Dungarvin staff, persons served and their families enjoyed fun in the sun last week during the organization’s 50th Anniversary celebration. Spread out in the giant parking lot of the organization’s headquarters in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, the event welcomed more than 1,600 people.
Set up like a county fair, guests enjoyed a live band, carnival games, face painting, a photo booth, bouncy castles for the kids, a Tarot card reader and more. There was also plenty of food and snacks, including hot dogs and hamburgers with all the fixings, and fair favorites like cotton candy and snow cones.
Attendees had fun watching Dungarvin leaders get soaking wet in the dunk tank. Even Co-founder Tim Madden took the plunge several times, thanks to employees with good aim.
Dungarvin Training Development Specialist Jason Jackson takes a break in the food tent.
“I think this is absolutely amazing,” said Dungarvin Training Development Specialist Jason Jackson. He was sitting at a table under one of the two giant party tents, where people were eating and chatting. “It’s stupendous to see all of the different faces here — many of the people I’ve trained. These are the people who hold this company together; the glue to it all. And it’s great to see persons served here having a good ole time. The energy is just fantastic.”
“Fifty years of supporting people with disabilities is a big deal and worth a party!” said Dungarvin CEO Lori Kress.
“It’s an opportunity to stop and feel good about what we have accomplished for and with people, and to express gratitude for the ability to make such a meaningful impact on our community. And of course, it’s not an accomplishment that happened without the efforts of thousands of people over those five decades, so it’s essential that we let everyone know how integral they have been to our success.”
Dungarvin Minnesota Senior Director Karen Hammond agreed. “This is Dungarvin celebrating its employees; not Dungarvin celebrating itself,” she said.
As party attendees stood in line to get a chance to sink a mini-golf putt to win money, not far away, Dungarvin Mental Health Specialist Robin Fischer and her daughter Margaret were having their portrait drawn by a caricature artist. “This is amazing!” Robin said of the event. “People get to be with each other, share stories, have a little fun and relax. A lot of times, you don’t get to see everybody because we’ve become a big organization, so this is wonderful.”
Abi Obayemi, a Residential Program Coordinator who has been with Dungarvin for 18 years, was at the party with Tre and DJ, two boys she supports. “The kids are enjoying it, and the weather is awesome; I didn’t know it was going to be this glorious,” Abi said. “I want to give a big thank you to Dungarvin for putting this together for our families.”
Dungarvin Co-founder Diane Madden watches her husband and Co-founder Tim Madden in the dunk tank.
Also taking in all the fun and chatting with families and staff members was Dungarvin Co-founder Diane Madden, who with husband Tim launched the organization 50 years ago. The couple started with serving a few people in Minnesota, and today the organization supports thousands in 17 states, with its mission of “respecting and responding to the choices of people in need of supports.”
“I think we have been blessed in so many ways through this journey, and it’s about so much more than us,” Diane said. “It’s about people’s lives that we’ve served, our long-term employees or anybody who’s been with Dungarvin. It’s their lives, too.”
Tim added that people often ask him about his experience over these years. “I think that’s kind of a loaded question, and I think it would be pretty simple to say ‘fulfilled,’” he said. “But if people were to ask me what ‘fulfilled’ means, I think it means knowing that the mission matters every day. And that’s what gives us a sense of legacy.”