THE RESCARE STORY

In 1974, Jim Fornear wanted to start a better kind of business, one based on people. His vision quickly grew into a working philosophy built on entrepreneurial drive and a clear mission to give people the chance to reach their fullest potential. In 1976, Mr. Fornear won his first government contract to run a Job Corps Center in Shelby County, Kentucky.

In 1978, following its early success in Job Corps management, ResCare opened its first operation for people with developmental disabilities. Established on the former grounds of the St. Vincent Academy near Morganfield, Kentucky, the Higgins Learning Center marked an important first step forward on ResCare’s path to become a diversified human service provider.

ResCare moved into the 1980s with growing expansion of its Job Corps contracts and began to operate small community-based group homes for persons with developmental disabilities. By 1989, ResCare had grown to serve people in Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Florida and New York.

ResCare’s 1989 recruitment of Ron Geary to become president and CEO marked a turning point in the company’s history. Ron’s management experience, combined with the Board’s vision for a people business, proved to be a powerful combination. This created an unprecedented blend of quality human service delivery and sound business management. A focused goal to significantly expand services to people with developmental and other disabilities and at-risk youth quickly became the impetus for ResCare’s growth. This allowed the company to issue an initial public offering of stock in December 1992, trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange as RSCR.

In 1992, ResCare served 1,378 people in six states and Puerto Rico. The company now provides supports and services to more than 41,000 persons in 34 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Middle East. It has been named four times as one of Forbes Magazine’s 200 Best Small Companies in America. While its business success has been impressive, it is the expansion of new services and the continual improvement in quality that tell the real story. ResCare has expanded its mission beyond youth and disabilities services to become a true human service provider to all people. ResCare offers residential, therapeutic, job training and educational supports to people with developmental or other disabilities, youth with special needs and adults who are experiencing barriers to employment. It also provides in-home daily living supports to older citizens and those individuals with disabilities.

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A member of the ResCare family of companies.