In the 1950s, there was no place for parents to find education and work experiences for their children with disabilities in DeKalb County.
Parents established a school for children with disabilities with the help of community members. By 1957, the DCARC had nine students, and within two years, it had grown to 25 students. Additional space became necessary.
In 1963, the community had raised the funds to address another need: providing each individual with hands-on work experience. It was through this that Wee Haven Workshop was formed.
Over the years, the need for the school declined as public schools began accepting disabled children into their special education classes. In 1997, with continued growth driven by a focus on workforce development, another expansion became apparent. In August of that year, building expansion and renovation were completed, and the employees chose our new name, Alliance Industries.
Alliance Industries’ mission is to provide job training and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Northeast Indiana. This initiative is designed to create lasting opportunities.
Alliance Industries offers full- and part-time, meaningful employment to forty-seven individuals with disabilities, ages 18 to 60+. We specialize in hand packaging work and light subassembly kits for area manufacturing companies like Rieke Corporation, Fastenal, Dekko, SCP Limited, Hendrickson, and Eaton. We offer a safe and needs-based work environment, assigning tasks that match each employee's skill set.
We believe in promoting employee independence by offering a wage. This approach helps our employees recognize their value and promotes positive self-esteem, purpose, and fulfillment by enriching their life skills through meaningful and sustainable relationships within a framework of security.
Executive Director
Erin Potter
Direct Support Professionals Members:
Beth Jehl
Lorenza Mendez
Kayla Hamilton
Our Board of Directors plays a crucial role in establishing policies and fundraising efforts.
Officers:
Marcus Wagner- President
Eugene Fuhrer- Vice President
Kari Minch- Secretary
Jennifer Kuder- Treasurer
Directors:
Bridget Ortiz
Kim Clark
Dana Hedrick
Denny Winebrenner
Ashley Cordial
Aliya Lebamoff
“Alliance Industries benefits individuals and families in DeKalb County by providing a stable, supportive work environment for people with disabilities and providing a needs-based support system.”
“When donors are making investments in a business or charitable organization, they look for the same things; a strong leadership team with vision, a good plan, efficiency, the ability to execute and deliver results and a mission that can change the world. Alliance Industries has the whole package.”
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
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