can make a 

gift online at pathfinderservices.org/donate or 

call 260.350.0500 today. 

19 


20 

“Early days of Pathfinder 

Services” 

Education & Employment 

“If you want to volunteer or make contributions Pathfinder 

Services is an excellent choice.” 

If you’re interested in stories from the early days of Pathfinder Services, 

Marie Gerrard is the person to go to. During the earliest time of Pathfinder Services, 

volunteers and community support were key components to growing the vision set 

forth by the organization. For Marie, that meant digging in and being involved. Her 

first three years consisted of public relations work to get the support needed to 

make the program a success. “At the time,” she said, “they didn’t have any money. 

Back then, the concept of group homes was a new one. People who had problems 

were put into institutions and the community was leery of the change.” 

In answer to the concerns and resistance Pathfinder Services faced, 1001 

members were sought to gain support and donations from people and organizations. 

The Moose March of 1001 members was successful and soon Marie was a part of 

designing the State Street Village Center. “My favorite memories are of the growth 

of the different programs. It’s neat how staff interacted and treated the people. We 

knew a lot of the people that we helped came from bad homes, so we would keep 

food for them, make sure they got bathed and had clean clothes.” 

EDUCATION ∙ EMPLOYMENT ∙ Housing ∙ Community Integration

In 1976, the Infants Stimulation Program was started and Marie wrote 

that program along with the preschool curriculum. Within the next two years, the 

Adult Day Activities program began. Around that time, the newsletter and parents’ 

group began and she began running the first group home. The second home was 

opened on Guilford in 1979. Later that year, Marie left the program to pursue 

new opportunities but remained connected even during her years working with the 

State of Indiana. 

Involvement in any organization is not a decision Marie thinks anyone 

should take lightly and had a couple of parting words of advice: “I suggest to 

anyone, if you want to volunteer or make contributions, to consider the activities, 

growth, and progress made by that organization. Pathfinder Services is an excellent 

choice.” 

21 


22 

“Creating a positive 

environment for 

their son” 

Education, Housing 

Community Integration 

“When doctors provided no hope for their son, the Wolf family 

helped establish a program to provide hope for him.” 

When doctors provided no hope for their son, the Wolf family helped 

establish a program to provide hope for Gary and others like him. 

Born in 1954 and delivered by a family friend, Gary Wolf’s parents had 

no idea he had Down Syndrome until two years later. When Mr. and Mrs. Wolf 

realized their child wasn’t progressing normally, they took him to a doctor in Fort 

Wayne, Indiana and learned of his diagnosis. “I clearly remember the doctor 

telling Gary he should hang up his hat because he would never go very far. Those 

words hurt so badly. I’ll never forget them,” admitted Mary Wolf, Gary’s mother. 

The Wolf’s organization was born in the basement of the Trinity Methodist 

Church, though Mrs. Wolf doesn’t remember the specific year. She does remember 

before Gary began at the Village School on Etna Avenue how much work the 

school house needed. In an effort to give children the best possible care, she and 

other mothers worked for days cleaning it up before their children began services 

there. 

EDUCATION ∙ Employment ∙ HOUSING ∙ COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

During this time, the Wolfs joined a group of parents who canvassed the 

Huntington area searching for 1001 members to join their organization. Mr. and 

Mrs. Wolf covered the east side of the town, asking for donations and support. 

Though out of character for this quiet and private couple, they successfully solicited 

more funds to assist in the construction of a new and better building for Gary and 

others to go to during the day where they could make friends and grow. 

Their efforts took the family to Michigan where they, along with other 

parents, toured a facility that gave them more ideas for setting up a similar facility 

in Huntington. 

“One couple I remember well was the Zahms—Leo and Hariett. They were 

big helpers in growing the organization,” Mary said. “When transportation began, 

they both drove vans to get individuals to the center at Clear Creek and then on 

to State Street.” 

In 1989, Mr. Wolf died of a heart attack. Gary and his mother lived 

together until 2004, when Gary moved to the Franklin Street group home. On 

Sundays, Mrs. Wolf picked him up so they could go to church together in Markle. 

Afterwards, they would often go to Sunday lunch or dinner, a tradition Mrs. Wolf 

treasured. 

In 2005, Gary was transferred to a Markle nursing home when Alzheimer’s 

affected him in a way that changed this loving man into someone those who knew 

him no longer recognized. Though his personality was altered by the disease, and 

he no longer wanted to go to Sunday meals with his mother, he enjoyed living at 

the Markle nursing home and continued living there until he died in 2006. 

23 


24 

“Launched into new 

opportunities” 


“Perseverance from Vickie Cundiff’s family paid off to provide 

a life rich with adventure and happiness.” 

In 1955, the options available to those with disabilities in Huntington 

County were nearly non-existent. But perseverance from Vickie Cundiff’s family 

paid off to provide a life rich with adventure and happiness. 

When Vickie became school age, her mother searched for a school until 

she found Vera Cruz in Bluffton. This was quite a drive for the family, but they 

transported Vickie back and forth for several years to provide the best possible 

education for their daughter. Finally, in 1967, they learned of the Village School, 

a new option closer to home. When it opened its doors, Vickie transferred to the 

school, where she flourished through graduation in 1974. 

Graduation launched Vickie into new opportunities as she left Village 

School behind to participate in the Village Workshop. Through the workshop, she 

secured jobs at Huntington Lab and other paying positions as well as took part in 

simulation jobs to improve her skills. Later, she was chosen to work in the Enclave 

Program. Her new job coach helped her attain a position at Bendix. After her job 

ended, Vickie returned to the Day Services program at Pathfinder Services. 

Education ∙ Employment ∙ Housing ∙ COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

Vickie continued to live at home until after her mother’s death. In 2007, 

the family was approached about a new group home opening. Vickie made the 

move to the new facility her next adventure. The Thomas Road home has proved 

to be a wonderful experience. She lives with four other ladies, all sharing in daily 

chores and cooking meals. She’s taken ballroom dance lessons, bowls, and swims. 

Through her continued participation in Pathfinder Community Supports Day 

Services program, she delivers meals and assists with other community activities. 

Recently, Vickie’s longtime wish was granted through Pathfinder Services’ 

Dream Fund to see Dolly Parton in 

concert. She and her sister were treated 

to dinner and a show. Though Vickie 

participated in summer camps and Special 

Olympics, the experience of seeing Dolly 

Parton was her greatest dream come true 

in a life full of experiences. 

25 


26 

“A long and 

passionate history” 

Education & Community Integration 

“She has her life, her friends, her apartment, her 

independence. She has confidence and purpose in life.” 

Kent, Sally and Greta Schenkel have experienced a long and passionate 

history with Pathfinder Services, spanning more than 40 years. It is a relationship 

both personal and professional. Kent remembers fondly his years as Board president 

and later as Pathfinder Foundation president for a combined total of 10 very active 

years on the business side, noting in particular his involvement in the building of 

the State Street facility. Sally, too, was a former Pathfinder Services Board member 

and a teacher at Kids Kampus when it was located on State Street. 

Their daughter Greta attended the Village School in a pre-school class for 

children with disabilities. When she became of school-age, she was enrolled in a 

kindergarten class at Lincoln Elementary School, and later transferred to a class 

for trainable children with developmental disabilities. Greta’s pre-high school years 

were spent at Northwest Elementary, and her Huntington North High School class 

was the first class of students with developmental disabilities to graduate from the 

high school. 

Greta loves to help others, so it was a natural transition from student to 

EDUCATION ∙ Employment ∙ Housing ∙ COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

volunteer. She was a regular volunteer at Lancaster Elementary School for a couple 

of years, and later she went on to volunteer at Kids Kampus for 21 years. “You had 

to make her take a day off,” says her mother. Unfortunately, she could no longer 

fulfill her volunteer responsibilities due to dementia, but she has successfully 

transferred to day services four days a week and manufacturing at the State Street 

facility one day a week. She’s “taking it easy now,” says Sally. 

Greta, who is 42 years old and a bit gray on top, says she has always 

enjoyed her relationship with Pathfinder Services. She laughs at the comment that 

she is “good-natured,” which served her well all those years as a Kids Kampus 

“professional” volunteer, says Kent. “She helped with the laundry, with the meals, 

read to the little kids and worked with them on crafts,” says Sally, and to this day 

Greta continues to send birthday cards to many of the children she worked with all 

those years ago. 

Life for Greta would have been much different had there not been Pathfinder 

Services to nurture Greta as she grew into adulthood. “I don’t know how people 

without organizations such as Pathfinder Services did it,” says Sally. “People with 

disabilities were kept at home their entire lives,” adds Kent. “Pathfinder Services 

opened doors for families and their children.” 

“Greta belongs,” says her mother. “She has her life, her friends, her 

apartment, her independence. She has confidence and purpose in life, and can do 

things that at one time people thought were not possible.” 

27 


28 

“Tender heart 

toward the mission 

of Pathfinder 

Services” 

Education 

“After her 33 years of employment ended, Mary’s heart was 

still with Pathfinder Services.” 

Almost 40 years ago, Mary Burke’s youngest child went off to kindergarten, 

and Mary went out to sell encyclopedias door-to-door. She quickly learned that 

wasn’t her gift, but she didn’t quite know what her gift was. 

Eager to help her friend, who was a nurse affiliated with Pathfinder Services, 

Mary applied for a job opening in adult daily activities. Though she lacked the 

self-confidence to believe she had the necessary skills for the job, the woman who 

hired her knew she’d do well. And in that vision, a thirty-three year employment 

partnership began between Mary and Pathfinder Services. 

She dove right in, working immediately to improve the activities for the 

adults in the program. She worked part time, in the afternoons, and though they 

stayed inside most of the time, she believed they could make better use of their 

hours, so she taught them to bag popcorn and do other productive things. 

After a few years of working with adults, Mary took a job with the preschool, 

which later became Kids Kampus. She loved working with the kids, and going on 


field trips with them and seeing them thrive and grow. 

While she may have been unsure of her gifts forty years ago, she’s uncovered 

her passions in the time that has passed, and she leans on those to guide her 

service to Pathfinder Services now. She works to educate people in the community, 

so they know the organization goes beyond helping those with physical and mental 

disabilities. 

She may have left the Pathfinder Services payroll, but Mary’s heart couldn’t 

abandon the organization entirely. She became a volunteer and has served in a 

variety of positions, primarily helping now with staff support at Kids Kampus. One 

of Mary’s favorite forms of service is the Kids Kampus Turkey Trot 5K fundraiser, 

which she’s involved with annually. In fact, 5K races are one of Mary’s big personal 

passions. She learned several years ago that she loves doing 5Ks and has set a goal 

to participate in one in as many states as she can. 

Mary is a proud wife, 

mother, and grandmother, 

participant in her church 

choir and volunteer at the 

food pantry, but her heart 

is tender toward the mission 

of Pathfinder Services. 

She’s proud to continue 

her partnership with an 

organization that reaches 

farther into the community 

than most ever know. 

29 


30 

“A determined 

spirit” 

Housing & Community Integration 

“Kammy has maintained her wonderful sense of humor, her love for people, 

especially children, and her appreciation for those who love her.” 

All her life, Kammy has overcome challenges. Born with Down syndrome, 

she accomplished one goal after another, thanks to her own determined spirit, her 

parents’ dedication and the assistance of Pathfinder Services. 

Over the years, Kammy taught herself sign language, traveled, held down 

various jobs and lived on her own with the help of a social worker. Until July, 

Kammy lived in a supportive living home with three other women and enjoyed the 

day to day activities provided by Pathfinder Community Supports. Today, Kammy 

is dealing with diminishing abilities due to Alzheimer’s disease and is no longer 

served by Pathfinder Services. Her family is still very appreciative of the services 

she received. 

In a moving letter about Kammy posted online, her sister, Kimm Loewen, 

wrote, “Kammy is a member of an excellent, caring organization called Pathfinder 

Services in Huntington, Indiana. They basically help take care of all my sister’s 

needs in correlation with us, her family. Without them, Kammy would not be doing 

as well as she is.” 

Education ∙ Employment ∙ HOUSING ∙ COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

In August 2014, Pathfinder Services was also able to help Kammy realize a 

dream. Though already in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and experiencing shortterm 

memory loss, Kammy still remembered a wish she had from years before: to 

fly in a hot air balloon with her sister. Kimm reached out to Pathfinder Services and 

the local community. “I want to make this happen for her while she can still do this 

physically and for that moment in time remember. It will be a memory for me I will 

always cherish,” Kimm said. 

Pathfinder Community Supports raised over $1,000 to help Kammy realize 

her dream, though only $200 was needed for the high-flying adventure. The extra 

money was put into a Dream Fund to support the wishes of others served by 

Pathfinder Services. As Kimm explained, “The program is not funded but relies on 

gifts of money or services to grant these wishes.” 

On the day of her balloon ride, Kammy was asked if she was excited about 

finally getting to ride on a hot air balloon with her sister. She responded with an 

enthusiastic “Yes!” and threw her hands up in the air. 

In her online letter, Kimm had written of Kammy, “It has been very hard 

watching her slowly lose capabilities... but through all this,Kammy has maintained 

her wonderful sense of humor, her love 

for people, especially children, and her 

appreciation for those who love her.” 

Kimm said that every time she 

and her sister talk on the phone, Kammy 

always tells Kimm she loves her. “My 

heart wants to burst with love for her 

every time she says that,” Kimm said. 

“My sister has had a huge part in making 

me the person I am today. She taught 

me how to be patient, how to care, how 

to listen, and how to love, how to take 

pleasure in the simple things in life and 

how to be thankful for the smallest of 

accomplishments.” 

31 


32 

“A passion 

to serve that 

spans decades” 

Employment & Community Integration 

“I grew close to those families and children during my five 

years as a teacher at Village Training Center.” 

You only need to sit with Judy (Vanderspool) Frischman for a few minutes to 

feel the passion she has for Pathfinder Services. Her memories are plentiful, and 

she is eager to share them all. 

Her stories began early on in Pathfinder Services’ history, back in 1972. 

Janice Ruckman contacted Judy about an opening for a preschool teaching position 

at the Village Training Center, working with children with disabilities. Judy agreed 

and quickly fell into place with a group of people passionate about helping children 

and adults who had few other places to turn. 

Judy grew close to the families who left their children in her care during 

preschool hours. One of her goals in fostering those relationships was to help the 

lines of communication remain open between herself and the parents, since many 

of the children couldn’t communicate what happened during the day. She sent 

folders home to the families, relating stories and important information on what 

took place in the classroom. Through her efforts, the families remained up-todate 

on what their children were involved in without relying on the kids to relay 

Education ∙ EMPLOYMENT ∙ Housing ∙ COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

information. “I grew close to those families and children during my five years as a 

teacher at the Village Training Center,” said Judy. “And I have so many wonderful 

stories about those years.” 

Though many years have passed since Judy taught at Pathfinder Services, 

she continues to stay in touch with the families by sending birthday cards to the 

students she taught all those years ago. “My only regret,” Judy noted, “is that 

each year I get a card or two back marked undeliverable. Families move and I lose 

contact with them. It makes me sad.” 

After leaving her teaching position at the Village Center, Judy went on to 

teach at Roanoke and later, Northwest. Though she no longer taught at Pathfinder 

Services, she remained involved and still is to this day. She served on the board 

of directors from 1982-1989. In 1991, she co-chaired the fundraising for Kids 

Kampus. 

Judy notes, “I 

contribute yearly to 

United Way but it’s 

not enough. You really 

need to donate to local 

organizations as well. 

One organization I always 

support is Pathfinder 

Services. You know, you 

support the ones you 

know are doing good. 

Pathfinder Services does 

a lot of good.” 

33 


34 

“How ya doin’?” 


“Midge wanted to become a bigger part of Ralph’s life. ” 

Chances are, if you’ve been around Huntington very long, you’ve seen 

Ralph or maybe even shook his hand as he asked, “How ya doin’?” In fact, if you 

talk to him for just a few minutes, you’ll notice Ralph seems to know just about 

everyone! 

Twenty-five years ago, Midge Decker met Ralph through a program at the 

Altrusa Club that connected members with Pathfinder group home residents who 

had no family. Gloria Wall and Midge picked Ralph up at the Warren Street home. 

They quickly learned how happy Ralph was, and almost as quickly, they learned 

of his love for shoes. He convinced them to visit a nearby Target and he returned 

home with new shoes in hand. The staff snickered. Ralph adored shoes then, just 

as he does today. If you ask him if he wants or needs anything, his answer will 

inevitably be “shoes.” (He once even threw out a pair of shoes, simply to have an 

excuse to buy new ones!) 

As Midge grew to know him better, she wanted to become a bigger part of 

Ralph’s life. The only legal guardian Ralph had in his life wanted only to be involved 


in the financial affairs, not daily care or forming a bond with a man who longed to 

be part of someone’s life. It didn’t take long Midge to decide Ralph needed – and 

deserved more. She began the long legal process and was named Ralph’s legal 

guardian in 1992. Later, Lisa Young became a co-guardian in 2003 to help when 

Midge traveled overseas. The investments and relationships these women began 

in Ralph’s life continue to this day. 

Through the years, Ralph has been witness to and part of the evolving trends 

of care for individuals with disabilities. He lived in Fort Wayne Developmental 

Center from 1950 until 1977 when he became part of the Pathfinder Vocational 

Services program and also moved to Miller’s Merry Manor and Huntington nursing 

homes. In 1986, he moved to a group home and now is in a Medicaid waver 

home. He has since “retired” and takes part in a day program at the State Street 

facility while living in a home on Ash Street. 

Through all the changes and challenges, Ralph continues to be the same 

upbeat, friendly, and shoe-loving man who frequently answers with a “Yup!” and a 

smile! 

35 


36 

“Believes in 

the mission 

of Pathfinder 

Services” 


“Those individuals diagnosed with Down syndrome are a 

blessing, and most people miss that.” 

Father Ron moved to Huntington 33 years ago, and one of the very first 

things he learned upon coming to town was that an organization named Pathfinder 

Services existed and it was doing excellent work in this community. Though he 

learned about Pathfinder Services partly through a dinner with John Niederman, he 

learned about it in a more practical way by observing members of his parish who 

were part of the Pathfinder Services’ family. 

Tom, Wesley, and Linda were all active members of his parish, and all of 

them were adults with Down syndrome. He watched as they served wholeheartedly, 

using their gifts as they could: ushering and helping with Mass. 

Interacting with those who had Down syndrome was not a new thing for 

Father Ron. He had several members in his own family who had been diagnosed 

with Down syndrome, so he was familiar and understanding toward those with this 

diagnosis. But he had also observed that society at large tends to shun or fear 

those who are different from themselves. When he watched these members of his 

parish thrive, he knew Pathfinder Services was doing a tremendous job of working 


with these individuals, and he wanted to support the work they did. 

Father Ron isn’t surprised by the work of Pathfinder Services, but he did 

find himself surprised at how well they managed group homes, programs, and 

actually doing something productive to help meet a great need in society. He was 

surprised to see how powerful the work was throughout Huntington and even 

beyond. Though Father Ron is quick to label Pathfinder Services as a marvelous 

organization, he also adds that it’s more than just a business. It’s a vocation filled 

with employees and volunteers who have a special calling. He recognizes that 

it’s not easy work, but they do it well, and because of that, people with Down 

syndrome are able to live a much more fulfilling life. 

Father Ron supports Pathfinder Services because he believes in the mission 

of the organization. While he wishes 

he had more time and money to 

personally invest, he never hesitates 

to recommend anyone looking for a 

worthy cause to turn to Pathfinder 

Services. 

Those individuals diagnosed 

with Down syndrome are a blessing, 

and most people miss that. Father 

Ron is amazed at what a little love 

and support can do to help people 

make the most out of life, and he 

believes Pathfinder Services offers 

that through their programs and 

through their willingness to give 

everyone a chance to have control 

over their own destinies. 

37 


38 

“She felt owning a 

home was out of her 

reach.” 

Education & Housing 

“Being a homeowner has taught me how to save a significant 

amount of money compared to renting.” 

Her daughter is in the Varsity Singers at Huntington North High School and 

her son is serving our country in the US Navy. Tosha is also a proud homeowner 

thanks to her hard work and guidance from the Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center, 

a NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center. 

Tosha contacted the Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center in March of 2014 

to see if she might be able to afford to stop renting. Like many working parents, 

Tosha’s middle-class income allowed her to make ends meet. But after paying high 

rent to be sure her children were in a comfortable home and safe neighborhood, 

there wasn’t a lot left over to save for a down payment. She felt owning a home was 

out of her reach until she spoke with Justin at Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center. 

“I went in to Pathfinder Services, and Justin explained the program and made 

recommendations on what I should do and I did those things,” Tosha explains. 

“Justin was wonderful to work with, very professional and he really treated me with 

dignity. Being a single mother, I wasn’t sure if being a homeowner was something 

I could do, but Pathfinder encouraged me that I could.” 

EDUCATION ∙ Employment ∙ HOUSING ∙ Community Integration

She believes it was more than fate that lead her to her nearly move-in 

ready home in a quiet Huntington neighborhood. “One day I got routed down 

this street and saw the for sale sign in the yard. I thought it was a lovely home, 

so I called. When I first came through the home, it just felt like it fit our 

family,” says Tosha. Although she felt she had found her new home, Pathfinder 

Services recommended that Tosha wait a few months for a financing option 

that would put her in a better financial situation. Tosha explains, “My faith in 

God is a big part of who I am and although I really wanted this home, I felt I 

needed to be a good steward of what I had been given so I made the decision 

to wait.” In the end, all the pieces fell in to place for Tosha – she was able to 

make a contingent offer on the home so she could wait for the better financing 

option and the seller accepted her offer. 

Tosha has been in her home since May of 2015. For the last year, she 

has been doing small things to make her home her own. She’s touched up 

paint, done some landscaping, and warmly decorated her living and dining 

rooms. “Becoming a homeowner has saved me a significant amount of money 

compared to renting,” she says. “All-in-all, we are just so blessed to call this 

our home and for the guidance the Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center gave 

me along the way.” 

39 


40 

“Jonah’s 

life is full of 

opportunities” 



“The job provides Jonah with a sense of 

accomplishment and pride.” 

Jonah Hunt has grown up with Pathfinder Services and wouldn’t have it 

any other way. Upon their pediatrician’s advice, Jonah’s parents began looking for 

a program to help their son when he was just three years old. When they found 

Pathfinder Community Supports at the State Street building, it offered solutions 

for the family beyond their expectations. They immediately enrolled Jonah for 

occupational and physical therapy. Soon afterward, Jonah attended daycare and 

preschool classes with Mary Burke at Kids Kampus, and she remains a teacher he 

still remembers years later. His father, Gary, said, “My wife and I kept pressing for 

him to continue and it was a great opportunity.” 

After preschool, Jonah continued with the Pathfinder Resource Connection, 

where he continues to this day, 27 years later. Now 30 years old, Jonah’s life is 

full of opportunity with a busy calendar. From cooking class on Mondays at St. 

Paul Church to being out on in the community with Day Services on Tuesdays and 

Thursdays, and bowling on Fridays, this fun, outgoing man is able to be around 

EDUCATION ∙ EMPLOYMENT ∙ Housing ∙ COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

people while doing the activities he 

loves. 

Jonah said, “We get a coupon 

book at home and I can look in it 

and see what there is to do.” One 

of his recent choices included riding 

a camel in Fort Wayne, something 

he was nervous and excited about 

trying. 

Best of all, Pathfinder 

Services provided Jonah with a job 

coach, Phil, who helped him obtain 

work at a local Walgreens. The job 

of placing price stickers on vitamins, 

toothpaste and over the counter 

medications provides Jonah with a 

sense of accomplishment and pride 

while doing a job he loves. 

In his years in affiliation with Pathfinder Services, Jonah has made many 

wonderful memories including bowling trips, something he was able to do for the 

first time recently. An average score of 100 earned him some bragging rights! 

Even his “worst memory” (quiet time sleeping on cots during preschool ) brings a 

smile to his face. 

These memories make it easy for Jonah to recommend the program to 

others: “It’s a really great experience and you should join in sometime and have 

fun with it.” He continues, “You get to go out and do great activities like sporting 

events, dinner theatres, and amusement parks during the summer. It’s a great 

lifetime experience.” 

His father quietly reflects that life for Jonah would have been much different 

without Pathfinder Services. “We would have gone out and done some things, but 

not as much. He’s learned a lot. The opportunities are here.” 

41 

EDUCATION ∙ EMPLOYMENT ∙ Housing ∙ COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

42 

“Kids 

Kampus is a 

place really 

close to my 

heart” 


“I am happy families can utilize Kids Kampus because they 

provide such great, well-rounded programs.” 

Elizabeth began her journey with Kids Kampus as a preschool student, 

volunteered as a teenager, and finally, once she graduated, returned to the place 

where it all began. “I brought my diploma in and said, ‘I can work here now! I can 

work here!’ So I’ve just always been around.” 

Now a mother herself, Elizabeth sent her daughter, Becca, to preschool 

at Kids Kampus, until her daughter moved on to kindergarten this year. Those 

experiences of learning to socialize, make friends, and share prepared Becca for 

kindergarten. Elizabeth explains, “By the time I went to kindergarten, I didn’t have 

to learn how to make friends, how to share, or how to socialize – I had already had 

time away from my parents, so I had that independence I probably wouldn’t have 

had otherwise. I was ready for kindergarten and I feel like my daughter is ready too, 

because she knows her letters and shapes, and she also has that social piece too. 

I feel like she can start learning right away. She doesn’t have to learn all that other 

stuff, especially the social and emotional part of it in the beginning, because she’s 

already done it.” 


As the Assistant Director of the Early Head Start program offered at Kids 

Kampus, Elizabeth understands how busy parents can be with work and the other 

demands of life. These demands can make it a challenge to sit down and teach 

their children the academic skills they need. “It’s hard to teach socialization and 

sharing when you’re not actually with twelve other kids in a room.” The pre-school 

program allows children to learn these life and academic skills while parents work 

or take care of other responsibilities. 

Elizabeth’s family has also supported Pathfinder Kids Kampus for many 

years. Her mother, Rebecca Scheiber, is the branch manager of the Huntington 

PNC Bank. Thanks to Rebecca’s advocacy, PNC Bank has donated hats and 

gloves, partnered to bring the planetarium tour and a child-friendly introduction 

to saving to Kids Kampus. Thanks to Rebecca, PNC has also been a significant 

sponsor of the Pathfinder Kids Kampus Turkey Trot fundraiser for several years. 

Elizabeth now gets to help facilitate 

these learning opportunities offered to the 

children from local organizations. Since 

she’s from Huntington, she’s also very 

familiar with families and children who 

attend. “It’s a place that’s really close to 

my heart, and I’ll probably never leave, 

which is nice, because I got to grow up in 

the preschool and then volunteer so it’s 

always been part of my life.” 

After a lifetime at Kids Kampus, 

Elizabeth has only one wish: “I am happy 

families can utilize Kids Kampus because 

they provide such great, well-rounded 

programs.” 

43 


44 

“Pathfinder 

Services 

wanted to help” 


“Pathfinder Services stepped in to help Robin and Alton 

purchase their new dream home.” 

Alton and Robin Alexander are living the American dream, raising two girls 

in a beautiful new home in Woodburn. But life hasn’t always been easy for this 

family of four. A few years ago, the Alexander’s were forced to move to a rental 

in a blighted, crime-ridden Detroit neighborhood. The family searched for a way 

to escape their dangerous new reality. Robin found a home located in a small 

community outside of Fort Wayne, but because of the recession, she didn’t think 

their home ownership dream could become reality. That’s when Pathfinder Services 

stepped in to help Robin and Alton purchase their new dream home. “Pathfinder 

Services didn’t judge us,” Robin says. “They didn’t look down on us for being 

where we were. They wanted to help.” 

Alton and Robin Alexander had been the typical American family. Living 

in a comfortable neighborhood in Western Michigan, the couple was pregnant 

with their first child. While Alton had been promised a permanent position in his 

company after six months, the recession brought about a hiring freeze, making it 

impossible for him to gain long-term employment. He tried another line of work, 


ut it fell through too. They ended up losing their home and moved in with family 

members in Detroit, living in their basement until they could find a rental home. 

When they finally moved into a rental property, life only worsened. “The owners 

did nothing to fix up a home riddled with mold in a neighborhood where gunfire– 

even swat teams–were a nightly, regular occurrence,” Robin adds. “We couldn’t 

go out after dark in the neighborhood. We didn’t go outside in the backyard unless 

my husband was home.” 

The situation seemed hopeless. The Alexander’s couldn’t move into the 

expensive suburban neighborhoods of Detroit, so they decided to draw a large 

circle on the map around Detroit with potential places to move. The circle included 

Fort Wayne, so Robin began searching for houses in the area. She stumbled upon 

a new home built by Granite Ridge Builders and decided to tour some of their 

models. 

Located in a beautiful subdivision in Woodburn, the Alexanders settled 

on one of the models as their favorite, but weren’t sure how they would afford 

it. Granite Ridge suggested that they call Pathfinder Services HomeOwnership 

Center, where the family could receive help buying a home. When Robin contacted 

Pathfinder Services, she found the process easy and fast. They broke ground for 

a new home in June, by August they were approved for a loan and in December, 

they moved into their new dream home. 

“We’re in a neighborhood where we can go for a walk and go out and play. I 

love everything about it.” Robin adds. “I can’t say enough good about Pathfinder 

Services. They wanted to help. Pathfinder Services is the place to go.” 

45 


46 

“Working makes 

me feel good ” 


“This bubbly man doesn’t allow for Cerebral Palsy to slow him 

down or stop him from achieving what he wants out of life.” 

For Kristian, Pathfinder Services is about opportunity and family. Three 

years ago, Billie Ison, Employment Specialist at Pathfinder Resource Connection, 

shadowed Kristian at the Pathfinder Services Fort Wayne office. Kristian thrived so 

much that when a janitorial position opened up, Billie contacted Kristian and had 

him meet with the Office Manager. As the old saying goes, the rest is history. 

In the past three years, Kristian has learned a lot. Ashley, Pathfinder Resource 

Connection Program Coordinator, continues to assist him from time to time and he 

says about John, another Employment Specialist, “He’s been instrumental in my 

success.” He’s learned not only janitorial services from John but also other life 

skills that have helped him to grow in his job as well as personally. 

During this time, he has been involved also with Pathfinder Community 

Supports, going out with Jessi on Monday and Tuesdays and Nakita on Thursday 

Activities have included bowling, enjoying the fresh air while walking around 

Jefferson Pointe, and having lunch at Foster Park. Still, Kristian’s favorite times are 

working and being at Pathfinder Services itself. 


“My dad always tells me that things could be a lot worse for me in certain ways,” 

he says. For Kristian, it brings a sense of encouragement and inspiration to see the 

different services provided for people with a disability. “Working makes me feel 

pretty good. People automatically write you off when you have a disability. Then 

when you do something, it amazes them. They say, ‘Oh, she can do this,’ or ‘He 

can do this.’ Just because I’m not in a fast-paced environment doesn’t mean I can’t 

succeed.” 

This bubbly man who isn’t afraid to dance, should a song strike him, doesn’t 

allow for Cerebral Palsy to slow him down or stop him from achieving what he 

wants out of life. Pathfinder Services has helped him grow, while uncovering his 

capabilities. A man who strongly believes God gave him what he could handle, 

Kristian adores the family atmosphere at Pathfinder Services and looks forward 

to visiting other locations. He takes those goals one step further and dreams of 

becoming an advocate for younger people. In a culture where many companies 

won’t hire someone with a disability, and while understanding the struggles to 

people with a disability, Kristian remains optimistic about the future. “You never 

know who is going through something.” He adds, “You can do anything as long as 

you try.” 

47 


48 

“A big place in 

her heart” 


“From the beginning, they accepted Layla and made her feel 

like part of the family.” 

The occupational therapist helping Misty after Layla was born happened 

to be a former Pathfinder Services employee, and she suggested Misty and Layla 

might benefit from programs at Kids Kampus, the child-care division of Pathfinder 

Services. 

“Pathfinder Services is great,” Misty said. “I tell everybody. Their community 

services do a lot for adults, and kids benefit, too, at Kids Kampus. Layla likes it 

there.” 

Misty was already familiar with Kids Kampus, as her son, Jeremiah, attended 

preschool there. Both he and older sister, Chloe, participated in school-age daycare 

programs whenever school was delayed or canceled because of bad weather. Kids 

Kampus proved to be the perfect place for Layla, too. 

“I put her in a play group at Kids Kampus when she was three years old,” 

Misty said. “She went to preschool there, and now she’s at Kids Kampus before 

and after school. She’s in a group of school children of all ages, up to fifth grade; 


that includes those with disabilities and without.” 

A thriving, talkative eight-year-old, Layla is popular with all the Kids Kampus 

teachers. She loves movies and enjoys reciting movie dialogue, acting out scenes 

and singing. 

“Layla has someone with her all the time to provide assistance as needed, 

so she gets one-on-one care in a group setting,” Misty said. “In the summer, she’s 

there more, so she has even more fun then.” 

In the summer, the children are taken on field trips, such as going to movies 

and the Splash Park in Huntington. “Kids Kampus also has a great playground for 

the kids,” Misty said. “Usually on Fridays they have ‘water day.’ They fill buckets, 

get wet with the hoses and just have a good time. I never worry.” 

Always confident that Layla is well cared for at Kids Kampus, Misty says, 

“From the beginning, they accepted Layla and made her feel like part of the family. 

When we walk in, they all know us and say hi. It’s a very welcoming place. You 

never feel scared for your child there. I’m very protective of Layla, but I never 

worry. They’re always great with her.” 

Misty, who once worked in a group home with special-needs adults, later 

worked at Kids Kampus after Layla was born. Today, she does volunteer work for 

Pathfinder Services, taking a special needs adult with her to church every Sunday. 

While all of her family’s 

experience with Pathfinder 

Services has been positive, 

one memory stands out for 

Misty. She says, “It was really 

neat to see Layla on stage 

with her peers when she 

graduated from preschool. To 

see her dancing and singing, 

with her little cap and gown 

on, was very heartwarming. 

They’ve never looked at her 

as being different.” 

49 


50 

“Laura’s husband 

passed away, and 

she had no idea 

how to go forward” 


“I have a home and I’m happy.” 

Laura’s husband passed away, and she had no idea how to go forward. She 

had spent the last couple of years taking care of him and financially she didn’t feel 

she was in a position to better her outlook. “I happened to read an article in the 

Fort Wayne Newspaper about some of the services that Pathfinder HomeOwnership 

Center provides,” Laura explains. “It was a glimmer for me, there was some hope.” 

Laura called the Fort Wayne office and she worked diligently to complete 

the packet of information necessary for her to go through a deed-in-lieu on her 

house in Fort Wayne that she could no longer afford. That process took about four 

months to go through and then Laura moved to Huntington and stayed with her 

children for awhile. 

Laura then met with a credit counselor and she suggested that perhaps 

there was something Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center could do to help. “I 

looked at some of the literature on home buying, made an appointment, and the 

staff walked me through with what I needed to start the process of being approved 

for and finding a home to call my own,” Laura states. “I have a home and I’m 

happy,” she says, “I moved into my home in July and it was really very nice and very 


51 

comfortable to be able to do that. I couldn’t have done it without the programs 

offered by the Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center.” 


52 

“A sense of pride 

through ART & 

WORK” 


“I am always doing something and always want to do more. 

There’s never enough hours in the day.” 

For Sarah, nothing creates a sense of relaxation or excitement like art. 

The Creative Abilities Arts Studio offers an opportunity for those who are served 

to express themselves in a way they might not have an opportunity to otherwise 

utilize, and for Sarah, it is the ultimate experience. 

Sarah’s love for art began in high school when she would test and challenge 

her abilities in ceramic pottery. But it wasn’t until she began visiting the Creative 

Abilities Studio that she found a love for acrylic paint. Her favorite is utilizing large 

canvases to create landscapes or, recently, a 30x60 painting of a peacock. 

Sarah explains, “I went through Pinterest and chose a variety of peacocks. 

I wanted to originally paint three peacocks in this painting but it was too much.” 

Even so, Sarah studied the texture of the feathers and the look of the eyes in the 

pictures she collected and created a painting she’s looking forward to selling. The 

idea gave Sarah a sense of pride while also helping others see aspects in their own 

creations, which puts everything into perspective. 


Sarah has been with Pathfinder Services since 2007, when she began her 

career at the YMCA. She worked in the old building and continued her janitorial 

position at the more inviting new facility. Through the help of various job coaches 

along the way, Sarah continually takes on more responsibility. She often goes above 

and beyond the job description to assist in other areas, whether cleaning the pool 

or wiping equipment in the weight room. The position allows her to utilize a free 

membership and gave her the means to purchase a 2012 Malibu to replace her 

old 1997 Buick. 

Whether she’s at work, in the Art Studio, or out about town with friends 

enjoying McDonalds or pizza, Pathfinder has allowed Sarah the opportunity to 

get out of the house. “If I wasn’t involved with Pathfinder, I’d be at home driving 

my dad crazy and going bonkers.” Her mom also believes Pathfinder Services has 

provided a good opportunity and has made a big difference in Sarah’s life. 

Sarah encourages others to give the program a try by visiting different 

facilities and finding which one is the perfect fit. “There’s always something to 

explore. I am always doing something and always want to do more. There’s never 

enough hours in the day.” 

53 


54 

“I get to do what I 

LOVE” 


“Sheila treasures the graduations, weddings, and people telling 

her their children wouldn’t be where they were if not for her.” 

Sheila Crawford considers herself a lifer, and she is thrilled to carry the 

label. Sheila started at Pathfinders Kids Kampus before the walls were even built. 

While working at Roanoke Elementary School, she applied for a job at Pathfinder 

Services. After interviews with Ilene Cook and Sandy Circle, Ilene contacted Sheila 

and told her she won the position with her smile. As the final touches were being 

put on Kids Kampus, Sheila began her career at the State Street location, where 

she worked for just a couple of weeks. 

“I remember we were about to have an open house and they were still 

painting,” Sheila said. “I followed the painters and put up an airplane that had a 

banner on the back with the kids’ names on it.” The Hassket sisters- Rochelle, 

Sheila and Cheryl - were the first family served at Kids Kampus and Sheila grew to 

love them. Later, Sheila and Cheryl Haskett came to work at Kids Kampus, as did 

Allison and Emily Spenner – another early family served at the facility. 

This bubbly woman is always smiling and adores being a teacher. “I get 

to come to work and have fun every single day. I get to play with bugs and play 


dough. I get to do what I love. I talk, walk, play music,” she says with her infectious 

smile. 

Despite Sheila’s belief in Kids Kampus and Pathfinder Services, she is 

always mindful of the challenges her position and the organization as a whole 

faces. The job is a lot of hard work, pushing her to find new and creative ways to 

challenge “the kiddos,” as she refers to her students. Funding for the non-profit 

is an ongoing concern, as is meeting the needs of so many families. Maintaining 

structure in the classroom can also be a challenge with children who carry so many 

emotional needs. 

Still, Sheila wouldn’t trade any of the challenges for a job somewhere else. 

“My most memorable moment is when a grandparent walked into the classroom 

while I was caring for a sick child and another who was hurt. He said to me, 

‘Someday when you get to heaven, there’s going to be a golden crown waiting 

for you.’” While this was her proudest moment, Sheila treasures the graduations, 

weddings, and people who tell her their children wouldn’t be where they were if not 

for her. Above all, she continues to 

stand by the conviction that parents 

should be able to go to work and not 

worry about the care their kids are 

receiving. In fact, Sheila says, “I don’t 

just help kids; I help families.” 

Outside the classroom, this 

wife, mother and grandmother 

enjoys her family, dancing to oldies 

music, going on cruises and making 

scrapbooks. You may also find her at 

a Tin Caps game, eating chocolate, 

and cheering on her favorite team. 

55 


56 

“People here 

are so good 

to me” 

Education, Housing 


“Stephanie loves music and especially the drums and if you give her the name 

of a band, she likely can tell you the name of the drummer. ” 

Stephanie’s Aunt Ruth introduced Pathfinder Services to Stephanie’s 

mother, giving Stephanie a chance to experience more than her mother ever dreamt 

possible. At four years old, Stephanie began school at the Village Training Center 

as the only student in Mary Brennen’s class at the Clear Creek location. Stephanie 

loved it from the beginning and took to the program, which quickly began to grow. 

It wasn’t long before Valerie Sterling became a teacher and the school moved to 

State Street. 

After preschool, Stephanie attended Northwest Grade School, but her 

mother continued to stay in touch with Pathfinder Services. Stephanie participated 

in various programs as she grew up, and she went with Valerie Sterling on different 

outings. Once she graduated, Stephanie became involved in the Village Workshop. 

David Runyon became her first job coach as she worked in manufacturing. 

At age twenty, Stephanie moved from home into a group home. There, 


she met new friends and roommates, learned how to keep house and go grocery 

shopping. Away from home, she began to participate in programs she only dreamed 

of. One of her favorite activities was volunteering in several Pathfinder Services 

programs in addition to spending volunteer time at Love, INC. “It makes me feel 

much better to volunteer,” she says with a smile. 

Stephanie loves music, especially the drums, and if you give her the name 

of a band, she can probably tell you the name of the drummer. Together with her 

friends and Pathfinder Services, Stephanie has seen some of her favorite bands in 

concerts, including Toby Keith, Journey, Loverboy, Zac Brown, and Sawyer Brown. 

Her mother is so thankful for Pathfinder Services. “They have done so 

much for her,” she said. “And they’ve put my mind at ease. We wouldn’t know 

what to do without Pathfinder Services.” 

Stephanie adds with a laugh, “Keep up the good work. Do all you possibly 

can do and do more. People here are so good to me. They are good people.” 

57 


58 

“Nothing is more 

rewarding than time 

with these children” 


“People are constantly underestimating what people with 

disabilities can do.” 

Tim Allen doesn’t think of himself as a brave man, or even as a special man, 

but to the kids he works with, Tim couldn’t be more wrong. As the Sports Director 

at the Parkview YMCA, Tim decided thirteen years ago to begin a sports program 

called the Champions League, designed to help kids with disabilities connect with 

others through sports. At the time, he wasn’t sure how to manage the program. 

Tim said, “People are constantly underestimating what people with 

disabilities can do, and tend to feel uncomfortable or even afraid to be around those 

with mental or physical disabilities. I was one of those people. In the beginning, I 

honestly was scared to death. Would I know how to interact with them? Would I 

know what their noises meant?” 

Though Tim was acquainted with Pathfinder Services through other programs 

at the YMCA, Champions League created a tighter alliance with Pathfinder Services. 

The partnership became natural. The more Tim learned, the more he volunteered. 

Tim admits now, while the training or games can be a challenge, nothing has been 

more rewarding than the time with these special children and adults. His wife and 


kids became involved in Champions League too, and athletes and their families 

have become an extension of his own. 

Tim explains, “I already respected Pathfinder Services but over time, my 

relationship with them grew. And as I became more involved with the clients’ lives, 

they also became more involved in mine.” 

The extended Pathfinder family sometimes suffers hardship and loss. Some 

of the children involved in the Champions League suffer disabilities that take a 

tremendous toll on their body. As a result, some have passed away during the 

time the program has been in place, a fact that brings tears to Tim’s eyes. “It’s a 

difficult thing knowing these kids may not have a long life expectancy.” His heart 

goes out to their families. As parent himself, Tim is all too aware of the desire to 

keep your children safe and happy. It’s this sense that gives him so much respect 

for Pathfinder Services and the essential support they provide to these families. 

To Tim, it is the growth of Pathfinder Services over the course of the past 

fifty years and the plans for the future that make him so excited and proud to be 

part of their volunteer efforts. “Pathfinder Services is too big to stop now. I would 

tell anyone who is thinking about volunteering at Pathfinder Services that you will 

never do anything more rewarding, and it’s okay to be afraid to start. But if you 

hang in there and stick with it, you’ll end up with something really cool.” 

59 


60 

“They love their new home” 


“They felt they could only dream of more space and stability 

for their family.” 

Erik and Nicole Russell lived in a very small house with their three teenage 

children and felt they could only dream of more space and stability for their family. 

That is, until they noticed a newspaper ad talking about building an affordable, 

brand new home. The Russell’s were uncertain whether their dream of building 

an affordable home for their family was even possible, but they contacted Granite 

Ridge Builders who in-turn referred them to Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center. 

“The Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center’s staff made the whole process simple 

and easy to understand,” Nicole says. “Thanks to the staff and guidance of the 

Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center, we realized our dream and built a beautiful 

home with Granite Ridge Builders.” The Russell family closed on their brand new 

home on September 8, 2014. 

The Russell family loves their new home. They were able to gain an extra 

600 square feet of space in their new home, and have the space they were needing 

for their three teenage children. With their brand new home they have a stronger 

sense of stability and assurance in the quality of their house. Their three children 


love their own rooms and beautiful yard. The best part is living in a quiet community 

that they have always dreamed of. Nicole says, “It has made a huge difference in 

our lives! This new home has been a huge blessing to us.” 

The Russell’s are grateful for learning about Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center, 

Granite Ridge Builders, and the USDA Rural Development 502 Direct Mortgage 

Loan. 

61 


62 

“Without the ramp, 

I wouldn’t be in my 

home” 


“Today, Angela is able to rehabilitate in the comfort of her own 

home, and she easily comes and goes as she pleases.” 

Angela Vance is happy to be in her own home today, something that wouldn’t 

have been possible without Amramp, a division of Pathfinder Services dedicated 

to providing modular wheelchair ramps and other accessibility solutions. When a 

knee surgery in December 2014 led to several complications and a long recovery 

at a nursing home, Angela longed to be back in her own home. Because her home 

lacked wheelchair accessibility, however, and because Angela lacked the resources 

to make that possible, recovering at home just wasn’t an option. 

That’s when Angela heard about Amramp and its grant program that would 

make ramp installation possible for qualified applicants. One phone call to the 

Amramp staff offered Angela the hope she was longing for. 

Once the staff determined that Angela would qualify for a grant, she wasted 

no time in getting the process rolling. “They started the grant application right 

away,” says Angela. “Within a week, I was approved for the grant and the ramp was 

up.” 


Of course, Angela was thrilled with how quickly the process moved, but 

she was especially impressed when the Amramp installers made a visit to her at 

the nursing home before the installation. “They even measured my wheelchair to 

make sure they had the right size ramp,” says Angela. It was this kind of attention 

to detail, and such a quick turnaround, that made a real impact on Angela. “I 

wouldn’t have gotten out of that nursing home without that ramp,” says Angela. 

“There wouldn’t have been any way I could have gotten in my house.” 

Today, Angela is able to rehabilitate in the comfort of her own home, and 

she easily comes and goes as she pleases. Thanks to Amramp, getting to doctor’s 

appointments and the occasional trip to the park is something she can accomplish 

with ease. “Just regular living is all I want right now,” says Angela, something 

that Amramp made possible. “I just can’t say enough about how much that ramp 

means to me.” 

63 


64 

“We can count on 

Pathfinder Outsource 

Manufacturing for quality 

& delivery time” 

Employment 

“Heather just doesn’t have time for missed deadlines or quality-control 

issues. That’s why she turns to Pathfinder OutSource Manufacturing.” 

Heather Bradin has a challenging job. Her company, Bendix, is a supplier of 

air brake and filtration systems to the heavy-duty commercial vehicle industry. In her 

leadership role, Heather manages many operational details — scheduling product 

delivery, expediting materials needed to fulfill customer orders, and working with 

suppliers on communications and logistics. 

Heather just doesn’t have time for missed deadlines or quality-control 

issues. That’s why she turns to Pathfinder Services OutSource Manufacturing for 

help with kitting and packing. “We can count on them for completing the orders 

for Bendix with good quality and in the time frame needed, so we can keep our 

commitment to our customer,” Heather says. 

Pathfinder Services employees handle multiple kitting projects for Bendix. 

They bundle 5-10 different parts together in a bag, seal it, and then send the 

completed kits back to the company. Employees also box and label parts for Bendix. 

With over 40,000 parts boxed in 2015, Pathfinder OutSource Manufacturing 

proved they could deliver the ISO 9001 quality Bendix expected. 

Education ∙ EMPLOYMENT ∙ Housing ∙ Community Integration

Heather says Bendix’s partnership with Pathfinder Services offered 

consistency, quality, and competitive cost savings. “We have a lot of quality metrics 

we have to meet. I often am involved in expediting material in from suppliers when 

our material planners need the next level of assistance. Pathfinder Services’ quality 

is very good, and if they say they will get it done at a certain time, they get it 

done.” 

Besides managing product delivery, Heather also deals with price 

negotiations with suppliers. She describes Pathfinder Services as reasonably priced 

in a competitive market. “They give you a good price… It’s worth sending [work] 

out to Pathfinder Services.” 

Heather values the business partnership between Bendix and Pathfinder 

Services OutSource Manufacturing, but her connection is also personal. Her 

daughter works as a caregiver in one of the group homes. “There is a great sense 

of pride in working with an organization that does so much for the community. It 

is a joy being a part of that!” 

65 


66 

“I am so thankful 

for Olivia’s 

opportunities 

here” 

Education 

“The earlier you start a child in school, the better chance that 

child has at being successful later in life.” 

Heather S. is a mother of four children, ages 2 – 15. She has come to 

believe that the earlier you start a child in school, the better chance that child has 

at being successful later in life. Take her experience with her daughter, Olivia, age 

2, for example. For a little over a year, Olivia has been enrolled in Early Head Start 

and is reaping multiple benefits from the program. 

One of the most obvious benefits of Early Head Start is the socialization 

Olivia receives at school. “Olivia is always excited for opportunities to interact 

with her friends,” says Heather. Not only does Olivia gain significant socialization 

with her peers and teachers; she also receives extra learning opportunities with 

materials she normally wouldn’t play with at home. And, thanks to educational 

parent workshops, Heather is now learning how to make educational toys out of 

every day, household items, too. 

But the services don’t end there. Heather also really enjoys her home visits 

with the family child educator, who works with her and her daughter, one-on-one. 

This educator shows Heather toys and activities from school and explains how 


much Olivia is learning from these experiences. The family child educator also 

brings information about resources that she knows will benefit the family, such as 

current calendars from Work One, along with information about story hours at the 

public library. 

In addition to these educational opportunities, Olivia also receives therapy 

from First Steps at Pathfinder Kids Kampus. The playground equipment, both 

indoor and outdoor, is just Olivia’s size, and she receives good, nutritious meals, 

including a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Perhaps one of the best ways that 

Olivia has benefitted from Early Head Start is through the free vision screening, 

made possible through the local Lions Club. “Thanks to a free vision screening,” 

says Heather, “we discovered that Olivia had a condition requiring glasses. Now, 

she sees the world in a whole new way!” 

Heather served on the Early Head Start Policy Council, which gave her 

the chance to speak up for her fellow community members. “I’m so thankful for 

the opportunities that we’ve had with Early Head Start,” says Heather. “I highly 

recommend the program to other families.” 

67 


68 

“Her new 

job lets her 

personality 

blossom” 

Employment, Housing 


“They have always treated us well, and they really help 

people in the community.” 

When his mother died in 2008, Steve Douglas wanted his daughter, Alena, 

to be at her grandmother’s funeral. But he hadn’t seen Alena in three years. Alena’s 

mother had custody, and Steve didn’t want a court battle. So, he drove to the town 

of the last-known address he had for Alena. “I couldn’t find her,” he said. “But 

someone told me she had a job at a local restaurant, so I went there.” They talked 

after her shift, and slowly began to rebuild their relationship. 

When Steve discovered where Alena had been living, he could hardly 

believe his eyes. “She was living in really bad, bad conditions,” Steve said. “She 

was living in an old abandoned trailer, heated with only a small kerosene heater. It 

didn’t have doors on the bedroom or bathroom, and she was sleeping on an old 

dirty couch.” Then he learned the truth: Alena had been living on her own. She 

had few possessions — basically the clothes on her back and a few odds and ends. 

Steve invited his daughter to move back to Huntington. Steve also connected 

Education ∙ EMPLOYMENT ∙ HOUSING ∙ COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

Alena with Pathfinder Services, and she soon regained her Social Security benefits. 

Pathfinder Resource Connection also helped Alena find a new job. The first job 

she acquired wasn’t the best fit, but with help from the Pathfinder Resource 

Connection staff, Alena was soon able to find another position. The second job, in 

an environment better suited to her personality, has worked out well. 

“I’m a very friendly person,” Alena said. “So when I started working at the 

high school food service, I felt a weight fall off my shoulders. I became a different 

person.” Her new job allows Alena to interact with staff and students, letting her 

personality blossom. She loves working in the kitchen and on the food line. 

The Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center also helped Steve and Alena both 

improve their credit so they could get approved for a house. Their new home is 

titled in Alena’s name, and she makes the payments. That way, Steve knows that if 

anything happens to him, Alena will be taken care of. 

“If it wasn’t for getting my credit straightened out, if it wasn’t for Pathfinder 

Services, we would not be homeowners,” he says. “I tell people to go talk to 

Pathfinder Services if they have a problem. They have always treated us well, and 

they really help people in the community.” 

69 


70 

“Karrie is a proud 

homeowner & selfsufficient 

single mom of 

two” 


“I would never have been able to get to this point without 

Pathfinder Services.” 

Until Karrie Schemansky encountered the Pathfinder HomeOwnership 

Center and its transitional housing program, she had always relied on assistance 

from family or friends for her daily living needs. Today, thanks to the support she 

received through Pathfinder Services, Karrie is a proud homeowner and totally selfsufficient 

mother of two. She admits her path from homelessness to homeowner 

was anything but easy; nevertheless, she credits Pathfinder Services with giving her 

the strength and tools she needed to make such a drastic—and positive—change. 

It all started when Karrie found herself homeless after the birth of her first 

child. “There I was,” she remembers, “a stay-at-home mom with no car, no job, 

and no home!” Karrie’s family lived out of state, and she didn’t know where to turn. 

That’s when she encountered Beth Stevens, Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator 

for the Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center. Beth helped Karrie apply for their 

Transitional Housing program, and soon she was living in her own apartment. 

“I was on my own for the very first time,” says Karrie, “but I didn’t know 

how to be self-sufficient.” Thankfully, Beth had a solution for that, too. She helped 


Karrie learn how to track her expenses, live by a budget, and get a job. “I didn’t 

want to work at McDonald’s,” admits Karrie, “but they were the only ones who 

called me back. In the end, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.” Over 

the course of the next two years, she completed her Certified Nursing Assistant 

(CNA) training and graduated from the two-year Transitional Housing program. 

“The first time I got my utility bills in my name,” she says, “it felt really good, 

because I knew I had just lived on my own for a whole year.” 

Child care assistance and Early Head Start programming, free tax preparation 

services, and financial fitness classes all played a role in Karrie’s financial freedom. 

For Karrie, that freedom culminated in purchasing her own home. 

Through a Pathfinder Individual Development Account (IDA), along 

with her car loan, Karrie built up the credit and savings she needed to make 

homeownership a reality. “I would never have been able to get to this point without 

Pathfinder Services. I’m so grateful for the help I have received. It really changed 

my life.” 

71 


72 

“Because of Kim’s 

upbeat attitude 

& perseverance, 

she maintains an 

independent lifestyle ” 


“With two jobs and an active social life, Kim relies on Pathfinder 

Services to help her achieve her goals while living independently.” 

Kim Mowery knows the value of hard work. She excels not only at one, 

but two jobs. Kim appreciates her steady employment, but she also faces daily 

challenges due to an intellectual disability. Transportation and assistance with daily 

living are keys to her independent lifestyle. 

That’s why Kim looks to Pathfinder Community Supports for help. 

Maintaining her current lifestyle and friendships are important for Kim, especially 

because her work relationships are so valuable. “I really like the people I work with, 

and my boss is awesome.” 

Kim’s loyalty to her employers shows in her long track record. Her work 

experience includes 30 years at ARC of Wabash County, where she does shredding 

and piecework, and 24 years at Vernon Manor Children’s Home doing laundry. Kim 

has a special heart for her co-workers and appreciates the stability of a consistent 

job. “You can go at your own pace as long as you do your job,” she adds. 

But Kim needs additional support at home with financial goals and 


esponsibility. Pathfinder Community Supports provides Kim with the accountability 

she needs to manage her money, complete daily errands, and meet her goals. “They 

make sure my bills are paid, my rent is paid, groceries, and doctors appointments. 

It makes you feel good when you get all your bills and rent paid.” 

Kim makes her home in Wabash, where she has lived all her life. It’s no 

surprise that she likes to be out in the community, enjoying sporting events and 

even participating in past Special Olympics games. “I know a lot of people here in 

Wabash. I usually go out with my friends. We go out to eat or watch a movie or go 

to baseball games.” 

Kim appreciates the support that Pathfinder Services have provided for her 

and recommends it to others with disabilities. “Jobs are hard to find right now… 

They help [a person] find a job. Just keep your head up and do what [you] can do.” 

Because of Kim’s upbeat attitude and persistence at tasks, she maintains an 

independent lifestyle that keeps her connected to important relationships in the 

community. “It makes me feel good because…I just like being around my friends.” 

With two jobs and an active social life, 

Kim relies on Pathfinder Services to 

help her achieve her goals while living 

independently. 

73 


74 

“Lily is ready 

to start 

kindergarten 

with her friends” 

Education 

“Sharon was elated to learn that her family qualified for the free 

service and that Lily would be able to be around other children.” 

On a rainy, summer Saturday afternoon, Lily is celebrating her sixth birthday 

surrounded by her family and of few of her closest girlfriends from Pathfinder 

Kids Kampus. The girls all crowd around Lily as she opens her gifts and as she 

proudly shows off her new shoes and clothes to her friends, the chatter in the 

group turns to “school”. In a few short days, the bright and cheerful birthday girl 

will be starting a new chapter in her life, kindergarten. She is beyond excited and 

her Grandmother, Sharon, is convinced that she is socially and mentally prepared 

because of her time at Pathfinder Kids Kampus. 

Lily has been in Sharon’s care since she was 2 1/2 and for a while, Lily 

was cared for by another relative while Sharon worked. “I just didn’t feel like it 

was a good fit for us. Sure, Lily was getting the basic care she needed but she 

wasn’t learning new things,” Sharon says. That’s when Sharon reached out to 

Pathfinder Kids Kampus and learned about the Early Head Start program offered 

by the licensed child care facility. She was elated to learn that her family qualified 

for the free service and that Lily would be able to be around other children and 


would be learning age appropriate skills. Lily has been a part of the Pathfinder Kids 

Kampus family ever since. 

“Lily has grown so much over the last four years and she is ready to start 

kindergarten with her friends. She is ready not only with learning her ABC’s 

and 123’s, but she is ready because of how much the teachers care about her 

as an individual. Not only do they care for Lily, but they have helped me too. I 

am so comfortable bringing her here to 

Pathfinder Kids Kampus. It has become 

an extended family for us and we will 

miss being here every day.” 

After Lily started kindergarten, 

Sharon became a substitute teacher at 

Pathfinder Kids Kampus. She enjoys 

spending time with the children when 

she is called to help. “Kids Kampus has 

a very special place in my heart and Lily 

is still friends with some of the kids she 

met at Kids Kampus. I think they’ll be 

friends for a long time.” 

75 


76 

“The house allows her 

to stay connected with 

people while making 

decisions for herself” 


“Pathfinder Community Supports helped Rebecca achieve her dreams 

by helping her find housing and live more independently.” 

When Rebecca Jackson finished high school in 2007, she had dreams of 

living a more independent life close to the family she loved and surrounded by 

friends who cared for her. 

Rebecca had big dreams and Pathfinder Community Supports helped 

Rebecca achieve her dreams by helping her find housing and live more independently. 

Rebecca is thriving in her new life. 

Rebecca’s dream of independence began after she completed high school. 

Unsure of where to turn, Rebecca was referred to Pathfinder Services so she could 

find a group home while maintaining close family relationships. Pathfinder Services 

helped Rebecca locate housing in Knox, where she lives with seven other people 

and a caregiver who maintains safety and provides help for the residents. Life in the 

group home is much like a large family for Rebecca, giving her social connections 

as well as independence. Because Rebecca thrives in social environments, the 

group home allows her to stay connected with people while making decisions for 

herself. “Rebecca counts on Pathfinder Services for the support that she needs to 


live independently,” Kris says. 

Kris Myers, a Qualified Developmental Disability Professional, says that 

choices like getting new glasses and haircuts are important for Rebecca because 

they are things she can do for herself. Kris helps Rebecca create goals by asking 

her a series of questions and then devising steps to help Rebecca live a fuller, more 

satisfying life. “[I ask] what specific things do you want to achieve? What can we 

help you with?” 

About a year ago, Rebecca began employment as a janitor at the Starke 

County Chamber of Commerce, a role that allows her to engage with people in the 

community. On the job, Kris says Rebecca is a “firecracker, hilarious, and a lot of 

fun. She is absolutely great to have around.” 

All this support has allowed Rebecca’s positive, upbeat personality to 

flourish, while she lives the life she dreamed of after high school. Pathfinder 

Services helped Rebecca’s vibrant spirit shine even brighter by providing her with 

a home, guidance, and stability to 

maintain a job and live independently. 

77 


78 

“Amramp is an 

integral part 

of therapy & 

recovery” 


“Accessibility to the home and safe egress for patients with 

impaired mobility is critical.” 

Getting out of the house can be a challenge for those in wheelchairs. 

Maneuvering multiple steps or narrow stairways can make it difficult to exit safely. 

Many older homes were not built to accommodate wheelchairs, making it almost 

impossible to leave quickly during an emergency. 

Whether someone is recovering from a recent injury or living with a longterm 

illness, wheelchair accessibility is not only a necessity, it’s a lifeline to freedom 

and independence. That’s why people turn to Pathfinder Services and Amramp 

for their home ramp needs. With a variety of convenient options, Amramp makes 

accessibility a possibility for any home. “Accessibility to the home and safe egress 

for patients with impaired mobility is critical,” says Evan Detweiler, Director of 

Therapy and Case Management at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Wayne. 

“Installation of a ramp should be considered whenever mobility is impaired,” 

Detweiler explains. “The need for a ramp increases as the complexity of injury or 

disability increases. The longer the impairment is expected to last, the greater the 

need for ramping. In more permanent scenarios, the ramping solution will need to 


withstand the anticipated duration of use.” 

That’s when Amramp can become an integral part of therapy and recovery 

for those in wheelchairs. Amramp gives patients the opportunity to exit their 

home safely and easily. Amramp offers a variety of solutions, including permanent 

installation and short-term, temporary ramps. 

The process of getting a ramp through the Rehabilitation Hospital involves 

a home evaluation. According to Detweiler, there are many structural and safety 

issues to consider. “Access to the home may be a barrier. The home may have 

narrow steps that make getting into the house a challenge. Doorways that are too 

narrow also create accessibility issues. Throw rugs and lighting issues are safety 

concerns that may be addressed during the evaluation as well.” 

Even when a ramp is determined to be necessary, families must overcome 

other hurdles, like cost and physical restrictions. 

“Expense is the number-one obstacle to getting a ramp. Most insurance 

policies do not cover ramps, especially for short-term needs,” Detweiler adds. 

“A second barrier [includes] restrictions placed by landlords or by neighborhood 

association covenants. Available physical space can also be a barrier.” 

Amramp can determine which ramp best suits the physical space and offers 

rental ramps for as little as one day. For many individuals, ramp installation is more 

affordable than other options. 

“The ramp expense versus major 

remodeling or relocating should be 

considered since it may be the simplest 

way to maintain independence as well as 

being the most cost effective,” Detweiler 

adds. “Ramp access allows people to age 

in place or have access to their home 

and family without the expense of moving 

or remodeling.” Through Amramp’s 

wheelchair accessibility solutions, patients’ 

lives improve, gaining the freedom and 

mobility they need. 

79 


80 

“She found 

a safe & 

comfortable 

place” 



“Diana now has the opportunity to be self-employed by selling her arts and 

crafts she creates during her time spent at Creative Abilities.” 

Diana Gentis became a part of the Pathfinder Services family when the 

world was a much different place. Even just 25 years ago, the options for those 

with disabilities to receive adequate care and be a part of their community were 

few and far between. 

She remembers vividly no longer attending school in the 3rd grade because 

she was not keeping up with the other children. What wasn’t identified at the time 

was that Diana could not hear or see well. It wasn’t until after she was a part of 

Pathfinder Services that her caregiver noticed she was not responding when he 

would speak to her. After getting her glasses and hearing aid, Tom asked her to 

read a word in a book. With pride and a big smile on her face she said, “I read the 

word.” 

Another of her first memories with Pathfinder Services is of helping to calm a 

crying infant while volunteering in the child care room at State Street. Fast forward 


20 years and Diana now has the opportunity to be self-employed by selling her 

acrylic paintings, jean purses, and knitted baby hats she creates during her time 

spent at Creative Abilities. Diana’s art, The Spring Path, was even featured and 

auctioned off at the 2015 Pathfinder Services Annual Dinner. This was an event 

that made a big difference in her life. She’s quick to tell you about the money she 

received and has stashed away for a possible trip to visit family. But even more 

important is the amount of pride in her voice when she talks about being a part of 

the evening. “I was nervous going to that dinner. But it was a nice time. I talked 

with a lot of different people and I even got $200 for my painting.” 

Diana has also found a home with Pathfinder Services. After living with 

various family members and in other group homes, Diana now resides at her Ash 

Street Front Porch home where she has her own front porch, bedroom and fully 

accessible bathroom. She also has faith in the staff who care for her, often going 

for walks and shopping at Walmart with her direct support professional. 

Although the path was winding and full of bumps for Diana, she eventually 

found a safe and comfortable place with Pathfinder Services. A place where she 

can live and be a part of the community. A place where she has trust in the staff 

who care for her. And a place where she can flourish though her works of art. 

81 


82 

“A career 

reclaimed” 

Employment 

“The struggle I endured has made me a stronger and better person. I 

have received a great gift called humility from having to start over.” 

Trisha Robbins is a fighter. Once a successful realtor/auctioneer, she began 

to suffer from headaches and unexplained dizziness. In 2003, she received the 

diagnosis: an acoustic neuroma, which had grown to 2.5 cm and was pushing on 

her brain stem. Unfortunately, the surgery to correct the problem lasted 18 hours 

and was filled with complications, leading to partial facial paralysis and leaving her 

deaf in one ear. 

A second surgery, designed to correct the damage from the first, left Trisha 

feeling as if she were starting all over again, and she struggled with the simplest 

task. Ultimately, Trisha suffered from memory loss and found herself needing to 

learn and process in different ways. Ever the fighter, Trisha didn’t stop here. She 

continued to raise her two young sons and fight each battle that came her way. 

One of those battles, reclaiming her career, was a goal she achieved with 

the help of Pathfinder Resource Connection and Vocational Rehabilitation Services. 

Thanks to these employment services through Pathfinder Services, Trisha found 

the help she needed to renew her realtor/auctioneer licenses. Pathfinder Resource 


Connection worked with Steve Ness, owner of Ness Bros Realty and Auction 

Services, who was very supportive of Trisha’s struggle and welcomed her on board 

as a Realtor and Auctioneer. It was a day of celebration when she passed her exams 

and was re-licensed! 

Today, Trisha loves her job and relishes the strengths she gained from the 

challenge of reaching her goals. “The struggle I endured has made me a stronger 

and better person,” says Trisha. “I have received a great gift called humility from 

having to start over.” 

It’s a gift she hopes to pass on to others, raising awareness about brain 

injuries and offering hope through a Brain Injury Support Group she started in 

Wabash County, which meets at Parkview Wabash County Hospital on the third 

Tuesdays of every month. 

Thanks to Pathfinder Services, Trisha has been able to overcome her 

obstacles and offer help to others, too. 

83 


84 

“Kids Kampus laid 

the foundation for 

her three girls” 


“Debbie is grateful for the influence of Pathfinder Services on 

her family and the families in the community.” 

Debbie’s youngest daughter, Kristin, is a student at the University of 

Indianapolis, but whenever she comes home for weekends or breaks, she works as 

a sub for Pathfinder Services, caring for residents of group homes. It’s a full-circle 

moment for Kristin, because employees of Pathfinder Services cared for her, from 

her earliest days on, when she was part of the Kids Kampus enrollment. 

Debbie is proud of her youngest, as well as her two other daughters, 

Amanda and Megan, both Kids Kampus (and later, Purdue) alums who are making 

an impact on their own corners of the world. Kids Kampus laid the foundation for 

all three girls, serving as much more than a daycare for the kids. It was a huge lifelink 

for the entire family. 

Kids Kampus was Debbie’s introduction to Pathfinder Services. She attended 

an informational meeting before her oldest was even born, and eventually, all three 

kids were on the roster for childcare. It made such an impact on the family, through 

its exceptional care and the added asset of the Kids Klinic, that at one point, 

it’s what kept the whole family from relocating to a new area. Debbie and her 


husband knew they would never find something for their children that was this 

good anywhere else. 

In addition to learning all the things parents expect their children to learn 

at such an establishment, Amanda, Megan, and Kristin learned to interact with 

children of all abilities. All three girls learned from the very start to treat children 

with disabilities the same as they would treat any other child. 

Neither Debbie nor her husband were originally from Huntington County, 

and they didn’t live in town, so the connections they made at Kids Kampus became 

their lifeline to the community. They met friends, established relationships, and 

Debbie even went on to serve on committees and ultimately, the Board of Directors 

for Pathfinder Services. And all three girls continue to have active friendships with 

children they met in their Kids Kampus days. 

As a pharmacist, Debbie has been able to interact with individuals from 

Pathfinder Services, both filling medication and administering flu shots, and she’s 

been able to see many ways the organization has benefitted the community. 

Debbie is grateful for the influence of Pathfinder Services on her family and 

the families in the community. She recognizes the quality work they offer and knows 

that’s a rare gift from an organization to a community. She continues to actively 

support Pathfinder Services and 

encourages others to do the same. 

She is eager for everyone to learn 

the same life-lesson her daughters 

learned as small children: although 

we all have differences, we are all just 

people. If we could overcome our 

fears of interacting with individuals 

with disabilities, we just might find 

the blessings waiting for us! 

85 

EDUCATION ∙ employment ∙ housing ∙ COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

86 

“Making home 

ownership dreams come 

true” 

Housing 

“Our strong relationship with Pathfinder Services has resulted 

in good things for the community.” 

Everyone has a calling, Lonnie Norris believes, and we are only fulfilled 

as we use our talents to fulfill the calling entrusted to us. For Lonnie, that calling 

began over 50 years ago, when he visited his grandma’s little home — the 

home she purchased with a USDA loan. He had no idea, back then, that making 

homeownership dreams come true with the help of USDA loans, would be part of 

his life calling. 

Lonnie’s dad began to build and sell homes for a living, so it seemed 

somewhat natural that he would follow in his father’s footsteps, get a Realtor’s 

license of his own, and then begin building homes, too. Back in 2001, Lonnie 

and his brother-in-law, Tony, began Granite Ridge Builders. As the Vice President 

of the company, Tony uses his background in USDA loans to help people afford 

homes in the various Granite Ridge communities that span roughly 13 counties in 

3 states. 

A partnership between Granite Ridge and the Pathfinder HomeOwnership 

Center means more people are able to achieve the dream of homeownership. 

Education ∙ Employment ∙ HOUSING ∙ Community Integration

The Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center patiently and diligently works with future 

homeowners to help them through loan processing and afford a home in a safe and 

desirable community. It’s a partnership that surprised Lonnie in the beginning. He 

was shocked to see the government allow a third party in the USDA loan process, 

but he’s grateful they do. 

Of all the partnerships Granite Ridge has had with organizations over the 

years, he feels the relationship with Pathfinder Services has always been strong 

and healthy and has resulted in good things for the community. Lonnie knows their 

reach goes far beyond the homeownership program, and part of his goal is to help 

spread the word to everyone that Pathfinder Services is there to help in a variety of 

realms. As a businessman, Lonnie knows the importance of financial accountability 

and wise resource management and he is impressed with how Pathfinder Services 

handles both. Knowing the organization is backed by solid leadership and wise 

counsel makes it easy for a place like Granite Ridge to feel good about investing 

time and financial resources. 

Of course, as anyone who has ever purchased a home knows, the process 

isn’t always smooth or easy, but Lonnie feels like the team working together works 

well to overcome challenges and keeps the future homeowner’s best interest at the 

forefront. Though they are sometimes limited by government regulations, they do 

their best to maximize what is available to them. Lonnie knows Pathfinder Services 

is committed to doing the right thing. He looks forward to beginning another 50 

year journey working together for the common goal of safe and affordable housing 

for those in need! 

87 

Education ∙ Employment ∙ HOUSING ∙ Community Integration

88 

“The staff at Kids 

Kampus truly cares 

about my kids” 


“At Kids Kampus they have made friends with kids of all 

abilities and that come from all different family backgrounds.” 

Jessica first learned of Pathfinder Kids Kampus when she participated in the 

2nd Annual Kids Kampus Turkey Trot in 2006. When she joined the marketing 

team at Pathfinder Services in 2013, she was excited that her kids would be cared 

for at Kids Kampus while she worked across town. 

“The kids came with me to Huntington for child care even though we lived 

out of the county,” she said. “My daughter, Makenna was more than ready for 

kindergarten this year thanks to the preschool curriculum at Kids Kampus. I still get 

to see my son occasionally throughout the day at Kids Kampus for a work related 

event or activity.” 

Things weren’t always so settled for Jessica’s family. When her son Eli, 

who is now four, was born 9 weeks premature, life changed abruptly. Eli spent a 

lot of time in the neonatal intensive care unit and ended up with a feeding tube. 

Jessica said it was difficult for her to get back to work, or find child care that was 

comfortable with his feedings. 


Then, Jessica learned of a position at Pathfinder Services and visited Kids 

Kampus while interviewing. It was then that she learned that there was a nurse 

on-site in their Kids Klinic. She knew that a nurse would have experience with tube 

feeding. “I felt a great deal of peace-of-mind knowing that there was a qualified 

individual who could feed Eli and that support would be available to both kids if 

they skinned a knee or got sick,” she said. “I’ve since learned that the Kids Klinic 

is available to anyone in the community who has a child that cannot go to school 

or daycare due to a minor illness. I have taken both of my kids to the kid-friendly 

Klinic so that they can be cared for and I am still able to get to work.” 

Having her children cared for just down the street is ideal for Jessica. She 

says, “I like it that they’re close by, but more importantly I know the staff truly 

cares about them. I also hope they have learned acceptance at a young age. At 

Kids Kampus they have made friends with kids of all abilities and that come from 

all different family backgrounds.” 

While Makenna graduated to kindergarten, Eli still enjoys Kids Kampus. 

“He enjoys the field trips like bowling, swimming and going the the splash pad but 

Eli really gets excited when visitors come to ‘school’ like firefighters, police officers 

and the Fort Wayne Zoo. It really is a great home-away-from-home for kids.” 

89 


90 

“I like the group 

in our home” 



“Thanks to Pathfinder Community Supports, Kurtis is truly a 

part of a much larger family and community.” 

Pathfinder Community Supports believes that all people with disabilities 

deserve to live in a warm and enriching home environment in order to attain the 

most independent, productive and dignified life style possible. Kurtis was born with 

developmental disabilities. When his mother and caretaker passed away in 2005, 

his family researched several options and liked what they witnessed and heard 

about Pathfinder Services. 

Pathfinder Community Supports supportive living homes are located in 

areas that enable residents to participate in and be a part of their community and 

neighborhood. Each supportive living home has four private bedrooms, four fully 

accessible private bathrooms, and a common kitchen/dining area and living room 

area. Each home is fully compliant with the American Disabilities Act. The homes 

are staffed 24 hours a day by professionally trained and caring Direct Service 

Providers who work with our residents to build life skills and provide them with 

choice and control over their own destinies. 


91 

Kurtis now lives in a supportive living home provided by Pathfinder 

Community Supports. He not only benefits from the personalized and quality care 

he receives from his Direct Support Professionals in the home, he also gained the 

confidence and skills to acquire and maintain a job at Walgreens. But the best part? 

Kurtis has gained a family. “I like the guys in my home. We get along and work 

together to do things like cooking, cleaning and we do fun things like play cards.” 

He also enjoys his own private bedroom and bathroom that allows for him to have 

his own space and privacy. This is where he will proudly show off his John Deere 

tractor collection to anyone who visits his room. In the common living space, he 

can enjoy activities with his roommates and access support from staff if needed. 

Thanks to Pathfinder Community Supports, Kurtis is truly a part of a much larger 

family and community. He is at home. 


92 

“An 

appreciation 

for every day” 


“Ruby knows life for her family would look very different today without 

the support and love of the staff at Pathfinder Services.” 

Every mother’s biggest dream is for her child to be healthy, and when that 

dream doesn’t come true, she must learn to create the best possible life for her 

child. And for Ruby, that journey has been just a little bit easier because of the help 

offered through Pathfinder Services. 

Ruby’s son was just three days old when he suffered a stroke that left him 

paralyzed on his left side. At the age of one, he had his first seizure, and when he 

was two, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. It wasn’t the future she envisioned 

for her son, and certainly a part of her grieved the loss of what she dreamed about. 

With a very determined spirit, she picked herself up and moved forward to give 

Brendan the best life possible. 

Now seventeen years old, Brendan still lives at home with Ruby and his 

younger brother, Hunter. Despite the doctor’s predictions that he would never 

walk, he did learn to walk, and his mom has hope that over time, he may learn 

other skills that he hasn’t yet achieved. 


Brendan was enrolled in Kids Kampus until he passed the maximum age to 

attend, and the staff worked hard to give him the environment he needed to thrive. 

They helped him find a balance between interacting with other kids and having the 

quiet space he needed when he felt over-stimulated. They also helped him learn 

basic skills, like the alphabet. 

When Brendan’s younger brother, Hunter, came along, Ruby had the option 

to send him elsewhere, but Brendan’s experience at Kids Kampus had been so 

positive, she wanted Hunter to have the same opportunity. Though Hunter’s needs 

were very different, the overall benefit was the same. Kids Kampus gave Hunter the 

environment he needed, which was the chance to interact with kids of all abilities. 

That helped him make lifelong friendships and prepared for school. 

Ruby appreciates the investment the staff has made in Brendan, getting to 

know him as well as she does, protecting him and advocating for him, even though 

he communicates in ways that don’t involve words. 

Ruby knows life for her family 

would look very different today 

without the support and love of 

the staff at Pathfinder Services. She 

knows one day, the physical toll of 

caring for Brendan by herself will 

be too much and he will need to 

transition into a home provided by 

Pathfinder Community Supports, 

but for now, she loves the bond they 

share and the chance she has to 

care for him herself. She sometimes 

wonders what he would be like as 

a teenager without disabilities, but 

she knows that this path is the one 

he was meant to take, and she loves 

him for who he is. She’s thankful he 

has had the chance to be more than 

she dreamed, thanks to the people 

of Pathfinder Services. 

93 


94 

“The heart 

of a 

volunteer” 


“I am amazed at how much Pathfinder Services does.” 

When Sandy Feichter moved back to Huntington from out of state, she knew 

nothing about Pathfinder Services. Now the single mother of one is balancing 

being in the US Army Reserves along with being a full time Volunteer in Service 

to America (VISTA) with Pathfinder Services. Her daughter, Nicole, also attended 

Pathfinder Kids Kampus. 

Prior to moving, Nicole attended Pathfinder Kids Kampus when she was 

two. The staff at the child care facility had some concern that there may be a 

socialization delay, so they brought in 1st Steps. After an evaluation, Nicole started 

speech therapy services while at Kids Kampus. “Even though Nicole was attending 

Kids Kampus, I still had no idea it was associated with Pathfinder Services. I had 

no idea how much this organization does for the community,” Sandy said. 

After they returned from living out of state, Nicole once again attended 

Kids Kampus and her favorite teacher, Sheila Crawford, helped her prepare for 

kindergarten. “Being in Sheila’s room helped make it easier for her to make friends 

and build relationships,” Sandy says of her only child. “She’s still friends with 


children she met there. Some of them still attend Kids Kampus for after school.” 

Coincidentally, Sandy’s long-time friend, Christina West, asked her if she’d 

be interested in volunteering at a trunk-or-treat event where Pathfinder Kids 

Kampus was spreading the word about their services. It was then that she learned 

Kids Kampus was a part of Pathfinder Services. Sandy shared of her time at several 

more Pathfinder Services events including volunteering at the Santa’s Workshop 

and preparing handouts for parades. It was through this exposure that she fell in 

love with the organization. 

In July, Sandy saw something circulating about the AmeriCorps VISTA 

position at Pathfinder Services. The position would entail working with Pathfinder 

Services’ Development team. Sandy knew, however that it was perfect for her. 

She is currently finishing her degree in Business Administration. “The position 

involves a lot of things that create meaning for me. I like working with others and 

helping people. It is also 

in the same area of my 

degree and at the end 

of my year-long service 

with AmeriCorps, I will 

receive a cash bonus or 

up to a Pell Grant for my 

student loans,” Sandy 

said. “I am amazed at 

how much Pathfinder 

Services does and I’m 

honored to be a part of 

this organization.” 

95 


96 

“Space & accessibility 

for Maddie” 


“Ian and Sarah knew they had to do something to improve the 

quality of life for Maddie.” 

For most families, the prospect of buying a home is daunting, but exciting. 

They look forward to going to see homes and picking out the perfect fit for them. 

For Ian and Sarah Kennedy, the prospect of buying a home was simultaneously 

critical and impossible. 

Ian and Sarah’s sixteen-year-old daughter Maddie has disabilities and 

was struggling in their small three-bedroom apartment that was not accessible. 

She couldn’t even get into some rooms, including the kitchen, which limited the 

activities the family could do together. And because they rented the apartment, 

they couldn’t make any physical changes to the property. 

Of course they dreamed of moving, but it seemed a financial impossibility, 

since they were living on one income. Then the apartment complex was sold and the 

neighborhood deteriorated quickly. Ian and Sarah knew they had to do something 

to improve the quality of life for Maddie and improve the safety for all of them, but 

they didn’t know what to do. 


That’s when they contacted the Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center. The staff 

listened to their story and encouraged them to pursue homeownership. They were 

pleasantly shocked to find they could not only afford to own a home, but their 

mortgage payment would be $150 less than their rent payment. 

The staff at the Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center kept an open line of 

communication with Ian and Sarah, giving them realistic time estimates, and 

dealing with them pleasantly throughout 

all their many questions. 

The new house has plenty of 

room for Maddie to get around in her 

wheelchair, and they even have enough 

room to invite friends and family over, 

which was something they’d never been 

able to do in their apartment. They are 

looking forward to the holidays: their first 

Christmas in their new home. They’ll even 

be able to put up lights outside! 

The Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center 

made the impossible a reality, and a family 

is now able to function and live in safety 

for the first time in years! 

97 


98 

“A Partnership to provide Kids Klinic” 


“She knows the caregivers at Kids Kampus are passionate 

about making a difference.” 

Sonya Foraker first learned about Pathfinder Services many years ago, when 

she was an employee at Huntington Memorial Hospital and learned about the 

connection the hospital had with Kids Kampus to provide an LPN to help care 

for sick children so their parents could still go to work. It’s a tough situation for 

parents who need to be at work but need to simultaneously be at home to care for 

a sick child. 

Because of the Kids Klinic at the child care facility, parents can rest assured 

knowing that their child is receiving the same kind of nurturing, tender care they 

would give at home, but they don’t have to worry about the consequences of 

missing work. Sonya is glad the hospital believed in this need and they assisted 

in providing a safe environment for sick children - a place where medications are 

distributed with care and breathing treatments are administered, but care goes 

beyond the mechanics to include love and sympathy. 

In addition to this connection, Sonya enrolled her own daughter in Kids 

Kampus when she was just two years old. Until that time, she’d been cared for in 


a private home, but Sonya wanted her to have interaction with other children her 

own age, and she especially wanted her to integrate with special needs children 

and learn to treat them the same as she would treat anyone else. Sonya looks back 

just over twenty years now, to when her daughter began with Kids Kampus, and 

she wonders where she would be without the impact the program made on her. 

Sonya is also passionate about the scholarship fund available through 

Pathfinder Services. She knows many families are financially unable to give their 

children what her daughter enjoyed, so she’s eager to help with fundraising to 

grow the scholarship fund and provide that opportunity to as many people as 

possible. She is grateful for the impact Pathfinder Kids Kampus has made, through 

caring for sick children and for creating a place for children that is more than just a 

daycare. She knows the caregivers are passionate about making a difference in the 

children’s lives and helping them learn — from a young age — so they can thrive 

in life, just as her own daughter is doing. 

As an employee of Parkview, 

whose mission is to improve the 

community that they provide service 

to, Sonya wants to see more people 

become familiar with the work of 

Pathfinder Services. She knows 

there are still many people who 

do not fully understand everything 

they offer, and she wants to help 

tell their story, so more people 

can be involved. Sonya wants to 

see the reputation of Pathfinder 

Services reach even father so they 

can continue to grow and make a 

difference in the community! 

99 

EDUCATION ∙EMPLOYMENT ∙ Housing ∙ Community Integration

100 

“A win-win” 


“It’s a good example to the community. It brings similarities 

out in the open more than differences.” 

Ask Angie Beauchamp about helping people find a place in the workforce, 

and she’ll tell you it’s the right thing to do. A respected community leader and 

12-year owner of Modoc’s Market, a coffee shop in Wabash, Angie is also a 

valuable partner to Pathfinder Resource Connection, the employment division of 

Pathfinder Services. 

Ten years ago, Angie hired her first individual served by Pathfinder Services 

to work at the coffee shop. Since then, she has hired a total of four people. Though 

one individual moved out of state, the other three still work at Modoc’s. 

Angie points out that employing individuals with disabilities enhances her 

business. “It’s a good example to the community,” she says. “It brings similarities 

out in the open more than differences.” 

Modoc’s Market, for example, employs a total of 20 people. Of the three 

employees who are involved with Pathfinder Services, Angie says, “It’s interesting 

to see how they affect the others who work there. It builds tolerance. It helps the 


other team members grow in their understanding of others’ gifts and challenges. 

It’s a whole ripple effect of being blessed from these relationships.” 

Angie’s involvement with Pathfinder Services began after she and her 

husband became acquainted with a local gentleman with a developmental disability. 

He regularly visited their church and the coffee shop. Today, Angie and her husband 

serve as his guardian and advocate. Through this gentleman, Angie discovered 

the many opportunities available through Pathfinder Services. She has become a 

committed partner. 

In addition to hiring work-ready employees, Angie works with Pathfinder 

Resource Connection on an ongoing basis. Modoc’s Market is a place where those 

who are served by Pathfinder Services can test their skill sets and discover if they 

are ready to hold a community job. 

Hiring people with disabilities is something Angie would encourage other 

business owners to do. “The value to the community is the awareness it builds that 

there are lots of ways people can contribute,” she says. “I think it speaks to the 

character of a community, how they take care of, embrace or encourage people 

with disabilities or any other part of the community that’s underserved. It makes 

us better.” 

101 


102 

“Early days 

at Kids 

Kampus” 


Housing 

“It’s where she learned to socialize, take turns, 

and share with other kids.” 

Amanda Ruckman’s ties to Pathfinder Services began early. Amanda’s 

grandparents, Royce and Janice Ruckman, were involved with Pathfinder Services 

from the start of the organization and knew of the opening of Kids Kampus. They 

encouraged Amanda’s mom to register her, even before she was born. 

That’s how Amanda came to be part of Kids Kampus at the tender age of 

four months. The staff there cared for her very well while her mom returned to 

school to finish her degree and get a job that could support the two of them. That 

was back in 1990, and Amanda is still part of the Pathfinder Services family today, 

over twenty-five years later. 

Because she spent her early days at Kids Kampus, some of her earliest 

memories are tied to her experiences there. From taking naps on cots to playing 

with other kids, Amanda has nothing but fond recollections of those days. She 

especially remembers a phase when she loved playing with rocks, and every day, 

she’d collect them from the playground to take them home, in hopes of making 

her own little playground of rocks there. But before she could transfer them to her 

EDUCATION ∙ EMPLOYMENT ∙ HOUSING ∙ Community Integration

yard, her mom would find them in the laundry and send them right back to Kids 

Kampus. 

Kids Kampus was much more than a place to nap and collect rocks. As an 

only child, Amanda says it’s where she learned to socialize, take turns, and share 

with other kids. She realizes now that one of the beautiful gifts Kids Kampus offers 

is a chance for little ones to learn life lessons, without realizing they’re actually 

learning. To them, it’s all play and fun, but later in life, the valuable lessons matter. 

Sixteen years ago, when Amanda was in middle school, her mom began 

working at Pathfinder Services. But the organization’s involvement went beyond 

Amanda’s care and her mom’s employment. They also made a huge impact on 

Amanda’s aunt, Melissa, who was born with disabilities. 

It’s little wonder that Amanda wanted to remain connected to Pathfinder 

Services, after all the involvement her family has had with the organization. When 

she went to Ball State to study marketing, she worked as an intern every moment 

she could. After college, she knew she wanted to work with Pathfinder Services 

and found a full time job as a program support specialist in the NeighborWorks 

HomeOwnership Center. Amanda knows when she goes home at the end of each 

day, she has made a difference and 

helped someone, and that is the best 

reward she could hope to find. 

Though she works with aspiring 

homeowners, Amanda still has a tender 

heart for Kids Kampus and the work 

they do for the kids of the community. 

She knows even now that someday she 

wants to begin the next generation of 

Pathfinder Services’ involvement in 

her own family, when she registers her 

own children for Kids Kampus. 

103 

EDUCATION ∙ EMPLOYMENT ∙ HOUSING ∙ Community Integration

104 

“His passion 

for children 

leaves a lasting 

legacy” 

Education 

“His woodworking shop came alive as he created cubby units, 

wooden box activity boards, and more for the children.” 

Ervin Lester Fuhrman’s legacy lies in helping others and a passion for 

children, which drove him during his entire adult life. 

Mr. Fuhrman was born and raised in Huntington, where he later met and 

married his wife of 51 years, Shirley. He was a teacher for 39 years, where he 

witnessed several students benefiting from the services provided by Pathfinder 

Services. From his first-hand experience, his interest for the organization grew. In 

2002, Ervin put into practice his firm belief that in giving to others, you receive a 

blessing through your gifts, and he began to volunteer at Kids Kampus, combining 

his love of woodworking and his passion for investing in children. 

His woodworking shop in the garage came alive as he created cubby units, 

wooden box activity boards, clown face bean bag toss games, and more for the 

children of Kids Kampus. The work was a natural extension of the man who loved 

to build chairs for his sixteen grandchildren. He insisted on personally delivering 

the pieces, and would often check on his wife and daughter, who also volunteered 

at the Kampus, to ensure all their needs were being met in the classroom. While 


he loved seeing the smiles the pieces gave the children, he never expected any kind 

of recognition. The volunteer work simply fulfilled the passion for children he had 

his entire life. 

“People in his church often remarked on how my father kept going and 

was always busy,” remembers his daughter, Nondus Christman. That was typical 

for Ervin, who not only enjoyed the work itself, but benefitting others through his 

work. 

Aside from volunteering at Kid Kampus, Ervin also was elected to the 

Common Council for the City of Huntington in 2000. Later, in 2003 and 2004, 

he was elected as President of the Common Council. He was still serving his term 

at the time of his death December 20, 2005. 

His daughter said, “I always describe my dad as a kind-hearted, loving and 

strong man. His name, Ervin, means strongly independent, a highly creative being 

that can accomplish things out of the ordinary. His initials are E.L.F. I always like 

seeing those initials on the back of everything he made! He was a Christian man 

who, if still here today, would still be helping others.” 

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106 

“A critical need for some 

helping hands” 

Employment 

“Our partnership with Pathfinder is a business decision first. 

But it’s also a benefit to give people opportunities for employment that they 

might not have otherwise.” 

Our Sunday Visitor had a critical need for some helping hands about 

four years ago, and that’s when the company turned to Pathfinder OutSource 

Manufacturing. It’s been a very productive partnership ever since. 

“We called OutSource Manufacturing out of necessity the first time around,” 

says Cindy Dillman, distribution manager for Our Sunday Visitor. “It was during a 

peak-season crunch. We really needed help to meet customer demand. Pathfinder 

Service’s workers rose to the task and did a great job. It was spot on. In fact, they 

finished the work and returned it faster than we could have done it ourselves.” 

Among the many Catholic-related products and services it offers, Our Sunday 

Visitor is the world’s largest manufacturer of church offering envelopes, making 

several hundred million annually. So what role does OutSource Manufacturing’s 

workers play in Our Sunday Visitor’s bustling business? 

“They do quite a variety of work,” Dillman says. “They perform rework on 

products. They sort out bad copies and insert replacement parts when possible. 


They bundle loose items. They label products for specific stores. They put together 

kits, as well as presort, bag, and tag mail before it’s sent to the post office. I’m 

stunned by the variety of things they’ve been able to take on and accomplish. 

“Pathfinder Services as an organization also provides a high level of personal 

service,” Dillman says. “Their representatives are very involved and really get into 

specifics. Sometimes they see things we don’t. And we’re seeing a measurable 

return on our investment. Using Pathfinder allows us a faster turnaround, which 

maintains our level of customer service when we can’t do everything ourselves.” 

Pathfinder OutSource Manufacturing meets ISO 9001 standards, and Dillman 

says that’s a reflection of the workers’ attention to detail and conscientiousness. 

“We don’t require that they meet ISO 9001 standards, but we can definitely see 

that they hold themselves to very high standards and a level of quality we can rely 

on.” 

OutSource Manufacturing’s workers are of varying abilities. Dillman says 

Our Sunday Visitor is very pleased to provide them with a way to earn. “Our 

partnership with Pathfinder is a business decision first. But it’s also a benefit to 

give people opportunities for employment that they might not have otherwise. In 

fact, some of our full-time employees have family members who are served by 

Pathfinder Services.” 

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108 

“Kids Kampus 

helped her find 

the strength to 

raise her son” 

Education 

“Kids Kampus provided welcoming care that gave her the 

peace of mind that her son was safe.” 

Pregnancy can come as a great surprise, and it did for Gena when she 

learned she was pregnant with her first child. When she heard about Kids Kampus 

and other programs offered by Pathfinder Services, she was excited to not have to 

make the journey into motherhood alone. “I knew pretty early on that Abel’s father 

wasn’t going to stick around and that I would be a single parent. My family is really 

supportive, but they all live in Indianapolis or Florida, so it would be a long drive.” 

For Gena, the support from Pathfinder Services helped her find the strength and 

resources to raise her son. 

During her pregnancy, Gena partnered with Kids Kampus for prenatal care 

and continued on into Early Head Start. Karen Riggers went out to Gena’s home 

several times to help once Abel arrived. She gave Gena advice on the infant stage 

of development, ensured Gena nursed correctly and, along with the pediatrician, 

helped Abel wean onto the correct formula. 


Meanwhile, during the day, Abel attended Kids Kampus in the Wigglers 

Room while Gena attended Culinary School. For Gena, Kids Kampus provided 

welcoming care that gave her the peace of mind that her son was safe while she 

worked on building a brighter future for them both. Abel grew into a preschooler 

who made friends and became prepared for kindergarten. 

Now enrolled in kindergarten, Abel is doing really well. He utilizes correct 

grammar, can perform simple math, knows his letters and is more confident, 

although Gena admits he still misses his teachers and friends at Kids Kampus. 

“He’s been lucky, though. He has one friend, Gavin, who was at Kids Kampus 

and is in kindergarten with him now. We laugh at all the stories they already share 

together.” 

Gena is no stranger to overcoming difficult situations. As a baby in Brazil, 

her mother suffered post-partum depression and placed Gena in a pot of boiling 

water. Third-degree burns permanently damaged Gena’s legs and feet. “I was 

placed in foster care and my Mom and Dad became my foster parents. I came to 

the United States on a medical visa and went to Shriners Hospital for two years. 

I had thirty surgeries over the course of my childhood to repair the damage from 

the burns. In 2008, after another 

infection, I chose to have the left leg 

amputated from the knee down and 

they amputated the right leg in 2014. 

I’m doing so much better now.” 

Gena’s personality and easy 

laugh testify to the strength she has. 

Still, Gena is sure she couldn’t have 

gotten through everything without 

the help of Pathfinder Services. 

“It’s a great feeling to be with an 

organization that helps people. You 

know you’re not alone.” 

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110 

“We could not 

have found a 

better partner 

to work with” 

Employment 

“Pathfinder Services’ ability to meet ISO 9001 standards is 

just another testament to their excellence in quality.” 

Pathfinder Services would be hard-pressed to find a better endorsement 

of its OutSource Manufacturing division than the one provided by Justin Wheeler, 

warehouse manager at American West Books (AWB), headquartered in Sanger, 

California. AWB is a major nationwide supplier to warehouse clubs, specialty 

grocers, and national booksellers. In addition to books, AWB sells a variety of 

other products such as maps, puzzles, and games. 

OutSource Manufacturing provides a much appreciated workforce that 

processes AWB’s East Coast Whole Foods returns. “They process returns at a 

near-perfect rate and very quickly,” Wheeler says. “They communicate with us with 

exactly the information we need every time, and they’re constantly helping us to 

improve systems as they see issues arise.” 

Wheeler says AWB chose Pathfinder OutSource Manufacturing for a variety 

of reasons. “We chose to partner with Pathfinder because of their competitive cost 

structure, the rave reviews they receive from their other partners, their servant 

attitude, and because of their knowledge in manufacturing.” 


And it was a good decision, Wheeler adds. “Our partnership has much 

value. Their constant desire to communicate with us regardless of the reason, and 

their desire to help us be more efficient in areas like packaging costs, have proved 

quite valuable. Pathfinder is always looking for ways to help us provide excellent 

customer service, value, efficiency, effective business practices, and outstanding 

communication. We could not find a better partner to work with.” 

What’s more, AWB is realizing a tangible return on its investment with 

OutSource Manufacturing. “Their commitment to excellence has helped us reduce 

our returns-inventory turnover for our East Coast Whole Foods,” Wheeler explains. 

“This has allowed us to process credits in a much more timely fashion and pay our 

vendors more quickly—something they are much happier about, as well.” 

The quality of the work performed keeps Wheeler happy. “Pathfinder 

OutSource Manufacturing’s ability to meet ISO 9001 standards is just another 

testament to their excellence in quality,” he says. “This is proven time and time again 

in their ability to exceed our expectations of both quality and on-time delivery.” 

“We would absolutely recommend their services to any business,” Wheeler 

adds. “They display qualities of commitment, quality, excellence, and character 

that are at the top of any industry.” 

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112 

“A family affair” 



“With four young children at home, the youngest two of which 

had been diagnosed with autism, Kathy had a full plate.” 

Kathy Scott was a single mom in need of a new home and a new start, when 

she connected with the homeownership division at Pathfinder Services, and they 

were able to help guide her through the classes and the process of purchasing her 

own home. 

With four young children at home, Kathy had a full plate and needed help 

finding the right niches for Melissa and Amanda, her youngest two with autism. 

When she moved to Huntington, Amanda had attended Kids Kampus, which Kathy 

didn’t realize was affiliated with Pathfinder Services. When the girls got into high 

school, their caseworker connected them with Pathfinder Community Supports 

after school program. 

Because of their autism, Melissa and Amanda struggled to combine pieces 

of their lives. For example, they could handle going to school, and they loved 

doing projects at home, but doing schoolwork at home created issues, because 


they couldn’t seem to mesh the two areas of life into one space. Because of the 

day services program through Pathfinder Community Supports, the girls were able 

to do something productive and social with their at-home time that helped reduce 

their struggles and provide relief to their mom. 

Melissa now attends day services, and Amanda goes to the Creative Abilities 

Art Studio, a newer program that gives creative minds a productive outlet. She 

spends her time painting and making jewelry. Being part of this program not only 

gives Amanda a chance to use her gifts, but it allows her to make friends with 

others who have similar talents and gives her a chance to earn an income selling 

her arts. 

Kathy’s oldest daughter, Brittany, was five and six years older than her sisters 

with autism. Even though Brittany was a little more removed by age, she saw their 

struggles and the help they received through Pathfinder Services, and she wanted 

to be able to do something to help others like her family had been helped. 

Brittany had skills in credit coaching and knowledge of lending, but she had 

no idea for a while that Pathfinder Services was involved in affordable housing. She 

didn’t even know her mom had gotten their home with the help of the Pathfinder 

HomeOwnership Center. When Brittany saw the job listing, she knew that’s where 

she wanted to work. For her, the job is an opportunity to make a real and lasting 

difference for families. 

Brittany is the mother of two. Her daughter went to Kids Kampus before 

enrolling in kindergarten, and now her son attends Kids Kampus, too. 

Brittany wants to keep 

helping families make their 

homeownership dreams come 

true, and Kathy wants to 

keep seeing her younger two 

daughters thrive as they make 

their way through adulthood. 

Together they represent a 

family whose lives give and 

receive help through the 

mission of Pathfinder Services. 

113 


114

115

116 

Golden Awards 

These organizations have made significant contributions to our mission over 

the past 50 years. 

∙ David Culp & Co. LLP 

∙ Granite Ridge Builders 

∙ Huntington County Commissioners 

∙ McDonald’s Of Huntington 

∙ Parkview Huntington Hospital

OUR VISION 

Pathfinder Services, Inc. envisions a community in which 

all people are valued and accepted and have control 

over their own destinies. 

OUR SERVICE VALUES 

As a Pathfinder we value: Premier customer service. 

Active listening. Treating others with dignity and respect. 

Honesty and fairness to others. Following through in a 

timely manner. Integrity. New learning opportunities. 

Developing inclusive solutions. Environments promoting 

mutual trust. Respecting confidentiality. 

OUR MISSION 

To strengthen communities primarily by enabling people 

facing physical, developmental or economic challenges 

to achieve independence, inclusion, and stability. 

1 (800) 833-1571 

1 (260) 256-0500 

info@pathfinderservices.org 

www.pathfinderservices.org

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