At Day Spring, every achievement is rooted in a shared belief: that people of all abilities deserve the opportunity to live full, meaningful lives. As we look back on our 2025 fiscal year, we’re proud to share some of the incredible ways our community made that vision possible.
A Record-Breaking Year of Giving
This year, thanks to your generosity, Day Spring raised an incredible $547,154.50, far surpassing our annual fundraising goal. These dollars have made a real difference, helping us bridge service gaps and plan boldly for the future. This year’s fundraising success was driven in large part by events like the Horizon of Hope Gala, which boasted 100 more guests than last year's event, and our annual Golf Classic! We also fostered strong community engagement through key online giving days, such as Give for Good and Giving Tuesday.
Strong Audits, Stronger Programs
Because of your support, we had the resources needed to maintain the high standards of care that define our work. We’re proud to report that we passed both our HUD and Medicaid audits with flying colors, ensuring that our programs continue to meet all regulatory benchmarks while delivering excellent service to the people who count on us.
Expanding Community Understanding
As we continue to grow, we’re working intentionally to make Day Spring a household name in our city and beyond. Through community partnerships, speaking engagements, and open-door tours, we’ve connected with over 120 visitors who came to see our campus in action. We also welcomed over 140 volunteers across the year, each one playing a unique role in spreading our mission. These outreach efforts are not just about visibility; they’re about helping more people understand why our work matters and how they can be part of it.
The Next Chapter for Baxter Avenue
In the fall, Day Spring’s Board of Directors made the difficult but necessary decision to close the Baxter Avenue apartments for residents receiving Level 2 waiver-funded services. While bittersweet, this change allowed us to address ongoing financial and staffing challenges that came with the previous residential model.
Most importantly, the majority of Baxter residents successfully transitioned into other Day Spring homes or into new living arrangements where they are thriving. By bringing more residents onto our main campus, we’ve created more opportunities for social connection and easier access to enriching programs like our Learning Center.
Reimagining the Space for the Future
With the closure complete, we began an exciting transformation: turning the Baxter Avenue building into the new home of our College for Living (CFL) program. Once complete, the renovated space will nearly triple CFL’s capacity, allowing us to serve more students who are working toward their dream of independent living.
To support this bold new chapter, we launched the College for Living Capital Campaign, a fundraising effort to make the necessary renovations and expand the program’s reach. We’re already seeing momentum build—and we can’t wait to share more updates as the project progresses.
Celebrating New Graduates and a Growing Program
Our College for Living program is one of the most inspiring examples of what’s possible when the right supports are in place. Designed to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain the skills and confidence they need to live independently, the program has made huge strides this year.
We celebrated not just one, but three graduates:
Daniel, our first-ever graduate, who now lives in his own apartment in the community.
Zack, who is thriving and active member at his apartment complex.
Madison, our first female graduate, who achieved her dream of living in a patio home.
With the recent expansion of our program to support 19 students at a time, we anticipate being able to serve approximately 42 students over the next five years!
Looking Ahead with Hope
Every success this year—every audit passed, every home transitioned, every student graduated—points to something bigger: a community that believes in possibility. We’re building more than programs; we’re building a world where people of all abilities are seen, supported, and celebrated.
Thank you for being part of this journey. We can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together in 2025.
