THE FIRST 30 YEARS

The Sunrise Group began as the Sunrise School in Redlands, south of Miami, Florida when a voluntary board of directors chaired by Dr. George L. Spelios was formed to provide assistance and support to 50 children and adults challenged by significant physical, medical, intellectual and emotional disabilities.

By 1976 it served 55 individuals with approximately 70 employees and a budget of $450,000. That year Sunrise took the initial step towards community integration when it opened its first group home.

It was also the year in which Les Leech, Jr. became president and chief executive officer of Sunrise Community, Inc. Since joining the organization, Mr. Leech has led the Sunrise organizations into a period of exceptional growth and development as envisioned by an active, voluntary Board of Directors.

By 1980 Sunrise had opened two additional group homes plus a residence that served 120 children and adults living in 11 homes on one site.

In 1988 Sunrise Northeast, Inc. was established, opened its first group homes in Connecticut and began supported living, community enrichment and day services.

1993 saw the first Sunrise organization to be affiliated with the National United Cerebral Palsy Association with the establishment of United Cerebral Palsy of Tallahassee, Inc.

Sunrise expanded into Alabama in 1994 as Resources for Independence which conducts a supported living program enabling people with disabilities to live in their own homes. In 1994 it also welcomed United Cerebral Palsy of Sarasota-Mantee and Southwest Florida, Inc. into the Sunrise Group. These agencies have been greatly expanded and serve the Florida Gulf Coast area.

Sunrise Community of Georgia, Inc. was established in 1995 to provide assistance to people with supported living and foster care arrangements. In the same year Sunrise Community of Tennessee, Inc. began assisting in the downsizing of large state institutions by developing supported living arrangements in the state. That year also marked the opening of supported living homes by Resources for Independence of Virginia, Inc.

In 1996, Sunrise Community of Hendry/Glades, Inc. was formed to provide support and assistance for people with disabilities in a very under-served area of the state of Florida. Sunrise's activities in the central portion of the state were also enhanced in 1997 with the establishment of Sunrise Community of Polk County, Inc.

Sunrise now provides support and assistance to people with disabilities throughout Florida through its offices in Tallahassee, Panama City, Lakeland, St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, Clewiston, Naples, Sarasota and Miami.

Outside the state of Florida Sunrise has offices in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Atlanta, Brunswick and Savannah, Georgia; Bartlett, Clarksville, Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; plus Columbia and Hartford, Connecticut. In addition it has management contracts in Fayette, Alabama plus Cookeville, Tennessee.