The First Years, 1948-2007
In about 1948, the parent group from the El Monte Cerebral Palsy School, looking to the future, had paper drives, rummage sales, sold Stanley Home Products and Christmas cards (our biggest money-maker) to raise money. We decided to build a workshop for the handicapped. A parent who was a cement block builder, said he could get enough blocks and brick masons to build a 4,000 square foot building in a few weeks – all donated free. A lady across the street from the school offered to give us her property to build on. We thought we were in business. Then she could not get a clear title. Ganzer Roland from the Union Pacific Railroad, had a friend who was in advertising, placed a story in a Pasadena newspaper telling of our problem. Joe Jurovic read the article and gave us a large lot next to the El Monte airport to build on. Then came time to build. No blocks and No help! We got on the telephone also went to the lumberyard to hardware stores etc. to get donated materials. It took one year to build, working most every weekend. Chintz Herndon and Ganzer Roland plus a handful of other parents took part. All of the materials and labor were donated, except for the steel beams which had to purchase at cost of $4,000, which we had accumulated during our many fund raising projects. That was all the money we had. We did not receive any government assistance for all the construction of our first workshop nor for any of our building projects which followed.
The workshop opened in June of 1962, with parents running the workshop and we also opened a thrift shop at the same time. The thrift shop was in operation from June of 1962 until 1985 – 23 years! The thrift shop workers all donated their time. In 1971, because of a street extension, the workshop had to move. We were compensated for our 4,000 square foot building. A parent found the property, with its beautiful view of the mountains, on which the workshop is now located. We made enough money from our original workshop to rebuild. We have had our workshop for the handicapped for 45 years. We then built the residential facility which opened in 1985. A team of three women shopped for about one year furnishing the homes – bedrooms, dining rooms and living rooms – pictures, bedding, pots and pans, dishes, lamps etc,, and at last, it was ready to move into.
Our most frequent asked question is: How did you do this and where did you get the financing to start up? The above statements will give you a little insight into how SGVTC and Residential Facilities got started.
ROLAND CENTER OVERVIEW
Timeline of events:
1948 – A group of parents, headed by Ganzer and Shirley Roland, had a vision. That was to provide a place for continuing the education/training of their children with develop mental disabilities who were no longer eligible for the special education programs in the public schools. When enough funds were collected, the first facility was built next to the El Monte Airport on land donated by Mr. Joe Jurovic. It opened with one Executive Director and 12 clients.
1962 – A new facility was opened (all done without loans or government assistance). The actual construction was mostly done by parents, primarily Ganzer Roland and Chintz Herndon, with help from local workmen such as electricians and plumbers and donations from local merchants for building materials.
1962 – The Opportunity Thrift Shop became a reality. The shop was staffed with volunteer parents and was designed to augment the funding base.
1965 – SGVTC now had 25 clients and the Board of Directors voted in favor of taking over (rescuing) the Community Rehabilitation and Training Center (CRTC) in Covina.
1971 – A street extension to benefit and facilitate the El Monte Airport required SGVTC to be compensated for its investment and vacate. A parent found the new site, which is the current location of the facility. Proceeds of the sale of the old facility were sufficient to build the new one.
1972 – SGVTC now had 85 clients.
1985 – The Residential Facility opened, and the Opportunity Thrift Shop closed.
1998 – The Board of Directors developed its first Strategic Plan.
2012 – SGVTC Celebrated 50 years of providing quality services to persons with developmental disabilities.
2012-on The Board of Directors increased in size and continued working towards meeting the challenges of changing social and regulatory attitudes regarding segregated workshops and stagnant and/or diminishing government funding.
2015- SGVTC applied for and began to incorporate the dba “The Roland Center”, and the credo, “Dedicated to the Achievements of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities”.
2017 – Beloved founder Shirley Roland passed away. A beautiful, festive 2-day memorial celebration was held at the Center. Attended by hundreds of clients, family members, staff, Board Members and guests, it was a fitting tribute to a very special person and the life work to which she was dedicated.
2017 -The Board of Directors granted “The Roland Center Board Member Emeritus” status and “SGVTC Residential Facility Board Member Emeritus” status to founder Ganzer Roland.
2023 – The Roland Center Board of Directors selects internationally recognized expert on the services for individuals with I/DD, Dr. Thomas Buckley, as its Executive Director
2023 – The SGVTC Residential Facility Board of Directors selects highly experienced I/DD executive C. Thomas Cook as its Executive Director
2024 – The Roland Center was accredited by CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) as the first organization in America for Dementia capable care for individuals with I/DD