A History of People

At TradeWinds Rehabilitation Center, we are defined by a strong foundation of people; from the children and adults we serve to the men and women who champion our cause.

Our goal is to help individuals grow to their potential success. This long, often winding road to success began its journey in the early 1940’s where TradeWinds traces its roots back to the Lake County Association for Crippled Children, TradeWinds’ Parent Organization. The Association provided speech, hearing and therapy services for children with disabilities. At that time services were offered wherever space was available—church basements, schoolrooms, YMCA’s and rented storefronts.

Time passed and in the late 50’s and early 60’s another visionary Ted Dombrowski the Society’s Director helped inspire volunteers from labor, business, and civic organizations to band together for the building of TradeWinds’ original 15,000 Square foot building. The building was coined the “Labor of Love”. The “Labor of Love” was a true testament of what people can do when the cause is greater than themselves. When it was finished, Trade Winds received a Presidential Commen Dation for being the largest rehabilitation center built entirely by volunteers in the United States.

Although TradeWinds had been completed; there was no operating capital to begin serving the community. Once again, the community rose to the ocassion.  Forty-six men, who later became known as the Pirate's Organization, put up enough capital so the center could begin services. Dombrowski had a completed building, and the needed funds to begin operations, but he was still without a name for his beloved agency. A contest was offered up at the area schools, and a Brunswick Elementary child, Greg Corwin named TradeWinds in this 1966 contest. He wrote; “Just as the TradeWinds propel sailors on the seas, so will TradeWinds propel handicapped children to a better quality of life.”