Gene Mackey Gives Back to Rainbow Village

Each week, the Ladue-Frontenac Patch opens the forum up to a voice in the community. Today, we hear from reknown local architect Gene Mackey, Rainbow Village Board of Directors, and chairman of Mackey Mitchell Associates.

When my friend Van Brokaw recommended that I sit on the board of Rainbow Village, I was honored to be asked to serve for such a worthy cause.

Everyone has a responsibility to reach out to others and serve the community. Rainbow Village provides safe, comfortable, and affordable homes in the St. Louis metro area for people with developmental disabilities.

Rainbow Village is the only nonprofit in the St. Louis area that focuses solely on providing long-term, affordable and quality neighborhood homes for people with developmental disabilities.

Rainbow Village began in the 1970s with seven group homes, a community center, and a respite care center. Today, Rainbow Village has expanded to serve over 250 residents in 55 homes in neighborhoods throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Our board has over 25 members and we strive to improve Rainbow Village’s operations. I believe it is important to look for ways to improve yourself both in life and in business. Rainbow Village constantly looks for ways to operate efficiently at a high level while providing quality service.

Rainbow Village’s determination is evident as they recently launched the “Say Yes!” Capital Campaign to raise $2 million.

We will meet and surpass the goal thanks to our generous supporters. Also thanks to our supporters, we are dedicating four homes in honor of multiple donors and organizations including the Kornbloom Foundation, the SeayFoundation, the Bellwether Foundation and Emerson.

These transformational gifts will provide safe and affordable housing for multiple clients for years to come.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve on the Rainbow Village board. All of our lives are touched by challenges of some sort and to know that Rainbow Village is out there is reassuring. Rainbow Village helps to provide for our community and everyone needs to do his share. Join me in making the community a better place.