Huntington has “A Heritage of Caring”

Heritage Days 2025, June 11 through June 15, will celebrate the people of Huntington and how they care for one another with the theme, “A Heritage of Caring.” Over the years many individuals, businesses and organizations have united the community in caring for one another. Each week the Huntington County Chamber of Commerce will highlight one of these entities in this column.

More than 450 employees care for the more than 4,000 people served by Pathfinder throughout northeast Indiana. Dedicated, caring individuals with a passion for serving others and improving their communities in Huntington, Plymouth and Wabash are part of the Pathfinder team.

People are cared for who face developmental, physical, social and economic challenges. Offices, homes, facilities and programs are all part of the six divisions of Pathfinder led by the leadership team of Chris Kauffman, Acting President and CEO; Michelle Banks, Chief Financial Officer; Staci Wilkinson, Chief Administrative Officer; Ashley Bostic, Chief Community Impact Officer; Brittany Prickett, Chief Habilitation Officer; Sheryl Cline, Executive Relations Officer. Ryan Lemon, W.A. Zimmer, is the current chair of the board. The North Campus corporate office is located at 2824 Theater Avenue, Huntington.

Community Supports, Resource Connection, OutSource Manufacturing, Kids Kampus, HomeOwnership Center and Amramp provide a wide range of services to Pathfinder clients. Supported independent living, group home living, community integration, day services and structured family caregiving for teens and adults are offered through Community Supports. This program provides education and activities for those facing physical and developmental challenges to facilitate life skills toward living full lives in their home communities.

Pathfinder Art Studios provide spaces within the community for teens and adults with developmental disabilities to use their creativity skills. Artists are offered guided person-centered activities to facilitate life skills through community and center-based activities. The studios are set up for artists to paint, sculpt, sew, draw and craft jewelry. Activities are planned for each artist based on their abilities and interests. Studio locations or community events offer artists places to sell their artwork throughout the year with proceeds going to the artist or Community Supports to sustain the program.

Pathfinder Huntington has Creative Abilities Art Studios at 900 E. State Street or 1152 E. State Street. Visit pathfinderservices.org/teens-adults/art-studios for more information.

Finding and retaining meaningful employment for teens and adults is the goal of Pathfinder Resource Connection. It serves people with disabilities in finding and retaining employment. Resource Connection matches the individual’s skills, abilities, and interests with specific jobs and provides ongoing support to the employer and the employee to ensure continued quality work and satisfaction.

Cost-effective solutions for businesses are provided through Pathfinder Outsource Manufacturing. People with disabilities are hired to perform the work of other businesses inside the Pathfinder facility to provide quality, on-time delivery of customer products and services.

Pathfinder Early Learning Center opened in 1990 and is located at what is known as Kids Campus, 435 Campus Street. It is the only National Association for the Education of Young Children accredited center in Huntington County. Children through age 12 are cared for part-time and full-time with traditional childcare while Early Head Start offers center-based or home-based early childhood education from birth to age three. It also includes support for prenatal moms.

The Pathfinder HomeOwnership Center is a nonprofit, one-stop shop for homebuyers. The Center has cared for future homebuyers since 1997 with guidance through the process of homeownership. It also supports people with low to moderate incomes ($56,000 or less), senior citizens, people with disabilities and those who speak limited English with free tax preparation through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).

Pathfinder began in 1965 with the first board of directors and was known as the ARC (Associated for Retarded Children) School and Workshop beginning in 1966. Fred Teddy’s basement followed by Trinity United Methodist Church’s basement were the locations of the first workshops for children ages six to 12. Donald Kartepeter was the first executive director in 1967 of what became known as the Village Workshop.

Preschool began in 1969 under the direction of William Kruzan, and the workshop and administrative offices located in the old Clear Creek School. East State Street became the location for a new facility in 1976, and the first women’s group home opened in 1979. Pathfinder Services, Inc. became the official name in 1981, and John Niederman was named president/CEO in 1985 and retained that role until his retirement in 2020. Danielle Tips followed Niederman as president/CEO. In 2025 Chris Kauffman became the acting president and CEO of Pathfinder.

Events and donations help to support Pathfinder as a not-for-profit organization caring for people in northeast Indiana with developmental disabilities and others who have physical, social or economic challenges. An upcoming event, the annual dinner, helps to bring attention to the Pathfinder goal of having everyone they serve feel a state of well-being through self-reliance and integration into the larger community. The annual dinner will celebrate 59 years of Pathfinder, and will take place April 23, 2025 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Honeywell Arts Center – Legacy Hall, 275 W. Market Street, Wabash.

Other yearly events include the golf outing and the Turkey Trot at Thanksgiving. For more information visit pathfinderservices.org or see the Facebook page: facebook.com/pathfinderservices. Donations in support of Pathfinder can be mailed to P.O. Box 1001, Huntington.