July 2000

The very first Camp Hand in Hand hosts 40 individuals at Camp Abe Lincoln

One of our first campers is holding a brush and brushing a horse at camp.

Fall 2000

Our first innovative recreation programs launch with Movies & Popcorn and Bowling

2001

Purchase of Tessa’s Place in Bettendorf

2002

Opening of inclusive childcare for children ages 6 weeks- 18 years

Hosting of the group Upside of Downs Syndrome group, leading to the development of what is now GiGi’s Playhouse in Moline

2003

New recreation programs to meet high demand and interest are created: Food, Friends, & Fun.

Launch inclusive school age care for nonschool days

Created and launched the first Quad Cities Area Family Fair, an annual event to provide resources and support for families of children of all abilities.

2006

Seeing a need for more artistic outlets and experiences, Inspiration Studio launches

2009

Get Fit activities begin

2010

The inaugural Chili Cook-Off, Hand in Hand’s largest fundraising event.

2011

Programs outgrow the first floor and we begin moving into the renovated basement level of Tessa’s Place

2012

Trace Adkins visits Hand in Hand and we are featured on Great American Heroes. They help us makeover the lower level of Tessa’s Place.

Trace Adkins is posing in front of a bright green wall with a young participant and his mom.

2013

Strategic Planning sessions take place to ensure the future of inclusive programming

2014

Hand in Hand kids grow, and teen programs open to meet their new needs

2015

People with Purpose, Hand in Hand’s adult DayHab program, begins to give participants a chance to volunteer in the Quad Cities community while also working on life and work skills in a fun, social setting.

July 2019

20th Anniversary of Camp Hand in Hand!

A camper is holding up a fish while being assisted by a camp volunteer during our 20th year of camp.

2020

People with Purpose expands to 5 days a week, Hand in Hand responds to a global pandemic, leading to support for students e-learning needs

Two People with Purpose participants sit at a bowling alley. One of the women is sitting on the armrest of the chair and has her left arm around the other woman.

2021

Launch of partnership with Edwards United Church of Christ to expand summer programming for school age children, nearly doubling our service from the year prior.

Launch of a campaign to fund a new building to house to expand People with Purpose and further innovate the service delivery model to ensure dignity, independence and opportunity.

2022

We finished the model on our new People with Purpose Clubhouse. The Clubhouse features a large kitchen, dining area, living room, welcome and coat area, an office, and a game area.

We also completed our Tessa’s Place renovation. We were able to add an additional child care classroom and partner with the Pleasant Valley School District to host a full-day, five day a week statewide preschool program. In addition, we renovated our other classrooms, renovated our kitchen and laundry rooms, put in a brand new Nature Explore playground, and did a complete basement remodel. This renovation allowed us to open an additional 30 slots for participants and helped many of our current participants have a better, sensory friendly experience with us.

We also started our After School Club which is a program that provides an environment for young adults (16+) to meet daily, spend time with peers and practice and achieve goals.