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View the August press release announcing a generous grant from the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound

Dan Godwin Center Community Service Day
June 10, 2005

See pictures from Community Service Day!

The Arc of Whatcom County is pleased to announce that The Dan Godwin Community Center at 2602 McLeod Road in Bellingham has been selected by the Whatcom County Windermere Real Estate Offices as the recipient of the Community Service Day on June 10.

The Dan Godwin Community Center will be a family-centered place where community members of all ages and abilities can gather to share resources and participate in recreational and educational activities. This will be a place to enjoy family-friendly activities and to appreciate diversity within our community. The home has been donated by The Godwin Family Foundation.

Dan Washburn, Broker; Dick Ryan, Community Services Coordinator and Dale Wilcox, Realtor are spearheading the efforts of the 75-100 Windermere associates who will be donating their energy and enthusiasm to the initial landscaping efforts on the grounds. Realtors will be busy clearing underbrush and creating perimeter garden beds for planting the required screening on the 1/3 acre site under the supervision of WSU Whatcom County Extension, Master Gardeners who are volunteering their time as well.

Michael Gilles, an alumnus of Western Washington University and Manager of NurseryTrees.com, LLC is so excited about donating the "Instant Privacy Screen" of 90+ Emerald Green Arborvitae that he is "throwing in" the soaker hoses to ensure the 'living' donation thrives.

Whatcom Volunteer Center has assisted The Arc in recruiting a multitude of other community members to assist with this first phase of converting the 100-year old McLeod homestead.

Tom Thornton, Cloud Mountain Farms and Debra Oldberg, Secret Garden Design are donating their expertise in assessing the grounds in preparation for the Community Service Day activities. Six Bellingham Technical College students in the Surveying and Mapping Program, under the supervision of George Raper, and Peter Hodges, Instructor are diligently undertaking a full survey of the site.

Van Boven Gravel Co. is delivering a full load of top soil and beauty bark at no charge for the project. Rich Bowers, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, is arranging to loan the realtors shovels, rakes, post-hole diggers and wheelbarrows while Birch Equipment Rental and Sales is making their roto-tiller available to ensure that everyone will be kept busy on Windermere Community Service Day.

"Our heart-felt thanks go out to all those involved in making the dream of a community center for people with developmental disabilities and their families a reality," stated Emily Kahlstrom, M.D., Board President.

About Dan Godwin and The Dan Godwin Family Foundation

Daniel Aaron Godwin was a young man who for 20 years required 24-hour care and numerous medical interventions to survive daily life. He taught those around him the real meaning of living in the now. His actions were always direct, sincere and without hesitation. He loved to spend time in the presence of others. He never met a stranger. We will remember Daniel for touching so many lives and the lessons he taught us.

As a toddler he had the wonderful honor of being a poster child for the March of Dimes and was responsible for raising awareness about the need for medical research.

His fun-loving spirit always shined through his many life challenges. If he discovered that something he did was considered humorous, he would repeat it with great expectation on his face. He loved laughter.

He demonstrated child-like unconditional love and concern. One of his most spontaneous sentences was "Are you OK?" He gave huge unsolicited hugs to anyone who appeared to have a weakened spirit.

We were never able to teach him to tell a stranger his full name, address or age. Instead he taught us there should be no strangers, and knowing name, address or age is not as important as knowing: Are you OK? Do you need the warmth of another's arms wrapped around you?

Instead of us teaching him the many skills needed to live a more independent life, he taught us much about the skill of interdependent living.

As a young adult and in his passing, he is being honored by raising community awareness about the need for social opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and the need for a place where people of all ages and abilities can come together, have fun and never meet a stranger.

Daniel's legacy of valuing every individual's spirit of hope, compassion and joy lives on.