Dawn Farm History in a Nutshell

Co-Founder Jack Scholtus	Co-Founder Gary Archie

Dawn Farm began in 1973 using the combined incomes of the two founders, Gary Archie and Jack Scholtus. Using the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous and some borrowed ideas from a residential program in Quebec, they rented the Farm on Stoney Creek Road.



Some milestones in the life of Dawn Farm:

• 1973 - Incorporated in April with five volunteer Trustees. Gary Archie is founding Executive Director.
• 1974 - First foundation grant from the Sage Foundation in Adrian.
• 1977 - First free-standing "Re-entry House" rented in Ann Arbor.
• 1982 - Raised $118,000 to purchase 74 acre Farm property.
• 1984 - Purchased and renovated Re-entry House on Division Street in Ann Arbor.
• 1986 - Admitted as member agency to Washtenaw United Way.
• 1988 - Raised $805,000 over 18 months to build new Farm facility with a grant from the Kresge Foundation.
• 1990 - Constructed 15,600 square foot building.
• 1994 - In response to requests from Washtenaw County and the State of Michigan, absorbed three new programs from a failed agency, increasing the organization's budget from $600,000 to $1,200,000. This move created a 13 bed Detox Facility, a Women's Transitional Program for pregnant addicts and women with young children and increased residential capacity from 30 to 50 beds.
• 1995 - Purchased/renovated new residential site in former Senior Citizens Guild building on Huron Street in Ann Arbor.
• 1995 - Obtained national accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
• 1998 - Began fund-raising campaign to complete purchase of Huron Street site and eliminate mortgage by the year 2002. Opened first transitional house at 112 Chapin Street.
• 1999 - With success of initial houses, the Chapin Street Project expands with the purchase of an 18-unit apartment complex. A women's transitional site is opened in Ann Arbor.
• 2000 - Huron Street House is opened as a one to three month residential treatment facility. Working with numerous public funding sources and Avalon Housing, transitional houses at 410 High and 343 Beakes are purchased.
• 2001 - 112 Chapin is purchased in 2001. Outpatient office is opened on Packard Road, Dawn Farm works with Ann Arbor businesses to create "Loose Change for Real Change," a community response to panhandlers. The Dawn Farm Street Outreach hires its first full-time street worker.

Notable in recent years has been the improvement of Quality Assurance tracking within the organization and the continued move toward a strategic, committee-driven Board of Trustees. The organization is managed through a series of Board Committees, with active Board/staff communication and collaboration in all areas of the agency's life.

In addition, this system regularly solicits and utilizes feedback from full- and part-time staff, non-Board volunteers, agency clients and the community at large. In recent years, the organization has built on a history of mission-driven service to produce an organization that strategically utilizes all stakeholders in planning programming and evaluating organizational effectiveness.