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History of our Mission

Our History | Clear Lake, Iowa | One Vision

1966 - Handicap Village incorporated Nov. 21.

1969 - Site purchased in Clear Lake in January; D.A. Boyer appointed Executive Director in November.

1970 - First "Youth March" in April; first cottage ground-breaking on Oct. 5.

1971 - First two cottages opened between September 1971 and January 1972.

1972 - Village General Store opened in August; first phase of Kinney-Lindstrom Activity Center dedicated in October.

1973 - Four more cottages opened between June and November.

1974 - Four more cottages opened between March and June.

1977 - Completed Kinney-Lindstrom Center dedicated in June.

1980 - Ralph Schroeder Group Home in Clear Lake opened in July.

1983 - Purchase of Clear Lake 4-plex Supervised Apartment in July; Ralph F. Schroeder appointed Interim Director in November following the death of Don Boyer.

1984 - Gary L. Mrosko appointed Executive Director in July; Mason City Apartment Training program opened in December; one-year initial accreditation granted by Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in December.

1988 - Dedication of Boyer Pool in February; Eagle Grove Group Home purchased in April; first three-year accreditation granted by CARF in November.

1989 - Opening of Monroe House in January and Country Circle Home in April, both in Mason City.

1990 - Opening of Garner Work Center in April; construction begins on addition of greenhouse and staff training center to Kinney-Lindstrom Center.

1991 - Dedication of Leon Woodard Greenhouse and new staff training center in June.

1992 - Opening of Village General Store at new location in Maplewood Plaza in November.

1993 - Began offering supported community living and respite care in Clear Lake; Gifts & Greens Shop opened in July.

1994 - Name changed from "Handicap Village" to "Opportunity Village"; Wright House purchased to house Mason City Services.

1995 - "Building Future Opportunities" Campaign exceeded $1 million goal by 24%, raising money for major improvement projects and expansion of Village Endowment.

1996 - 25th anniversary of services celebrated; first Festival of Trees.

1997 - CART taxi service started in July.

1999 - 30th Annual Benefit Walk in May; new kitchen opened in Kinney-Lindstrom Center.

2000 - Spiritual Resources Coordinator position created.

2001 - Gary Mrosko retires as Executive Director in December;  Village acquires CMI in Webster City, expanding services to that area.

2002 - John L. Severtson named Executive Director in January;  Village General Store celebrated 30 years of operation in November.

2003 - Services began at Lake Mills Home, in cooperation with Lake Mills Opportunities; Elm Street Home opened in Webster City in October to serve persons with profound physical disabilities;  Gifts & Greens store changed name to Village Square.

2004 - "Keeping the Course" Campaign began, to build addition to Kinney-Lindstrom Center.

2005 - Village Store expanded throughout Maplewood Plaza; Village Square closed; groundbreaking held for addition to the Kinney-Lindstrom Center in October.

2006 - Ribbon cutting to open new addition to the center in August.

2009 - 40th anniversary of the Benefit Walk in May.

2010 - Northwoods Living in Fort Dodge joins the Village in January; donations for the annual Benefit Walk surpass $100,000 for the first time.

2011 - 40th anniversary of services celebrated; a second location for the annual Benefit Walk is offered in Fort Dodge for the first time; Village General Store in Clear Lake begins Sunday hours, to be open seven days a week; the second Village General Store opens in Fort Dodge in October.

2012 - Opportunity Village announces plans to transition people from cottage homes on original campus to smaller homes integrated in communities.

2013 - The Children's Autism Center opened in August in Clear Lake.

2014 - John Severtson retires as Chief Executive Officer; Jeff Nichols named new CEO in July; Children's Autism Center opens location in former Morning Sun Cottage.

2016 - Tried & True, the Village's third resale store and retail business, opened in Mason City's Willowbrook Mall. Tried & True is a women's clothing boutique.

2017 - Successfully transitioned 120 individuals living in RCF cottages located on the Clear Lake campus to homes in communities of their choosing. 

2017 - Announced plans to redevelop and repurpose the Clear Lake campus into a senior-focused residential community.

2017 - Fieldhouse restaurant, our organization's fourth retail business, opened in Clear Lake.

2017 - Name changed from "Opportunity Village" to "One Vision."

2018 - Jeff Nichols resigns as CEO effective Sept 30. Mark Dodd appointed interim CEO.

2018 - Started services in Osage by acquiring two homes previously owned/operated by Mitchell County. Opened additional home in Osage.

2018 - Broke ground on Clear Lake campus redevelopment. Plans call to redevelop the campus into independent housing with a focus on active senior living

2018 - Started providing ABA services one day per week at Fort Dodge Children's Autism Center.

2018- Autism Center moves off campus to its new location at the previous location of the Ralph Schroeder Group Home 1020 Buddy Holly Place Clear Lake.

2019- Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Benefit Walk in Clear Lake in September.

2019- First Terraces at Glen Oaks become available for purchase.

2019 - TimberCrest Apartments at Glen Oaks opens in November.

2020 - Mark Dodd named permanent CEO by board in January.

2020 - Tried & True opens in Clear Lake and Tried &True Mason City moves to Osage

2020 - Coronavirus forces 7th annual J. Brooks Walk A Block for the One Vision Children's Autism Center and 51st Benefit Walk to be cancelled.  First year to do a Virtual Video Contest Fundraiser, 100% online. 

2020 - Pebblestone opens in Garner in October.

2020 - Host Home program launches

2021 - Offices in Fort Dodge and Webster City move to new locations in June.

2021 - One Vision celebrates 50 years of services on September 14 with the opening of our first cottage on our main campus in Clear Lake in 1971.