“When parents have the heartbreak of a child with mental retardation born to them to take care of and raise, one of their greatest anxieties is planning for their child’s development and knowing that when necessary, he will be provided a safe place to live where he will be treated with love, dignity and respect.

When my child Andrew Hanzel was born in 1953 and for the 19 years of his life, there was no place like Verland! I, and all parents of children with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities, are deeply grateful to the founders of Verland and to Carol B. Mitchell’s leadership for making it possible ‘for the least of the these among us’, our children, to live in such beautiful, comfortable surroundings with such compassionate and caring staff such as provided by Verland.”

Theo Hanzel O’Neil

June, 2003