About Us

Mission

Pride is "People Helping People" to realize their potential to live and work in the community.

Pride, Inc. History: 1976-Present

1975 - Teresa Winbauer, writes a letter to a friend: "We are all our brother's keepers some of us are called to be parents, some are called to be friends. Some are called to serve professionally, or to enact laws. All of us are called to love, which means to accept the developmentally disabled person as a citizen of our community, our state and nation, assuring them the opportunity for the achievement of their potential, human dignity and freedom to be."

A group of Bismarck citizens, spearheaded by Teresa Winbauer & Robin Werre, along with the Burleigh County Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC), were also answering the need through their efforts to establish a workshop called the Center for Achievement of Potential, Inc. whose prime purpose was "the operation and maintenance of activities which are of benefit to handicapped persons." The Articles of Incorporation for the Center for Achievement of Potential, Inc. were filed on May 28, 1975 with directors Rev. Dennis Tippett, Judge Robert Vogel, John B. Larson, Richard Gauerke, Robin Werre, and Teresa Winbauer. The Center for Achievement of Potential was located at 212 W. Main Avenue in Bismarck in the former Snooper's Pizza Parlor. The Burleigh County ARC operated a thrift shop in the front of the building and the space in the rear of the building was used for furniture refinishing and skills training.

At the same time as these things were happening, Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) was actively encouraging members to become involved in community projects and had established "Project Care" to help fund those projects. Fueled with the knowledge that the Center for Achievement of Potential, Inc. was just the kind of project AAL's "Project Care" was interested in supporting, a group headed by Ellyn and Edna Gartner and Lena Hanson, members of Branch 4109 of AAL, applied for and were awarded a $35,728 grant to help fund the needs of the Center for the Achievement of Potential. John B. Larson, who was also an AAL member, wrote "Project Care, may well mean the beginning of new life for handicapped people in the Bismarck-Mandan area."

Funds for the workshop were also received from the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA); private donations; the Burleigh County ARC; memorials; Vocational Rehabilitation; VFW; Moose; Eagles; ND Assoc. of Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical Contractors; and profits from the Jaycees "Honey Sunday" sales, the sale of rodeo tickets, and decorated Christmas trees.

1976 - The name was changed from the Center for Achievement of Potential to Pride Industries to reflect the pride and dignity in work for people with disabilities.

Pride Industries was official. The officers elected were: President Robin Werre, Vice President Elva Knudson, Secretary Lena Hanson & Treasurer Ellyn Gartner. Board members were Judge Robert Vogel, Teresa Winbauer, Rich Gauerke, Joe Peterson, Will Ashworth, Sam Ismir, and I. E. "Eskie" Solberg. The Advisory Panel was Edna Gartner, Janet Smaltz, Rev. Tippett, Dick Prussing, Bill Nelson, Sam McQuade, Sr., Myles Knudson, Ron Moll, Florence Montz & Lloyd Brendefur.

The first eight consumers were enrolled in the Pride Industries program. Mike Mankey was employed as the first Executive Director.

1977 - Groundbreaking for a new 60' X 200' building was held on June 1, 1977 at 1223 S. 12th Street. In the Spring of 1978, there was a $250,000 fund-raising campaign to finish the inside of the building and the dedication ceremony on October 15, 1978. The ARC Thrift Shop and the headquarters for the ND ARC was also located in the building.

Pride Industries established their first group home at 1419 East Sweet Avenue. Pride starts its affiliation with Sam McQuade, Sr. (the World's Largest) Softball Tournament which continues to this day.

1978 - Richard Gauerke was hired as the Pride's Executive Director. 1979 - A 12,000 square foot addition to South 12 th street was dedicated to the memory of former Board member Joe Peterson.

1984 - Four group homes were built with HUD funds and owned by Nodak Homes. By the fall of 1986, Pride operated seven homes in Bismarck-Mandan. The Supported Employment program started helping to move people from the workshop to competitive employment.

1986 - 61 clients were being served by Pride with 35% achieving employment and 46% had achieved independent living.

1987 - Individualized Supported Living Arrangement (ISLA), adult foster care, and adult family care programs were started. 1989 - Bryan Wetch was promoted to Executive Director.

1990 - Pride had 174 full and part-time staff providing services to 166 people. Pride entered into a joint project to raise tomatoes at Papa's Greenhouse. Set aside contracts through NISH for janitorial services at the Federal Building and WAPA were secured.

1991 - Name changed from Pride Industries to Pride, Inc. to more accurately reflect the expanded mission. Pride, the United Way, and the school systems of Bismarck and Mandan worked together to establish a transition to work experience program for students.

1992 - Pride diversified its locations throughout Bismarck.

1996 - Oliver & Mercer County special services were added to the United Way school transition program. Pride celebrated it's 20 birthday. 1997 - Pride purchased the Mandan Group Home.

1998 - The Youth Mentor program was started to serve children.

The Serious Mental Illness (SMI) program was started.

1999 - Pride established Pride Wilton, Inc. and accepted responsibility for Redwood Village, a 34-bed basic care home in Wilton.

2001 - Pride started its day program for seniors, as well as Gracefully Aging, a program of in-home based senior services, designed to assist adults that require support to remain living in their own homes.

Pride started Heritage Recovery Center to provide residential services to people with chronic chemical dependence.

The Celebration of Trees was restarted as a major annual fund raiser.

2003 - Pride underwent its accreditation survey conducted by The Council on Quality and Leadership, based in Towson, Maryland. Pride, Inc. was the second agency in the nation to be offered an opportunity to participate in a Value-Added Accreditation. Pride, Inc. was granted a four-year accreditation and was the first agency in North Dakota to receive this achievement.

Pride purchased an apartment building on Bozeman Avenue which offers apartment living to six people with the remaining apartments being home to other community members.

Pride established Pride Manchester, Inc. and accepted the management responsibility for Manchester House, an eight-bed residential treatment facility for children with emotional disturbances, ages 5-13.

2004 - Pride purchased 1041 Basin Avenue which became the Life Skills Center for the seniors' program, Gracefully Aging, day services, and for persons with Serious Mental Illness, and the Youth Mentor programs.

2006 - The Board of Directors (Anna Anderson, Steve Davis, Robert Knoll, Beverly Patch-Larson, August Schaeffer, Norlyn Schmidt, and Russell Swagger) agreed to purchase 1200 Missouri Avenue, 1220 Missouri Avenue, and 1205 West Avenue A to use for services. That same year, Pride purchased the Heritage Apartment building, a 30-unit complex which provides housing to 15 people who are receiving services and to 15 other community members. The first person receiving services is elected to the Board of Directors. Pride Manchester House received national accreditation through the Council on Accreditation.

2007 - Pride purchased an apartment building on South 3rd Street which offers apartment living to six people with the remaining apartments being home to other community members.

2008 - Pride began a Safebed Program for children that are in need of a safe place to stay. This home provides a safe environment where children are safe from abuse until they can return to a safe living environment.

2010- Pride purchased a home located at 411 Sunset for two individuals to live in. Pride purchased a home located at 211 14th Street Northeast, Mandan, ND for three individuals to live. Pride purchased an apartment building located at 708 Boundary Street, Mandan that can serve up to twelve individuals.

2012- Pride developed a 7 – one bedroom apartment building for individual with physical limitations and limited income on East Ave E in Bismarck.

2013- Pride started development on a 2.1 million dollar adult day center located on North 19^th street.

2014- Pride partnered with North Dakota Housing and Finance to open a 24 unit Tax Credit apartment building and a 14 unit low income apartment building on North 19^th street.

2015- Pride open Hope Home (HH) on February 20, 2015.  Hope Home is a licensed 24 hour Residential Child Care Facility (RCCF) that provides treatment and a level of assessment to the children of North Dakota.  Hope Home serves children ages 9-15 who demonstrate serious emotional and behavioral health needs.  The home provides transitional support and placement after completing treatment and is an option for those needing an alternative residential setting when facing out of state placement. 

2017-  Heritage Recovery program closed it's doors on April 30, 2017 after 16 years of providing services. 

2018- The State of North Dakota's funding categories changed for people receiving "waivered services" through Developmental Disability services.  Residential Services are now referred to as: Residential Habilitation: Group Home and apartment settings where people receive support daily; Individual Habilitation, apartment settings where people to not receive daily support hours; and In-Home Support services.  Vocational Services are now referred to as: Pre-vocational services, typically at Pride Production; Small Group employment crews; Independent Employment; Vocational Rehabilitation Services (intellectual Disabilities Supported Employment and Non-ID Supported Employment); Case Aide Services (Mental Illness); and Private Pay Individual contracts.  Day Habilitation (Life Skills, Gracefully Aging and Pride Production).

Pride closed the Safebed and Youth Residential Services programs on January 31, 2018.

2019- Tony Baker replaces former CEO, Charles Bisnett, on July 1, 2019.

Pride closed the Hope Home program on December 31, 2019.

2022- Pride closed Redwood Village.  The property in Wilton was sold to the local school district for future expansion.

Over the years others serving on the Board of Directors have included: Will Ashworth, Karen Barnes, Herb Beaver, Robert Black, Dr. Bill Buckingham, Bob Carne, Bill Chaussee, Stan Engle, Doris Fischer, Rich Gauerke, Pete Gray, Lena Hanson, Helen Hammond, Jack Heyne, Jim Johnson, Elva Knudson, Scott McBride, Terry Monson, Bill Nelson, Rob Nelson, Joe Novak, David Pearce, Joe Peterson, James Rausch, Jennifer Rechlin, Linda Reiten, Jan Rogneby, Ila Scott, Darrel Vollmers, Greg Wallace, Bill White, Ron Yeager, and Ken Ziegler.

Everyone who has served on the Board over the years has made a contribution to the community and deserves our gratitude!