Homeward Bound, Inc.

I have been a parent to a child served by Homeward Bound and their work is incredible to helping people with severe mental and physical challenges. I have also been active on their Boards of Directors since about 1990 so I've also seen the real need of community outreach and commincations between its many constituents. A new web site would be an incredible benefit to this organization and I know that they would put it to excellent use by continuing to serve this in-need group of people.

In 2003, I became involved with Homeward Bound. Since then, I have been a Board of Director and have served as a past Treasurer. With being active on the finance committee, I have first-hand knowledge of the challenges that Homeward Bound faces every day in managing expenses. As funding is reduced, it becomes even more difficult to fund all of our needs. The opportunity to have our website redesigned would be a great asset to the organization. It will not only increase efficiencies, but will also allow us to get our message out to a broader group in a more effective manner.

I have been an employee for 25 years at HBI in many different positions and agree we need an updated website to be able to grab the public eye. I help teach new employees orientation and ask how they found out about us, we get new employees from our site. With all the financial cut backs which affect our operating budget. The individuals we assist to maintain a healthy , purposeful life always come first and then the other expenses(websites etc.)
The website could also be a very effective tool for employees for updates on many issues or even trainings for families or staff. The possibilities are endless and would benefit many people who support HBI.

Homeward Bound has demonstrated that they can deliver terrific care and services while carefully managing their business. From the top down, the Homeward Bound organization truly cares about each client and is always looking for ways to do more for them. These folks really do make a difference in people's lives.

On behalf of Xcel Energy and our volunteers, we are honored to be a partner and support Homeward Bound, who provides vital services for individuals with disabilities.

They took amazing care of my friend's son. For that I am grateful. Lora Blevins

I spent six months on a prose and poetry project with about 30 Homeward Bound residents in six or seven homes. The Homeward Bound administrators I worked with, Lori Merriam and Joel Barker, advocated tirelessly so that Homeward Bound residents' voices--the voices of the disabled, often the long-term, severely disabled--would be heard. The home leaders and the residents' assistants, to a person, did whatever they could to foster the process of self-expression, even in residents who do not speak or communicate in any standard way. The result of the Homeward Bound residents' remarkable creativity and all the wonderful Homeward Bound staff's help is a book, "An Open Window," that is one of my proudest achievements as an editor and co-writer.
Homeward Bound is an innovative and pioneering organization that should serve as a model country-wide for the care and continuing personal development of disabled adults.

I am proud to be associated with Homeward Bound.

I have been supporting Homeward Bound since the age of 15 as a volunteer, childcare worker, advocate, community partner, and now a foundation board member.

With an awesome website, Homeward Bound will effectively achieve their goals and objectives by: communicating the organization’s mission-driven services; expanding funding for high-value and innovative programs; and managing “human capital.”

Serving the intellectually and physically disabled requires community support!

In memory of Amy E. and Amy K.

Support Homeward Bound with a new website...please!

Thank you.

Homeward Bound touches lives in ways that aren't always measured by dollars. It's compassion and care for families and individuals with intellectual and physical challenges goes beyond just the physical cares and providing a home to live in. HBI encourages growth, dignity and self-determination. Individuals are encouraged and supported in living their lives to the fullest despite the daily challenge of living with a disability and the need to rely on others. Staff are competent, capable and challenged to provide services that are respectful, unique and enthusiastic. Individuals are supported in giving back to their families and communities. Life is meaningful and fun for them.

Homeward Bound advocates for services to individuals with developmental disabilities at the county, state and federal level of government. Homeward Bound doesn't just care about services to the individuals it serves, but for others wih similar challenges to get what services they need to be healthy and productive citizens.

I had a brother with cerebral palsy and two of my closest friends became disabled - one with Ataxia and one with a tramatic brain injury. Because they each have faced many challenges, I became interested in donating time to support an organization that made a real difference in the lives of people with severe disabilities. I explored many organizations and once I became familiar with Homeward Bound, I knew this was an organization I wanted to support. The Homeward Bound staff and associates genuinely care and possess a passion to provide the best quality of support possible to disabled individuals and their families. I began volunteering in 2008 and wanting to do more, I recently became a member of their board of directors.

HBI is a small organization that does incredible things with limited resources. A new website could have a significant impact on what they are able to accomplish for others in the future.

This organiztion is about people reaching out.... reaching out to families and indivduals who are faced with incredible challenges and are looking resources and help.

Reaching out to the community to say this is a special population, with talents and gifts to share.,, come to our Art Fairs, our picnics, read our book of original poetry, celebrate with us ....

This is an Organization and population that does not want to say hidden, they want to engage, to grow to share.

A Web Site is a powerful way to reach out ... and reaching out is what we at Homeward Bound are all about.

The work that Homeward Bound does to support individuals with disabilities in our community is invaluable. The support that this organization gives to the individuals it serves as well as their families has been life changing to many of them. It is an honor to be associated with an organization that operates with the goal of being a leading provider of services for the disabled and actually carries out that goal. There are many others in our community that could benefit from the services of Homeward Bound. By having an updated web site, Homeward Bound's services will be better highlighted and search features can be added that don't exist today on the site. Thank you for considering Homeward Bound as the recipient of a well deserved new web site!

Homeward Bound provides caring, innovative services to persons with severe disabilities. Please assist Homeward Bound in telling their story through the help of a new Web-site. A new web-site will allow Homeward Bound to more efficiently communicate with individuals, families, community partners, donors, vendors, employees and the community at large. It is Homeward Bounds goal through this new web-site to save time and effort; improve our communication and spread the word about a unique organization making a difference in Minnesota for persons with disabilities and their families. Help us create a web-site with your expertise that is as wonderful and special as those we serve with disabilities. Thank you.

I have been involved with Homeward Bound since joining the board more than 10 years ago. I was looking for a non-profit organization involved in helping others and was impressed with their mission and the passion of the people towards fulfilling their mission. My thoughts toward Homeward Bound have only grown stronger over the years. They do so much with their limited resources and funding. Anything that could be done to help Homeward Bound fulfill their mission more efficiently will go a long way

I have been involved with Homeward Bound since the early '90s, first as an auditor/consultant and as a Board Member for the past 10 years. I joined the Board because of the wonderful work Homeward Bound does working with some of the most fragile individuals and because I thought I could utilize my knowledge and experience in helping them carryforth their mission. I encourage you to also provide your expertise and knowledge to Homeward Bound in assisting in the creation of a new website. THANK YOU!!!

I have been with Homeward Bound since 1989, working directly with the individuals we serve for 8 years and now working as HBI's IT manager. The value of a fully functional Homeward Bound website would be immeasurable as we are constantly searching to better ways to communicate with families, staff, donors, and applicants as well as get the word out about the incredible work Homeward Bound does. Please consider assisting Homeward Bound in creating a website that is as good as the services we provide.

Thank you

The top 10 reasons Homeward Bound needs a new website:

10. To tell the world about Homeward Bound
9. To improve our services to the individuals and their families
8. To reach qualified direct support professionals who are an asset to our organization
7. To promote our events
6. To sell our services
5. To save our costs
4. To further our mission to be the leading provider of life enriching services for children and adults with disabilities
3. To share what we do throughout the year
2. To build a community with our donors, future donors, our Boards and employees
1. To teach our communities in which we live about Homeward Bound and the unique services we provide.

Homeward Bound truly makes a difference in the lives of the individuals and families in their care. Decisions are made for the organization with the best interest of the people they support in a careful, thoughtful and respectful way. When you become part of Homeward Bound it is life changing- as an employee, individual in their care or board member you are part of the Homeward Bound Family. They have an outstanding vision for the care and services they want to provide in the future. The gift of Web design would allow Homeward Bound to achieve their goals for their vision.

I have been with Homeward Bound for a year and in the group home/human services industry for over four years. What I can say about this organization is that it is very well-run, has quality staff, and the organization as a whole cares about the clients that it serves. Much of my research of this organization before I applied for a job here was on the web site. It gave me information about the people that they serve, their missions and goals, and their employment opportunities.

A new web site would be beneficial to bringing in more quality staff with easy access to information about the organization, families that they serve, and their clients. Newsletters and information about upcoming events can show how the organization values the lives of their clients.

Homeward Bound is filled with caring, compassionate people. These include health care providers, administrative personnel, and ancillary staff. Maybe you did not know this. A new, more powerful website will remedy this unfortunate situation - a website that reaches out to the community to inform, promote, and share.

Our daughter is a resident in one of the HBI homes. So much of her quality of life is tied directly to the degree of compassion and care provided by their staff. Over the years, there have been countless budget cuts and sacrifices made by all across the board. Please help HBI fulfill their mission of enriching the lives of their clients by providing a captivating website that will inform and educate others about their organization.

It has been my privilege to get to know Lori Merriam and all the good things that HBI brings to our community. Their passion for improving the lives of their "family" is remarkable. They have struggled to keep all their services open and a new website would help them extend their presence further and to draw more attention to their organization.

Please pick Homeward Bound to be your winner. They are a winner in the hearts and minds of all the residents and families and all of those who are privledged enough to come in contact with the organization and it's team. They truly are a family in the organization and the homes. The residents are in a home and are part of a family in each home. Their dedication and caring is beyond measure as is their impact on the residents, families and community!

I’ve only known about Homeward Bound for a short time through two of their staff members, but as one of those working on their book of poetry last year, I’ve been affected by the stories of several of the individuals whom they serve. My impression has been so positive I’ve volunteered my time to help with yard cleanup and Spring planting at one of their homes. Although their current web site has basic functions, it is in need of transformative updates, from its look to the logical arrangement and availability of the content HBI wishes to share with the community, their staff, volunteers, donors, and the families of those they serve. Such an update will increase efficiency and could very well attract increased interest and participation in their important mission. In the face of statewide budget cuts, this is crucial. Please help Homeward Bound streamline and improve their interaction with their constituents and communities though a cutting-edge new web site.

I am proud to say I have been an employee of Homeward Bound, Inc. for 26 yrs. HBI's passion for people with disabilities is remarkable. We consistently strive to provide our clients with the best services and a place they can call "home". It is vital for HBI to educate the public through an enhanced website by bringing quality staff, volunteers and donors to be apart of our "homes",

My son is living in one of Homeward Bounds Medical Group Homes. He has been in the home since 2002, he loves being in the home because they take him all over which I wouldn't be able to do on my own. He loves all the worker's that are with him during his time in the home. Everyone is very friendly and when I call they are very helpful. My son is very happy at his home and I'm glad I found this home for him to be in. Also I agree that HBI need's to get a new website to better educate the public on what they are all about and to better the education for the worker's and the website would be the place to do it and also to give the worker's any new information they need to know.

I have been an employee for 21 years and can not say enough about the wonderful services Homeward Bound provides to the individuals who reside at our homes. A new web site would assist some of the most vulnerable people in our community to obtain information about our services and new developments as well as possible placement options. We offer sophisticated specialized services to a unique group of individuals and their families and a new website would be another tool to assist families in need of service.

I have had the true and sincere pleasure of financially supporting and volunteering with Homeward Bound for a few years now. Reflecting on the birth of our new Son and the simple, yet serious kidney issue he has I am very thankful for him and that he will be just fine over the months to come. He will then be able to grow to be the boy, young man and hopefully one day father that he is meant to become. I share this because it makes me think of how it could have just as easily been a disability that would have required the services of Homeward Bound. This is why I support Homeward Bound.

If Only

If Only, all of the charitable needs were filled
If Only, the economy was better and we all could give a little more
If Only, our Governor did not have to make budget cuts
If Only, every child was healthy

If Only you would select Homeward Bound as one of the websites you would build
perhaps a few more people would become aware,
perhaps a few more people would be able to donate,
perhaps a few more people could be helped, lives changed and hearts touched…..If Only.

Homeward Bound provides an important service to children and adults with disabilities in our community. I am so proud to work for such a caring and dedicated organization! A website is an important tool to contact people that need our services.

I have visited Homeward Bound several times and have always been warmly greeted by very friendly people. I also attended one of the summer picnics and it was wonderful to see the children and adults laughing and having such a great time. The caregivers were very attentive and making sure that everyone was cared for. It is a great organization

WOW! What an opportunity for HBI. As a 26 year employee, I have nothing but wonderful things to say about our organization. Our mission statement says it all. We strive to be the best we can be. A new and improved website would greatly benefit the lives of the folks that we care so much for. After all, that is our priority. To have the individuals we serve have long term caring staff who know their needs is definately a plus. If HBI can continue to attract and retrain quality, caring staff this would not only benefit the individual we serve and HBI, but it will also benefit the community as a whole. We would be able to educate the community about our services and also maybe open peoples eyes to the importance of our work. In this hard economic time, when ourganizations such as ourselves are trying to maintain quality services, a well run website could be accessed by our legislators so they have a better understanding of the vital services we provide.

I've worked for Homeward Bound for 2 years and have found that the people are amazing. I am so proud to work for such a caring and dedicated organization. Please help our services continue with a new website.

As an employee of Homeward Bound I have seen our employees do such amazing work with the most vulnerable adults and children. A new web site would help us in contacting those people who need our services.

I have had the privilege of leading Homeward Bound for the past 8 years. HBI is an organization whose staff work tirelessly to deliver excellent residential services to approximately 100 individuals with severe disabilities. By severe, I mean individuals with severe to profound intellectual, physical, and health condition disabilities.

HBI would love a new web site, for two compelling reasons—marketing its services and improving communication between the organization and its staff, and between the organization and the families and individuals it serves. The organization has decided to grow its residential services to serve individuals with intense health conditions, which often require frequent and long hospitalizations. It desires a new web site to improve its marketing to the this population and the public health nurses who manage their cases.

In addition, it would like to create a grass roots movement of its staff and the families and individuals it serves to improve its influence at the legislature and to improve its communication amongst those groups.

HBI recently lost approximately $280,000 in annual revenue from state mandated rate cuts. It is doing an excellent job of ensuring that services do not suffer from this 2.58% cut but it cannot justify spending valuable dollars on a new web site in such a climate. Please help us!

I have been employed with Homeward Bound for almost 33 years. For the first 30 years I worked directly with the people who live at Homeward Bound. For the past 3 years I have been recruiting new direct support professionals for Homeward Bound. A new website would give us endless opportunities to get the "word out" about the services we provide, the lives we enrich, the possibilities we constantly strive for and the amazing difference we make in people's lives every single day. Please help us with a new website so we may continue to inspire a whole new generation!

Great organization! Devoted to their mission!

I am so proud to work for a organization that gives such amazing care and opportunities to people with disabilities. A new website would be very benefical for families and potential employees to get to know Homeward Bound and the services we provide! Please help us!

I have been an employee with Homeward Boun Inc for 14 years. During that time, I have been continuously proud of the excellent services we have provided to the individuals who live in our homes. Our staff and families have always been willing to step up to the many challenges that we see while trying to provide the best quality of services that we can. A new website would be very beneficial, It would educate people who are possible applicants, donors, or families looking for services on the wonderful and specialized services that we provide. It would spread the word of Homeward Bounds mission, goals and future plans. With all of that said, it would be for the benefit of the unique and fun individuals that we work with every day, which is what it is all about!

I have worked with Homeward Bound for several years now. They are very professional and truely care about the people they serve.

I have worked at Homeward Bound for 16 years. I have worked with other companies on and off during this time and I always feel that Homeward Bound is where my heart is. The individuals that we serve are very special and it takes a special person to want to care for someone with a disability. With a new website, Homeward Bound will be able to reach many more people that would maybe never hear about us. A new website would also reach more parents that would benefit from an organization like Homeward Bound, having a child with a disability can be a struggle and a new website will a great help to parents who are looking for guidance.

My name is Christine. I have lived with HBI for 7 wonderful years. I would strongly promote other people to get connected with Homeward Bound because they do a fantastic job in caring for the residents who live here. And they are always willing to ask for more advice for what they can do for the agency. Of all the group homes I have lived at, this is the most communicative group home, and care well for the residents.

25 years ago I started working at Homeward Bound planning it only to be a pit stop in my life until I found a job in my educational field. Instead of pursuing a teaching job, I decided to stay at Homeward Bound. After working here just a short time, I realized what a wonderful opportunity I had to enrich the lives of not only our individuals but also their families. I have worked with so many people who have continually put our individuals as their number one priority. This is what has kept me here and continues to renew my sense of purpose at Homeward Bound. A new website would enhance so many different areas in our company. There are too many possibilities to name. Please consider Homeward bound for this as the individuals, families, and employees would be forever blessed and grateful.

I have worked for homeward Bound for 11 years and 10 months to be exact. Be fore I came to HBI, I was either unhappy or never engaged in my other jobs that I had. Now, every time I get up to go to work, I feel that inner glow going to serve the individuals I work with. I feel the sense of accomplishment and fulfillment in what I am doing. The individuals at HBI get me going and realizing no matter how small your contribution, you are making difference. Getting a new website will educate possible applicants and families about the great services at Homeward Bound.

Homeward Bound is an amazing organization. The staff care for the residents as if they were family. The leadership focus on constantly improving on their already superior care services. Homeward Bound provides a vital community service to children and adults with disabilities. I am so proud to work for such a caring and dedicated organization!

I have had an opportunity to see what Homeward Bound, has done and does for the community and I know they care about the people they serve.

Homeward Bound is very deserving of a new website. They impact the lives of not only their residents but the families surrounding them. I can't even imagine how hard it would be to be in the position of not being able to care for a family member any longer and having to put them in a home, but if it ever came to that, I would hope they would be taken care of as well as the residents of a homeward bound house are.

I have worked for Homeward Bound for 16 years. Homeward Bound has changed my way of thinking about individuals with disabilities. Homeward Bound had does a great job of teaching their staff that individuals that have disabilities are no different than you or I. Homeward Bound is a great place to work. Staff are caring, and do a great job assisting the individuals with getting through their day. I have held several different positions from Nurse to House Supervisor. Each position that I have had at Homeward Bound has been very rewarding. Please consider helping Homeward Bound in developing a new website so that more people out in the community will be able to find out just what Homeward Bound is about. A new website would also improve the line of communication between the community, parents, guardians etc.

As an estate planning attorney in this community, I interact with families that need to plan for their family members who have special needs. It is such a comfort to the family to know that their loved ones are in a home setting, rather than in a cold, uncaring institution. I had the opportunity to meet some residents and plant some flowers at one of the home residences. It was such a gift to me to think that my volunteer work gave someone, children and adults in wheelchairs, the opportunity to roll out onto a deck and enjoy the nice weather and a few flowers. Anyone can find themselves in this situation through an accident or disease at any time in our lives. Thank goodness for Homeward Bound for giving quality of life to these individuals, and who knows, any one of us that may need their services some day! They need website services in order to raise awareness for deserving families that alternatives exist for their loved ones who are disabled. Susan Anderson

The Homeward Bound employees are very dedicated and caring. They always have a friendly smile and a warm greeting when visiting our son. The quality of care is excellent. A new website would greatly enhance communication between staff and parent/guardian.