
The Frist Foundation’s generous donation to Progress, Inc., a non-profit serving people with disabilities and seniors for more than 43 years, will make a large impact on the realization of adding a new building to the current campus. “The Frist Foundation has been a leader in improving quality of life for Nashvillians. By supporting the capital campaign, they have given an incredible gift to the vulnerable population we serve.” said Progress Executive Director Donna Goodaker. “We are extremely fortunate to have their support, and the Frist Foundation’s commitment to our mission will help us expand services for people with disabilities and seniors, specifically employment training, which will be housed in the new building.”
"Progress Inc. has done a great job over the years of serving its clients, but it has also served as an example to other organizations of how to change with the times," said Pete Bird, president of The Frist Foundation. "With a little more space, the agency can provide a lot more service with greater efficiency. That's something that we're pleased to invest in."
The capital campaign was launched in the fall of 2014 in order to address the growing need for more space at the agency’s current location. Progress provides a variety of services to people with disabilities and seniors, including a day program, respite services, residential support, supported employment, social enterprise Smart Supplies and others. The administrative offices at Progress are currently housing twice the number of people that the building was originally designed to hold. The new building will also provide a space for the Ticket to Work Employment Network program, which will provide employment services to people with all types of disabilities.
Established in 1982, The Frist Foundation is dedicated to sustaining and improving the quality of life in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2015, the Foundation continues a special focus on agencies serving vulnerable people, and in supporting efforts by nonprofit organizations to develop new sources of earned revenue and improve their managerial and technological infrastructure. Progress is incredibly grateful for the support of the foundation.