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1982
The need for such a home arose when
several parents of handicapped children recognized the
lack of such services in their community. A needs assessment was conducted with
the target counties of Lee and Harnett; 191 children between the ages of 1-19
were identified as functioning
in the moderate, severe to profound range of mental retardation.
The name not only stands for "tender loving care"; it is also an acronym taken
from the names of three very special individuals.
In
the Spring of 1982 a group of parents of handicapped children, concerned
citizens, and health care professionals incorporated as a non-profit
organization for the purpose of developing an Intermediate Care facility for
multi-handicapped children in a homelike setting.
Nic & his
Dad. Pencil by Jan Lawrence.
www.portraitsbyjan.com. |
The
original Board of Directors
:
Susan S.
Uzzell, President
Jan M. Lawrence,
Vice-President
Charles B. Newton, Treasurer
Sandra C.
Kelly, Secretary
Iva S.Nicholson
Glenn York
Ex-Officio: Walter
Weeks
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Groundbreaking,
March 11, 1987
(Pictured, from
left to right) James Womack, Don Freeman, Cynthia Woody, Jan Lawrence, Walter
Weeks, Thomas A. Moore, Don Taylor ( Deputy Director of MR/NC.),
Susan Uzzell, Sandra Kelly, Isabel Lawrence.
Founders of the home,
Sandra Kelly, Susan Uzzell, and Jan
Lawrence, pictured with Don Taylor, Deputy Director of MR/NC. |
 1982-1986
Projected cost of project was estimated
at $800,000.00. There were no government funds
available for construction costs,
$400,000.00. The t.l.c. board was faced with an aggressive fundraising campaign.
Bob Lawrence
making finishing touches on sign.
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Board
members visited clubs, churches, and private foundations to spread the word
and solicit support. The community support was overwhelming. On December 1,
1983, t.l.c. received a major fiscal and moral boost from the Sanford Junior
Woman's Club. A check for $20,000.00. |
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Private
donation of property for future home. |
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The interest and support snow balled and on December 10, 1984, the Kate B.
Reynolds Health Care Trust of Winston-Salem approved an $80,000.00 grant
toward construction. |
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On May 24,
1985, the Capital Health systems Agency committee recommended approval of the
t.l.c. project and forwarded to the state for a certificate of need. |
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On December
23, 1986, the Duke Endowment approved a $70,000.00 grant to fund construction. |
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After
a two-year struggle to get state funding for Lee County's proposed t.l.c.
home, State Reps. Dennis Wicker and Bob Etheridge, and Sen. Bill Staton, Joe
Johnson and Wilma Woodard were able to get two hundred thousand in a state-wide bill
passed in N.C. Legislation. |
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The doors of the home were opened in 1986
serving 10 children ages birth - 18. |
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1992 The Board of Directors decided to extend
the age at the home to death due to the difficulty of locating adult
facilities that could meet the needs of the folks that we serve. |
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| 1987
Five long and productive years culminated
on December 6, 1987, when about 250 people attended the dedication ceremony for
the t.l.c. home at 1775 Hawkins Avenue, Sanford, N.C. Because of local support
from the community, $30,000.00 was secured for the home in the first year. This
local support enabled outside support and made this dream possible.
From Lft. to Rt. Taylor Uzzell, David T. Flaherty,
secretary of the N.C. Department of Human Resources, Susan Uzzell, State
Representatives Dennis Wicker and Bobby Etheridge, Jan Lawrence, Christy
Kelly and Sandra Kelly.
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