Merrick, Inc.

Our mission is “To empower adults with disabilities through vocational and social opportunities, and to guide them toward realizing their goals and dreams”; and is grounded in the core beliefs of self-determination, economic fairness, and civic responsibility. We are a human services organization that began in 1964 and now supports over 350 clients, employs over 145 staff, and coordinates services throughout the twin cities metropolitan area from our wonderful building in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. The following are examples of how donations will benefit clients in our program:

• Resources to discover each individual’s preferred work capabilities;

• Support for client self-advocacy groups, conferences, and political activities;

• Additional staff to procure work, train clients, and provide intermittent support;

• Specialized equipment to enhance programs and improve client safety; and

• Therapeutic programs like horticulture, pet, art, music, & assistive technology, etc.

Recent results include:

• Aggregate client wages paid directly by Merrick now exceeds $565,000 per year-increasing annually each year for the last seven years and doubling wages paid in 2004.

• Over 125 clients participate in weekly self-adovcacy groups - more than any other DT&H program in the State of Minnesota. In 2010, 26 clients served on external groups or committees, 51 engaged in legislative activities and 96 voted in the general election - 10 for the first time.

• Merrick is a source of economic stimulus in our local community. Dr. C. Ford Runge, a parent of a Merrick client and local economist, recently published a study demonstrating that Merrick "gives back" nearly $3 in local economic benefit for every $1 of state funds invested in our program.

• Merrick received the Green Award from the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce for long-standing accomplishments in energy efficient facilities management and envrionmentally friendly business ventures.

• Through a competitive bidding process we were selected to become the official supplier of office paper for the State of Minnesota.