Who We Are

The Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation was chartered in 1966 as a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Its mission is the development and maintenance of its 38+ acre campus, with 13 buildings leased to appropriate providers who serve people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. In addition to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities, the Foundation's goals include fund solicitation and the awarding of grants, as well as education and research.

Two of the earliest benefactors to the Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Center were Mr. and Mrs. Chester Carlson who became interested in our work in 1963. Mr. Carlson was the inventor of the xerography process. We know the product today as Xerox.

The Center is named after Dorris Carlson's mother, Sarah Bonwell Hudgins. From this beginning and with the continued support of individuals and organizations, the public Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation remains privately funded.

What We Do

Eggleston provides the programs at the Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Center. They offer a sheltered workshop for adults with disabilities in the Rufus R. Kennedy Industrial Center; the Day Support program located in the Jennifer S. Kincaid Education Building; and the Senior Program comprised of adults with disabilities who have reached retirement age.

In the Jean Hudgins Singleton Cafeteria and commercial kitchen, meals are provided for the adult Associates as well as for the children in the Child Development Academy. It is staffed by Associates interested in food service. Associates use the kilns in the ceramics room to make gift items and flower pots for sale at the Center and in other locations throughout our community.

Associates come to the Center for the day or we offer four group homes that are conveniently located on our campus. Eggleston provides the 28 residents with a comfortable, caring environment.

The Ted Pritchard gymnasium is used for recreation and therapeutic activities. Explorer Post 140, the largest scouting program for adult men and women with disabilities in the United States, holds activities in the gym. Eggleston, Post 140 and the Child Development Academy use the picnic pavilion and swimming pool in the summer.

Additionally, Camp Parkitan, a one-week day camp, is held on the campus every summer and serves 200 to 300 adults.

Eggleston operates the Child Development Academy's inclusive program for children six-weeks to twelve-years-old in the Richard M. Bagley, Sr. Child Development Center. The program is open to the public.

This facility was named to memorialize a long-time member of the House of Delegates in the Virginia General Assembly. In 1978, Delegate Bagley served as Chairman of the Commission on Mental Health and Mental Retardation, later called the Bagley Commission. He was also a dedicated volunteer with Explorer Post 140.

The Bagley tradition continues as Richard M. Bagley, Jr. is a long-time Trustee of the Foundation. Mr. Bagley joins the other 22 Trustees who are the governing body of the Foundation.

Our current president is Ms. Cathie Harney. The current Executive Director is Mrs. Christine Felts.

You Can Help

The disabled of our community depend on the Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation and we depend on you. The generosity of caring people provides the funds that have allowed the Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation to renovate existing buildings and expand our facilities. The Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Center will continue to serve the needs of our ever changing community with your help.

Donations of money, time, and in-kind gifts are accepted and appreciated.