Transforming Lives: Inside Osprey Village’s First Fundraiser Dinner

On Sunday, November 16, at Chop House 119 in Hilton Head, SC, something special happened.

Families, friends, and supporters gathered for Osprey Village’s first-ever fundraiser dinner—not just to enjoy a good meal, but to stand with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who long for friendship, belonging, and a place to call home.

By the end of the night, you helped raise an incredible $85,000 after expenses (from $105,000 total gifts and pledges before expenses) to move Osprey Village’s mission forward.

This wasn’t just a successful event. It was a glimpse of the kind of community we’re building together.

An Evening Filled With Hope

From the moment guests walked into Chop House 119, the room felt alive with warmth and anticipation. Tables were set, conversations flowed easily, and you could sense a shared understanding: adults with IDD deserve more than services. They deserve friendship, opportunity, and a vibrant community life.

The goal for the evening was clear: raise funds to help create a thriving environment for adults with IDD—one where they can make friends, be known by name, and participate fully in community life.

Thanks to your generosity, $85,000 will go toward that vision.

Stories That Brought the Mission to Life

Numbers matter, but stories are what truly move us. Some of the most powerful moments of the evening came as families shared what life is really like for their loved ones with IDD.

Johnny’s Story

Johnny is 23. He’s tall, strong, goes to the gym, and—like most young adults—wants a life filled with friends and connection.

His dad, Rick Wedge, shared that at home Johnny affectionately refers to his parents as “you people” now instead of Mom and Dad. Behind the jokes, though, is a deeper ache.

One day Johnny came home and said, “Dad, I don’t have any friends. I want friends. What do I do?”

Rick told him, “Buddy, don’t worry. When you move into Osprey Village, you’re going to have 100 friends.”

Johnny thought for a moment and replied, “Dad, I don’t want 100 friends. I just want a couple good ones.”

When your child says something like that, you’ll do whatever it takes to help them find that community. For Rick and his family, Osprey Village isn’t just a project—it’s a promise that Johnny won’t have to go through life alone.

Dylan’s Story

Jeannie Gambino shared about her daughter, Dylan, and a moment no parent ever forgets.

One day Dylan said, “Mom, I don’t know if I belong in this world.”

Dylan has IDD, and finding friends and community has always been a struggle. During COVID, when schools shut down and activities disappeared, the gap became painfully clear. Jeannie’s son was still getting invited places and seeing friends. Dylan wasn’t getting invited anywhere.

Everyone Dylan used to see at school and after-school activities simply vanished from her daily life. The isolation was devastating.

Jeannie described how her heart broke watching this unfold—and how it sent her searching for a place where Dylan could have peers, community, and a chance to be truly happy.

What she loves about Osprey Village is that it’s not just a program or a service. It’s a beautiful, vibrant community where anyone would want to live—a place she believes can become a model for other communities to follow.

For families like Rick’s and Jeannie’s, Osprey Village represents more than a vision on paper. It’s a concrete answer to questions about friendship, belonging, and the future. It’s a place where Johnny can find “a couple good” friends, and where Dylan can know, without question, that she belongs.

These stories put faces and names to the mission of Osprey Village. They reminded everyone in the room that this dinner wasn’t just about raising money. It was about standing with families who are desperate for a better answer to the question:

A Community That Stepped Up

Throughout the night, the generosity and engagement in the room were unmistakable.

Guests didn’t just give financially—they leaned in. They asked questions, shared ideas, and talked about how to make our communities more welcoming for adults with IDD. Many people left committed to:

• Volunteering at future events

• Partnering with Osprey Village through their businesses or churches

• Sharing the mission with friends, colleagues, and neighbors

That kind of response tells us something important: people care deeply about adults with IDD. They simply need a clear way to help. Osprey Village is becoming that pathway.

What Your Support Makes Possible

Because of your generosity, the funds raised at the dinner will help:

• Move our housing vision forward so adults with IDD have safe, stable homes built with their needs in mind.

• Develop engaging social programs and events that create real opportunities for friendship and community.

• Build partnerships with local organizations to expand inclusion throughout the wider community.

• Equip staff and caregivers with training rooted in dignity, respect, and best practices in inclusion.

• Offer resources and support to families who are navigating the complexities of IDD and planning for the future.

This dinner was a milestone—but it’s also just the beginning.

Why Ongoing Support Matters

The need doesn’t end when an event is over. Adults with IDD—and their families—live with these challenges every day. Without ongoing awareness and advocacy, many continue to face isolation, limited opportunities, and uncertainty about the future.

Your continued support helps to:

• Shift the conversation from “care” to community

• Replace loneliness with friendship

• Trade fear about the future for hope and a plan

And it doesn’t always start with a big check. Sometimes it begins with a story shared over dinner, a conversation with a neighbor, or a social media post that introduces someone new to Osprey Village’s mission.

How You Can Keep Making a Difference

If you were moved by Johnny’s and Dylan’s stories, there are several ways to stay involved:

• Engage: Attend future Osprey Village events, invite a friend, or host a small gathering to share the mission.

• Volunteer: Offer your time and talents to support programs, events, and behind-the-scenes work.

• Advocate: Talk about the housing and friendship crisis adults with IDD face. Share Osprey Village’s posts, and help bring these stories into your circles.

• Give: Consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help move the vision of a home for life closer to reality.

The Way Forward

As we reflect on Osprey Village’s first fundraiser dinner, one thing is clear: we’re not alone in this work. Families, friends, businesses, and community members are ready to stand with adults with IDD so they can live, belong, and thrive.

By supporting Osprey Village, you become part of that story of change. Your generosity doesn’t just fund programs—it helps create a future where adults with IDD are surrounded by friendship, opportunity, and a true home for life.

Thank you for giving, listening, and believing in this vision.

Let’s keep the conversation going—and keep moving together toward a more inclusive community for adults with IDD.