August 1979 - The Child Abuse & Neglect Center opened in
the CARE House, 1809 Park Place with one room for an office and one
staff person.
June 1980 - A proposed site for the battered women’s shelter
was selected.
August 1980 - Child Abuse & Neglect Center, now called the
Sunshine Center, moved into a house at 1904 Johnson Street.
January 1981 - The shelter doors opened and provided safety
for 14 abused women and children. The two separate boards merged
to form a new corporation, the Montgomery Area Family Violence Program,
Inc., with a $200,000 grant from the Law Enforcement Administration
Agency.
January 1982 - The Sunshine Center moved to 1803 Lawrence St.
Grant funding ended creating a financial crisis for the program.
March 1982 – Through the dedicated efforts of many, STOP THE
HURT telethon raised $40,000 to continue services to victims of the
family violence. Staff had been working without pay to continue these
services. Through response to the telethon, the community voiced
its commitment to serve.
October 1982 – The Montgomery Area Family Violence Program
became a United Way Agency.
August 1988 - The board of directors was informed that more
women and children were being turned away from the shelter each year
than were actually being provided bed space. The board voted to
meet this need by doubling bed space to 24.
December 1992 – The MAFVP purchased an office building with the intention of renovating it and
consolidating program services. A capital campaign goal of
$1,250,000 was established. Many dedicated volunteers worked to
make the dream a reality.
March 1994 – Six years after the board voted to double bed
space in an undisclosed location, the open house for the new facility
was held. In order to consolidate services and end the confusion
of many names, the board of directors selected the new name, FAMILY
SUNSHINE CENTER.
As of April 2000, 64 part time and full time employees, with assistance
from hundreds of community volunteers worked to provide prevention,
detection and treatment services to victims of family violence.
