LEBANON–Douglas Keck has joined the Willamette Valley Rehabilitation Center, Inc. (WVRC) as director of development and announced a $10 million capital campaign to develop residential housing and a recreational complex for the facility.
Keck, recently retired after 5 1/2 years as director of development for the Linn-Benton Community College Foundation in Albany. During that time, he successfully completed a three-year, $10 million, capital campaign drive.
“I’m looking forward to finishing my career at the Willamette Valley Rehabilitation Center and completing this capital campaign,” Keck said. “I’m excited about helping a special community of people who can’t always help themselves.”
WVRC was founded in 1959 and was the first sheltered workshop in Oregon to provide employment and training for adults with disabilities. From 1961 until a year ago, WVRC was housed in a former dance hall three miles east of Lebanon. A new 49,000 square foot building at 1853 Airway Road was opened in 2003 after five years of planning and fund raising.
The WVRC currently provides training and employment to more than 120 persons.
The facility specializes in manufacturing customized wood products including pallets, shipping containers, survey stakes, cut stock, wedges, scallops, Christmas tree stands and other specialty items. WVRC also develops contracts for land scaping and janitorial teams throughout the Willamette Valley.
WVRC Director Marty Baughman said the capital campaign will focus on developing a series of private residential care centers and a recreational facility for WVRC workers.
“Our people come from group homes and private family homes, or in some cases, from living in their car to us,” Baughman said. “Often, this environment is not conducive to success. Our goal is to develop a housing structure that is not institutionalized but builds a community.”
Baughman said the WVRC board of directors envisions utilizing new construction, as well as homes that are already located throughout Lebanon for the project.
“Lebanon has been a very kind place for our staff members,” Baughman said of the strong support shown WVRC over the past 45 years.
For more information about the Willamette Valley Rehabilitation Center, Inc. call Marty Baughman or Doug Keck at 541-258-8121.