Opportunity Village's 50th Birthday

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE
July 7, 2004

OPPORTUNITY VILLAGE'S 50TH BIRTHDAY

Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, I wish to honor and celebrate an organization that has made an unbelievable impact on my home State of Nevada.

Today marks 50 years since Opportunity Village became part of the Las Vegas landscape. In 1954, a group of families joined together to support the needs of children with mental retardation. In the 50 years that followed, Opportunity Village grew to become the largest private provider of vocational training, employment, advocacy, and recreation for people with disabilities in Nevada.

Words cannot adequately describe the difference that Opportunity Village makes in the life of a person with severe disabilities. The organization gives individuals long-term work experience, marketable job skills, independence, and increased self-esteem. Those benefits are the very least that they provide.

However, Opportunity Village's accomplishments have not been made single-handedly. In Las Vegas, there are many wonderful partnerships between Opportunity Village and community businesses and agencies. Among them are America Nevada Corporation, ATC-Vancom, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. General Services Administration, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Las Vegas Valley Water District, Bellagio, Harrah's, Station Casinos, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bank of Nevada, Bechtel, Boyd Gaming, the City of Henderson, the Clark County Health Department, Desert Automotive Group, GES, the Internal Revenue Service, KNPR, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, McCarran International Airport, New York-New York Hotel and Casino, Southwest Gas Corp., Wells Fargo, and Wynn Resorts. I applaud all of Opportunity Village's partners for their vision and their commitment to providing opportunity for so many individuals.

I had the chance to see one of the Opportunity Village partnerships in action and it was then that I truly understood the tremendous impact they make each and every day. Opportunity Village clients serve more than 60,000 meals per month at the Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) dining facility and also operate the postal service center at the base. On one of my visits to the base, Senator Reid and I joined Opportunity Village workers in serving lunch in the mess hall.

It was incredible to see individuals with disabilities working and interacting with our military. Not only were they serving food and smiles, but they were contributing to our Nation and the Air Force with their work.

Their accomplishments and contributions are quite remarkable given the hurdles they have faced all their lives.
Eddie was diagnosed a mentally retarded child in the first grade. Those who know him say he has a genuine and caring personality, a child-like shyness, and the focus of a genius. Eddie began working with Opportunity Village in 1986 where his specialty was packaging and product assembly. Following his mastery of that program, Eddie moved on to janitorial services in the work center. Later, he moved to another promotion as a room attendant in a hotel. Finally, he was promoted to mess attendant at Nellis AFB where the results of his hard work are easily seen in the respect he has earned from his coworkers and supervisors.

Jamie was diagnosed with mild mental retardation when he was a child. He refused to let the diagnosis slow him down and began working with Opportunity Village in 1998. Jamie started in the Work Center where he assembled buckets for $5 an hour. He moved on to become a part of the janitorial crew in the work center. Then he joined the American Nevada Enclave cleaning parking lots. Today, Jamie has proved to be a valuable member of his work team at Nellis AFB where he washes dishes, performs janitorial services, and busses tables. Jamie will proudly tell you the $8.27 an hour he earns now helps to pay his mom's mortgage.

Paul was diagnosed a moderately mentally challenged adult and has a history of seizures. Despite all of the obstacles placed in his way, Paul continues to persevere. Beginning his career with Opportunity Village in August of 1999, Paul focused on production assembly. Quickly mastering the techniques necessary, Paul was promoted to room attendant. Then he moved to a position cleaning at the American Nevada Enclave parking lot. Now, Paul is also a mess attendant at Nellis AFB. Paul proudly calls himself a "team player."

While the accomplishments of Eddie, Jamie, Paul, and all of Opportunity Village's clients are inspiring, the benefits to our community are not just emotional. Employment generated through Opportunity Village contracts helps to reduce dependence on Government benefits and increases tax revenues. Individuals with severe disabilities are paid wages that reduce their need for other Government benefits. Earning wages allows them to become productive members of society and to join the ranks of the taxpayers of Nevada. Economic studies show that since its inception 50 years ago, Opportunity Village has saved Nevada taxpayers almost $1 billion.

I mentioned earlier that Opportunity Village receives vital support from business partners in reaching its goals. The other two essential elements to the success of Opportunity Village are its leadership and the contributions of the Las Vegas community.

Year after year, Opportunity Village is named by Las Vegas residents as their favorite charity. Las Vegans of all ages look forward to the yearly Magical Forest fundraising event as well as many other Opportunity Village programs. From world-renowned entertainers to local celebrities to area children to Las Vegas businesses, southern Nevadans continue to understand the importance of Opportunity Village's mission and fully support the 100 percent local organization.

And at the helm of Opportunity Village is a man whose vision and dedication has made it possible to serve more than 600 disabled workers every day. Opportunity Village Executive Director Ed Guthrie has proven to be a tireless advocate for individuals with disabilities and a true friend to the disabled community. I have had the pleasure of working with him on many projects, and I know how committed he is to the continued success of Opportunity Village.

Today, we look back on the last half century with heartfelt gratitude for those local families who, in 1954, decided that their loved ones with disabilities deserved more. They planted the seed that has been nurtured and cared for by their extended family of Las Vegans. Today, families of disabled individuals proudly see their loved ones-who 50 years ago would not have had an opportunity-gain self esteem and achieve things once not thought possible. With Opportunity Village's continued strong leadership, business partners, and community support, the next 50 years will bring opportunity and optimism to future generations of intellectually disabled individuals.