Yesterday, we celebrated a momentous occasion: the ribbon cutting of the Capstone House in the Edwards Place neighborhood. Our Founder and visionary, Jean Edwards, staunchly believed that one singular living model cannot accommodate everyone. This belief laid the groundwork for creating such a diverse neighborhood at Edwards Place—a pioneering endeavor. At Edwards Place, we cultivate a community where diverse families and individuals can thrive in a network of support and kinship. This new house will be home to five adults with diverse abilities.

This beautiful new addition is named in honor of James (Jim) & Judy Ann Marick, whose unwavering commitment to early childhood intervention has profoundly impacted the future of hundreds of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Their journey began in 1975 when they welcomed their son, Jason, who forever changed their lives. Determined to find the best services for Jason, Judy and her friend Kay -- discovered Val Dmitriev's pioneering work with infants and preschoolers at the University of Washington. 

Motivated by Val's innovative approach and with her steadfast support, they launched the Pride Program at Clark College, an initiative that has since become instrumental in the field. Pride's early childhood program set up so many for later school success because they had Great Expectations and helped families work towards that success.

Jim and Judy were a remarkable team. Jim regularly volunteered at ARC in Washington and, following his retirement, the couple moved to Lake Oswego where they became deeply involved with Phame and Voices Unlimited. Though Jim passed away in 2015, his spirit of dedicated volunteerism continues to inspire us today.

We owe immense gratitude to several individuals for making this day a reality. First, we want to recognize Bruce Bridgess, our designer, who has been with us since the project's inception in 2010. Bruce invested countless hours behind the scenes managing design work, product selection, and securing stunning donations. Alongside Jean, Bruce meticulously chose flooring, tile, door styles, hardware, paint colors, appliances, and furniture, graciously donating his customary fee.

Bruce's visionary designs were expertly actualized by our architect, Greg Brown, who created the final blueprints and skillfully navigated the county's permitting process. Greg has always been available for consultations, making the collaboration a joy.

A special acknowledgment goes to our builders from 4th Avenue Homes: Scott Nedilesky, David Snow, and Jonathan Snow. These exceptional builders consistently deliver quality homes, stay on budget, adhere to timelines, and accommodate the special modifications required for our community. Their belief in our mission and generous support have been invaluable.

We also extend our deepest thanks to our funders. The Kuni Foundation has supported multiple phases of this project, and we are profoundly grateful for their substantial financial contributions. Special thanks to John and Tina Marick from the JTMF Foundation, whose significant donation was pivotal in bringing this project to completion.

Lastly, we are immensely appreciative of the countless individuals who have contributed donations, furnishings, kitchen items, and home goods to our "Make a House a Home" campaign. Your generosity provides the finishing touches that turn a house into a home.