Statements
Mission
SERVE.PROVIDE.CHAMPION - Evergreen Life Services serves, provides for and champions individuals with disabilities.
Background
Evergreen Presbyterian Ministries, Inc. dba Evergreen Life Services is a 501c3, NPO, serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Evergreen began in 1959 when the parents of four young men dreamed of a place where their children could live as normal a life as possible, develop their life skills and become valued, contributing members of the community. The Presbyterian Church shared this vision and secured an abandoned school building in the community of Evergreen in Northwest Louisiana. In October 1959, a Presbyterian minister, a handful of staff, and these four young men moved into Evergreen School, and the dream of Evergreen was born. Evergreen currently serves over 1,000 people in seven states: Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Florida. Evergreen is among the top ten largest nonprofit providers to people with developmental disabilities in the entire United States. Evergreen provides people with disabilities the opportunity to live in an environment with the least restrictions possible. Evergreen fosters interdependence among all people, protecting and advocating for the rights and dignity of each person. Currently, Evergreen provides: 102 Community Homes in Louisiana and Texas, Supported Independent Living services in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, Vocational Programs that emphasize supported, competitive employment in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, and Tennessee, Respite and Family Services in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas, Spiritual Care in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas, and Foster Care services for children with disabilities in Tennessee.
Impact
Evergreen provides community-based services to individuals with developmental disabilities and, in doing so, the following values are of utmost importance: Evergreen has a commitment to the full inclusion of people with disabilities in their home communities. Evergreen is committed to supporting people so that they may become a valued part of their community. Evergreen believes in supporting an inclusive community rather than acting as a substitute for community. Evergreen is committed to enhancing the community's awareness of the contributions and gifts of individuals with disabilities. Evergreen strives to provide services in the smallest appropriate setting possible. Evergreen upholds a basic belief in, and commitment to, advocating for human and civil rights for all. Evergreen has a commitment to the highest possible quality of life. This value confirms a commitment to helping people gain the highest possible level of happiness, satisfaction, self-worth, and fulfillment. Evergreen makes a commitment to encourage the spiritual growth and nurturance of all people. Evergreen is committed to Christian concern. Evergreen is committed to helping people express their individual spirituality. Evergreen upholds a long-term commitment to people with disabilities by maintaining a stable, viable, principled, and financially healthy organization. Evergreen's services are choice-driven and person-centered. Evergreen's Middle Tennessee Division has the distinction and significant responsibility of caring for some of the most involved individuals within the organization. Many of the clients in middle Tennessee are not only affected by intellectual disabilities but also have physical disabilities, significant medical issues, and behavioral concerns. Evergreen's middle Tennessee program best serves its clients by providing innovative programming (adaptive yoga, therapeutic arts), efficiently managing and coordinating the various aspects of their care (TIMAS electronic database system), and by recruiting and maintaining a well-trained staff including direct care employees as well as management.
Needs
(1) Evergreen operates an ongoing Client Needs Fund which covers direct client needs such as clothing, furniture, dental care, eyeglasses, augmentative communication devices, trips. (2) Volunteers and supplies for special art programming at the day program (3) In-kind donations of clothing, furniture, electronics and appliances (4) Vehicles-cars/ mini-vans. (5) Volunteers for yard work, repair on homes and/or to help out at community events/activities.
CEO Statement
Evergreen is an organization that means so much to many people. If you ask one of the nearly 1,400 clients served what Evergreen means to them, you might receive the answer that Evergreen is a family, a home, a job, and a community of faith. Or that Evergreen helps them to develop life skills, find a job and earn a paycheck. Or that Evergreen helps them to be healthy by providing access to medical and dental services. For many of them, you may not receive any answer, and the smile on their face will be indicative of how they are feeling. If you ask one of the parents of the 1,000 individuals we serve, you might receive the answer that Evergreen is 'an answer to a prayer, a Godsend, a daily blessing.' Unless you have had a child born with a disability or who became disabled through an accident or other cause, it would be very difficult to understand the great responsibility these parents face. If you ask one of the 2,800 employees who serve our clients around the clock, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, you may hear that Evergreen means more than a job. Evergreen is a ministry, a calling, a place where we can see and know that a positive difference is being made in people's lives daily. Finally, if you ask one of the many volunteers or contributors what Evergreen means to them, you might get the answer that Evergreen is a good cause, a ministry worthy of support, a good steward of the gifts of others, and a ministry with a strong sense of purpose. As stated earlier, Evergreen means so much to many people throughout Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Human Services - Developmentally Disabled Services/Centers |
| Secondary Category: | Housing, Shelter - Independent Housing for People with Disabilities |
| Tertiary Category: | Employment - Vocational Rehabilitation |
Areas Served
Evergreen provides services to individuals across all of Middle Tenneessee.
| TN |
| TN - Coffee |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Dickson |
| TN - Hickman |
| TN - Houston |
| TN - Humphreys |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Williamson |
