It was the early 1970s, and La Crosse's Gary Schettle was working at a place on Highway 16 called the Medary School and Workshop. The organization provided social and leisure opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities, and Schettle was one of the staff members.
Schettle happened to be friends with two other community members who shared his passion for providing opportunities for people with disabilities. One worked for ORC Industries, and the other was a house parent at what now might be considered a group home.
Even with those three organizations going strong, the friends recognized there were more people needing services than could possibly receive them. They knew there had to be a better way.
So the three of them met on nights and weekends, developing a plan for a place that could meet all three aspects of a person's life at once: work, independent living, and leisure. Schettle took a risk attending those meetings. If the plan developed the way the three envisioned, the Medary School would ultimately be closed. If discovered making such plans, Schettle was in jeopardy of losing his job. Still, they pressed on.
“We had the belief that this was the right thing to do,” Schettle said. “We knew there were risks, but we were three individuals with a passion and compassion for the people being served.”
Ultimately, the planning paid off, and their proposal was accepted by the La Crosse County Board. In 1977, the new organization opened in a warehouse building at the end of Market Street in La Crosse, near the banks of the Mississippi River. The location inspired the new name: Riverfront Activity Center, Inc.
By 1982, Riverfront had outgrown space along the riverfront and moved into a new building on Green Bay Street.
As Riverfront entered the new millennium, the organization was again looking at the need for more space to meet the growing demand for services. A former monastery in La Crosse was purchased to house administrative offices, and in 2001, participants held sparklers at a groundbreaking ceremony to "Light the Way to the Future."
In 2002, Riverfront’s new Work and Community Center opened its doors, providing both supported employment and day services in a comfortable, spacious environment.
The People
When Riverfront opened in 1977, the organization served 55 adults with disabilities and employed 12 staff members. Today, more than 2,000 people throughout southern and western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota receive support and services from Riverfront. The number of staff has grown to approximately 315.
The Growth
People and buildings are only one part of the Riverfront growth story. What began in a small school building in rural La Crosse has now expanded to include offices in five other counties as well.
The first office in Buffalo County opened in Mondovi in 1987 and the second office opened in Alma in 1988.
In Jackson County, offices initially established in the Handishop building were moved in 1990 to the business incubator on Red Iron Road.
In 1997, Riverfront opened an office in Sparta to provide supported employment and placement services to individuals in Monroe County.
Three years later, Riverfront began providing employment services to individuals in Winona County in Minnesota.
In 2002, at the request of the Rock County Developmental Disabilities Board, Riverfront opened another office in Janesville.
One of the original founders, Tom Avery, was hired as the first executive director of Riverfront. Gary Schettle ultimately lost his job when the new organization opened, but he says that he understood that risk all along and did what he felt was right. “Sometimes we have to stand up for something, and I knew this was the right thing to do,” he said. “It's really great to see Riverfront now, to see how it's grown and to see the number of people that are able to be served.”
It was the early 1970s, and La Crosse's Gary Schettle was working at a place on Highway 16 called the Medary School and Workshop. The organization provided social and leisure opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities, and Schettle was one of the staff members.
Schettle happened to be friends with two other community members who shared his passion for providing opportunities for people with disabilities. One worked for ORC Industries, and the other was a house parent at what now might be considered a group home.
Even with those three organizations going strong, the friends recognized there were more people needing services than could possibly receive them. They knew there had to be a better way.
So the three of them met on nights and weekends, developing a plan for a place that could meet all three aspects of a person's life at once: work, independent living, and leisure. Schettle took a risk attending those meetings. If the plan developed the way the three envisioned, the Medary School would ultimately be closed. If discovered making such plans, Schettle was in jeopardy of losing his job. Still, they pressed on.
“We had the belief that this was the right thing to do,” Schettle said. “We knew there were risks, but we were three individuals with a passion and compassion for the people being served.”
Ultimately, the planning paid off, and their proposal was accepted by the La Crosse County Board. In 1977, the new organization opened in a warehouse building at the end of Market Street in La Crosse, near the banks of the Mississippi River. The location inspired the new name: Riverfront Activity Center, Inc.
By 1982, Riverfront had outgrown space along the riverfront and moved into a new building on Green Bay Street.
As Riverfront entered the new millennium, the organization was again looking at the need for more space to meet the growing demand for services. A former monastery in La Crosse was purchased to house administrative offices, and in 2001, participants held sparklers at a groundbreaking ceremony to "Light the Way to the Future."
In 2002, Riverfront’s new Work and Community Center opened its doors, providing both supported employment and day services in a comfortable, spacious environment.
The People
When Riverfront opened in 1977, the organization served 55 adults with disabilities and employed 12 staff members. Today, more than 2,000 people throughout southern and western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota receive support and services from Riverfront. The number of staff has grown to approximately 315.
The Growth
People and buildings are only one part of the Riverfront growth story. What began in a small school building in rural La Crosse has now expanded to include offices in five other counties as well.
The first office in Buffalo County opened in Mondovi in 1987 and the second office opened in Alma in 1988.
In Jackson County, offices initially established in the Handishop building were moved in 1990 to the business incubator on Red Iron Road.
In 1997, Riverfront opened an office in Sparta to provide supported employment and placement services to individuals in Monroe County.
Three years later, Riverfront began providing employment services to individuals in Winona County in Minnesota.
In 2002, at the request of the Rock County Developmental Disabilities Board, Riverfront opened another office in Janesville.
One of the original founders, Tom Avery, was hired as the first executive director of Riverfront. Gary Schettle ultimately lost his job when the new organization opened, but he says that he understood that risk all along and did what he felt was right. “Sometimes we have to stand up for something, and I knew this was the right thing to do,” he said. “It's really great to see Riverfront now, to see how it's grown and to see the number of people that are able to be served.”