Learn more about our Homes with Heart capital campaign at HCSHeart.org

History

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Purchase the Heritage Christian Services History Book

The story of how three sets of parents who had children with developmental disabilities helped bring a community together, inspire change and create a culture where all of God’s children are valued. Purchase the book here.

1979

Founding Families

November 15, 1979

Founding Families

Marie and Bob Pieters, along with Gail and Bob Otto, hold their first founders meeting at Jobina and Pete Bruinsma’s home on Homewood Lane in Irondequoit, N.Y.

1980

Articles of Incorporation

November 3, 1980

Articles of incorporation are filed with the Department of State.

1980

First Board of Directors Meeting

December 2, 1980

The first Board of Directors meeting is held.

1981

Not-for-profit

February 19, 1981

Heritage Christian Home Inc. is approved to operate as a not-for-profit agency.

1981

United Church of Christ

May 3, 1981

The congregation of United Church of Christ of Webster, N.Y., votes to give land to found the first Heritage Christian home.

1981

Fundraising dinner at Rochester Christian Reformed Church

November 12, 1981

Heritage Christian holds its first annual fundraising dinner at Rochester Christian Reformed Church.

1983

Ground Broken on Jennifer Lane

September 15, 1983

Ground Broken on Jennifer Lane

Ground is broken for the first Heritage Christian home on Jennifer Lane off of Klem Road in Webster, N.Y.

1983

Timothy Weider

November 1, 1983

Timothy Weider

Timothy Weider is hired as the first executive director.

1984

First Home on Jennifer Lane Opens

June 24, 1984

First Home on Jennifer Lane Opens

The first home on Jennifer Lane opens to welcome nine young adults: Ellen Baxter, Michael Bogdan, Bill Case, Kim DeSarra, Steve Jones, Amy Kingston, Laurie Otto, Bob and Karen Pieters.

1984

Second Intermediate Care Facility Opens

June 28, 1984

The second intermediate care facility opens in a renovated home on Goodburlet Road in Henrietta, N.Y.

1985

Parents Start Faith Foundation

January 1, 1985

Parents Start Faith Foundation

Similar to Heritage Christian, a group of parents start the FAITH Foundation in Tonawanda, N.Y., looking to provide Christian homes for their children, led by Anne Wolf. Eventually, the group comes to include: Rev. Robert and Delphine Bohall; Carol and Ernie Forth; Carol and David Dusenbury; Sue and Granson Geis; Vicki and Ron Grout; and Barb and Jim Quimby.

1985

Bob Pieters Hired

June 15, 1985

Bob Pieters Hired

Bob Pieters is hired as executive director to become president and C.E.O.

1985

First Community Residence

October 15, 1985

The first community residence is opened in a renovated home at Ridgeway Avenue in Greece, N.Y.

1986

HCS Opens a Home

September 3, 1986

Heritage Christian opens a home where Mark Bruinsma can live. It is on the State Road in Webster on property donated by the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.

1988

Heritage Foundation

February 10, 1988

Heritage Foundation

Heritage Christian incorporates its fundraising Foundation.

1988

Main Office Moves

March 30, 1988

HCS Main Office moves to leased space at Piano Works Complex in East Rochester.

1993

Springdale Farm Opens

April 1, 1993

Springdale Farm Opens

Heritage Christian assumes operations at Springdale Farm in Ogden, N.Y., and opens its first day habilitation site.

1993

Medicaid Service Coordination

October 1, 1993

The agency provides Medicaid service coordination from its main office in East Rochester.

1993

Groundbreaking for Respitewood

November 7, 1993

Groundbreaking for Respitewood

Ground is broken on Schlegel Road in Webster for Respitewood.

1994

Respitewood Opens

March 27, 1994

Respitewood Opens

Respitewood opens; it’s Heritage Christian’s first short-term care home.

1996

First Home in Buffalo

June 3, 1996

The first home in the Buffalo, N.Y. area opens on Hoover Road in Sanborn, and HCS begins offering service coordination there.

1997

Day Habilitation Service Opens

July 1, 1997

Heritage Christian opens its unprecedented day habilitation service for people living in intermediate care facilities in Brighton, N.Y.

2001

Heritage Christian Stables

February 14, 2001

Heritage Christian Stables opens on Salt Road in Webster. View video >

2001

Heritage Hollow

November 1, 2001

Heritage Hollow

Heritage Christian Services opens Heritage Hollow, its Adirondack retreat center, on Sixth Lake in Inlet, N.Y.

2002

A Second Thought Resale Shop Opens

January 1, 2002

A Second Thought Resale Shop Opens

First group travels to Guatemala for International Ministries. A Second Thought Resale Shop opens at the Piano Works Mall in East Rochester.

2002

Top 1%

January 1, 2002

Top 1%

HCS receives a Compass designation, recognizing the agency for being in the top 1% of service providers in New York state.

2003

New regional office in North Tonawanda

October 3, 2003

In addition to the Rochester operations, Heritage Christian opened its regional office in North Tonawanda.

2005

Agency grows to 51 Homes

June 1, 2005

2006

HCS opens its first WNY respite program, Club Adventure

March 1, 2006

HCS opens its first WNY respite program, Club Adventure
2006

Center for Human Services Education

April 1, 2006

Center for Human Services Education

Formerly the Developmental Disabilities Education of Network, HCS takes over and launches its statewide educational division: The Center for Human Services Education.

2006

Ground broken for the Pieters Family Life Center in Henrietta.

June 24, 2006

Ground broken for the Pieters Family Life Center in Henrietta.
2007

Pieters Family Life Center Opens

April 2, 2007

Pieters Family Life Center Opens
2008

Anne Wolf Quality of Life Fund

November 1, 2008

Anne Wolf Quality of Life Fund

The Anne Wolf Quality of Life Fund is established in the HCS Foundation in memory of Anne Wolf, one of the original members of the WNY FAITH Foundation.

2009

Community Hab Services

March 1, 2009

Heritage Christian begins offering Community Hab services in Western New York; a new program for the agency.

2009

The agency celebrates 25 years.

June 24, 2009

2010

HCS Community Garden

May 1, 2010

HCS Community Garden

The first planting at the HCS Community Garden in North Tonawanda; a cooperative project between HCS staff, supported individuals and community volunteers.

2011

Goodrich Bakery program

January 1, 2011

The Goodrich Bakery program is launched at the Clarence Church of Christ outside of Buffalo.

2011

Employment Alliance

February 1, 2011

The agency launches its Employment Alliance, an expanded approach to work readiness and the employment of people with disabilities.

2011

First customized residential option

March 1, 2011

Heritage Christian opens its first customized residential option — a home without 24-hour staffing — on Farnsworth Way in Henrietta for three young men.

2011

Customized residential options

June 8, 2011

Working outside of certified settings, HCS starts its customized residential options offering Craig Thesing to live on his own without 24-hour staffing onsite.

2011

Expressive Beginnings Child Care

August 1, 2011

Expressive Beginnings Child Care

Expressive Beginnings Child Care opens in Henrietta and fills to capacity within one year.

2012

Oxbow Lane in Lewiston

May 1, 2012

HCS takes over operation of a New York state run residential home on Oxbox Lane in Lewiston; the first time the agency acquired a home in such a way.

2012

Council on Quality and Leadership

November 1, 2012

Council on Quality and Leadership

HCS receives certification from the Council on Quality and Leadership.

2013

Marisa Geitner becomes president and C.E.O.

January 1, 2013

Marisa Geitner becomes president and C.E.O.
2016

Toddler’s Workshop & Railroad Junction

January 1, 2016

HCS purchases Toddler’s Workshop & Railroad Junction in Webster, expanding its service to 300 more children.

2016

Community organization of the year

March 12, 2016

Community organization of the year

Heritage Christian Services is recognized as the TOPS St. Patrick’s Day Parade community organization of the year.

2016

CDPAP

April 1, 2016

HCS begins serving people through the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) which includes people directly hiring their own staff.

2016

Ethie Award

September 28, 2016

HCS earns an Ethie Award from the Rochester Business Ethics Foundation.

2016

Corporate Office Move

November 14, 2016

The corporate office moves from E. Rochester to 275 Kenneth Drive in Henrietta, New York.

2016

CHUNNY

December 1, 2016

HCS becomes a Care Management Agency (CMA) partnered with CHHUNY (Children’s Health Home of Upstate New York), increasing opportunities to serve children outside of OPWDD.

2017

Expressive Beginnings opens its third and newly constructed center in Greece to serve 120 children.

June 27, 2017

Expressive Beginnings opens its third and newly constructed center in Greece to serve 120 children.
2018

Care Coordination

July 1, 2018

Medicaid Service Coordination evolves to Care Coordination across New York state.

2018

Heritage Gardens

September 27, 2018

Heritage Gardens opens in partnership with Home Leasing. The apartment complex includes 83 units for income-eligible community members.

2020

Regional Office Move

January 13, 2020

The regional office moves from N. Tonawanda to 130 John Muir Drive in Amherst, New York.

2020

Eleversity

May 1, 2020

Eleversity

The Center for Human Services Education announces its rebranding as Eleversity, a name which encompasses its enduring work in human services and next-level supports available to businesses in every sector.