Today we’d like to introduce you to Myrle Westlund.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The Soaring Eagle Center began as my dream. My child has an intellectual disability. As she neared the end of high school, I realized that there were no day programs for my daughter to attend in southern Dallas county. With the help of other parents and special education teachers, the Soaring Eagle Center was incorporated as a nonprofit in 2003 and received tax exempt status as a 501(c)3 organization in 2004.
The mission of the Soaring Eagle Center from the beginning has been to provide life-long solutions for the social, educational, vocational, and residential needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are the most impoverished and least served segment of our country. Down syndrome, autism, mental retardation are lifelong conditions that require lifelong solutions. Every parent desires the same things for their children: meaningful work, caring friends, and a comfortable living situation. Adults with an intellectual and developmental disability need support and help to achieve these things. The Soaring Eagle Center’s passion is to work with families to provide these three things for their adult child.
The day program began in the fall of 2005 with three adults. An onsite thrift shop provided funding for the day program as well as a place for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to learn work skills and interact with the community. In addition to the day program, the Soaring Eagle Center sponsored Special Olympics teams and regular social events.
Today the SEC Day Program has grown to twenty seven adults and meets five days a week. The emphasis of the program is on continuing education which encourages growth and community for adults who have completed high school and live at home. We purchased a building in 2016 to accommodate our growing program. The Soaring Eagle Thrift Shop provides opportunities for our adults to develop prevocational skills and/or work for minimum wage.
The Soaring Eagle Center also sponsors sports opportunities and regular social events for any teen or adult with an intellectual and developmental disability who would like to participate.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
At times operating the Soaring Eagle Center has been incredibly smooth especially in the beginning. We saw God provide in amazing ways as we started the day program and thrift shop.
The greatest challenge we face is funding for our day program. We do receive funds from the state but the amount does not begin to cover the cost of running a quality day program. In order to provide a program with a low staff-to-adult ratio and quality activities, we must raise funds. Fundraising has been very difficult for us because of the low income area in which we are located. We also lack the expertise in fundraising. 2017 will be our second year to participate in North Texas Giving Day. This incredible day of giving is September 14, 2017. You can support us financially by giving to the Soaring Eagle Center on that day.
Another significant challenge we face as an organization is increasing awareness and concern for the needs of our population (adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities) among the general population. Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are the most impoverished and least served segment of our society. They want to work and be self-sufficient but the majority cannot because of their disabilities. Parents often do not have the financial resources to provide for the needs of their adult child with an intellectual and developmental disability.
A third challenge we experience with our families is that Texas consistently ranks next to last in states providing services for this population according the UCP annual survey. To meet the needs of all adults with intellectual disabilities living in Texas state services would have to increase by 300%. At this point, we are being told that current services will be cut by 21%.
Soaring Eagle Center – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Soaring Eagle Center is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization committed to meeting the needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. We accomplish this by four means:
Day Program – Five days a week continuing education program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have finished high school and live at home.
Athletics and Socials – Sport practices and competitions are held throughout the year. Regular social events such as parties, dances, cookouts, swim parties, game nights, etc. are scheduled.
Thrift Shop – Open five days a week providing prevocational skills, paid employment, and community integration for day program participants. All proceeds fund the day program.
Provider – Helping parents access services provided by the state of Texas.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moments are listening to the adults in our day program laugh and enjoy each other. The greatest need for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities is for friends. Ask any parent or attendee. For example, a mother told me the Soaring Eagle Center saved her son. Before coming to the Soaring Eagle Center, he had a job in the community working 2 days a week, he had a loving, attentive and supportive family but he was falling into deep depression. Now, in addition to what he had before, he has friends who understand him and interact with him outside these walls. We have provided a community for them where they work, learn, and play. Hearing from parents how much our programs have meant to their families is so encouraging. My own daughter has flourished because of the Soaring Eagle Center.
Contact Info:
- Address: 107 Executive Way, St. 101
DeSoto, TX 75115 - Website: soaringeaglecenter.org
- Phone: 972-223-1873
- Email: soaringeaglecenter.sec@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soaringeaglecenter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook/SoaringEagleCenter/?pnref=lhc
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/soaring-eagle-center-desoto
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