New Danville Celebrates Major Milestones

Honors its "Texas Legends"

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX -- New Danville, the new master-planned community for adults with mild cognitive and/or developmental disabilities, recently celebrated several major milestones during a special ceremony held at the community's 42-acre site located in Willis.

A "Texas Legends" fountain was dedicated in the courtyard of New Danville's Life Learning Center. "This beautiful fountain honors the many dedicated and generous individuals and organizations that have supported New Danville and helped bring to fruition the vision for this unique and innovative community concept," explained Kathy Sanders, president and founder of New Danville. "Because of these philanthropic leaders, the lives of New Danville beneficiaries will be profoundly improved."

The names of the first eighteen Texas Legends inductees were inscribed on commemorative limestone plaques which comprise a footwall surrounding the fountain. They include Jude and Joe Compofelice, Madalyn and Walter Cooke, Odette and R. J. D'Agostino, Helen and Rocky Del Papa, Maureen and Michael Donelan, Bev Earl and Gerry Anderson, Barbara and Mike Feigin, The Hillcrest Foundation, In The Garden Landscaping Materials, Stephanie and Mark Milstead, Tom Pisula, Lorri and Brian Petrauskas, Kathy and Steve Sanders, Silver Rock Productions, The Westfall Group, L.L.C., The Woodforest Charitable Foundation, The Woodlands Development Company, and The Woodlands Lions Club.

Highlighting the event was an award presentation of New Danville Golf Cart driver's licenses to six New Danville trainees, called "Wranglers," who had passed the New Danville driving training program. These newly-licensed Wranglers include Brooke Bailey, Jimmy Bounds, Derek Hough, Chris Gebhardt, Richie Rich, and Krystal Schulze.

"Everyone was so proud to see these Wranglers receive their drivers licenses," said Sanders. "They had to earn the privilege by completing a training program and demonstrating responsibility, safety, and consideration of others when driving the golf cart. Without a doubt, this underscores their sense of independence and freedom while participating at New Danville."

The Honor Guard, American Legion, Post 618 of Willis presented a dedication of flags and flag poles, which were donated by Jeane and John Massey, Sr., The Tholan Foundation, and Kathy and Steve Sanders.

The more than 150 attendees enjoyed a delicious hot lunch that was generously donated and served by the "Spirit Cookers," volunteers of St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Community in Houston, Texas. The celebration concluded with a lively entertainment performance of a comedic Old West reenactment by the Wolf Creek Pistoleros.

The mission of New Danville is to provide an integrated community for adults with mild cognitive and/or developmental disabilities such as Downs Syndrome, autism, and traumatic brain injury from, for example, a car accident, stroke, brain tumor, or near drowning. It is designed to provide a solid foundation for those who seek to live as independently as possible among their peers, while enabling these adults to live, learn, work and grow emotionally, socially and spiritually in a safe, protective environment.

This affordable concept provides a holistic approach to services by offering job training and other education opportunities, housing for residents, recreation and transportation. Currently in Phase One - Education & Training, New Danville is raising funds to develop Phase Two - Residential and eventually Phase Three - Employment. The employment will be facilitated by the gift shops and restaurants that are planned as the community evolves as a destination. New Danville is a 501(C)(3) charitable and educational not-for-profit Texas organization. Those who are interested in making a financial contribution, sponsoring a Wrangler to help meet their education and training needs, investigating volunteer opportunities, or obtaining an application for programs and services should call (936) 344-6200.

Financial contributions may be sent directly to New Danville, c/o Texas New Community Alliance, P.O. Box 7181, The Woodlands, TX 77387-7181.

New Danville is located at 10951 Shepard Hill in Willis, TX. For more information, visit the Web site below.