Employees and other stakeholders have the opportunity AND the responsibility to serve as our best ambassadors, community representatives and spokespersons. Our Employees are our most precious and largest investment – they are truly our Mission AND our Human Resources. Missy Blankenship

1. The History of Friendship and Supporting Friendship :

2. Connected to the Past – Partnering for the Future The Friendship Story Friendship Industries was started in 1964 by a group of concerned special education teachers and parents who were worried about what their students would do after graduation. The first workshop was located in the Linville-Edom Elementary School’s agriculture building.

3. Friendship is more valuable than ever…. The 1970’s After vandals burned the building in 1970, Friendship relocated to new quarters in Shenk’s Hatchery. In 1974, Friendship Industries moved to a building on Waterman Drive. Friendship was able to provide transportation and rehabilitation staff for its clients for the first time in 1977.

4. The 1980’s The early eighties were full of struggle and several clients and staff were laid off. In 1986, Pearl Minnich left Friendship Industries a sizeable bequest upon her death. Friendship purchased an additional building on Waterman Drive in 1988. During the same year, Friendship Industries began its Supported Employment Program, helping client-employees find competitive jobs in the community. Connected to the Past – Partnering for the Future

5. The 1990’s Our packaging division grew, and an agreement with Good Printers allowed us to open the Mail Management Services division. In 1999, Friendship broke ground on a new building .

6. The 2000’s In 2000, Friendship moved to our current location at 801 Friendship Drive. Over 60 additional persons with disabilities are hired within two years of moving into the new facility. In 2003, Friendship engages in diversifying its manufacturing operations with the addition of NEWLINE retractable shower doors and Alcoa’s Reynolds Parchment Baking Paper. Friendship Industries celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2004 with an official commendation from the U.S. Congress!

7. The Pyramid Friendship’s logo, the four-sided pyramid, represents in our organization the: Fuel (Commercial Operations) Fire (Development) and Function (Rehabilitation Services) The Foundation on which we are built is the local community, represented by the base of the pyramid. Green symbolizes our growth and prosperity . Orange represents our passion for our mission .

8. Connected to the Past –Partnering for the Future Gifts… Why are Gifts Important? Friendship is an Employment Services Organization (ESO), and we meet 90% of our budget through our commercial operations. Because the average productivity of our workers is about 37%, we need almost three times the tools, workstations, supervision, etc., to employ a person with a disability.

9. Connected to the Past –Partnering for the Future We provide counselors for the disabled, skills assessment, rehabilitation programs, and transportation to and from work for almost half of our clients. Friendship exists to fill the need to employ those who would not otherwise be able to work in competitive employment. Why Give to Friendship? Gifts…

12. Connected to the Past –Partnering for the Future Q A F About Development What is Development? At Friendship, the Development Office serves as the fundraising and public relations office. Why is it important that people know about us? It’s very important to cultivate potential donors (or “friend-raise”!). People and businesses learn about us through visits, the Stakeholders Report, public service announcements, and other informational mailings and announcements. If the community is aware of what an important service Friendship provides, they are more likely to financially support our mission.

13. Connected to the Past –Partnering for the Future Q A F About Development How do you raise money? We raise money through friends of Friendship, businesses, and grants from foundations. There are lots of foundations out there, why don’t we ask them for money? Foundations look for organizations whose needs are a fit for their interests. Some prefer funding buildings, others are interested in specific programs or age groups; however, most foundations require that the organization have a particular use in mind for the funds. They don’t like to give unrestricted dollars!

14. Connected to the Past –Partnering for the Future "Friendship is changing the lives of people with disabilities ---- one person at a time". Missy Stover, Director of Development