By TR Robertson
A damp, chilly Sunday morning saw the sun break out just in time for guests who were arriving at the TERI Campus of Life in San Marcos, there to witness a Red Ribbon Ceremony signifying the opening of the new Walter J. & Betty C. Zable Foundation Fine Arts & Performing Arts Center. Chairs were arranged on the lawn of the new Central Park, located in front of the Fine Arts and Performing Arts Center. The new facility is the newest in the continued growth of the TERI Campus of Life, supported by a $2.5 million dollar endowment from the Walter J. & Betty C. Zable Foundation
The TERI organization’s Mission is
“To change the way the world sees, helps, and empowers individuals with special needs.”
TERI (Training, Education and Resources Institute) first started in Oceanside, California, in 1980, spear headed by founder Cheryl Kilmer’s dream of providing a better way to assist, educate and train special need individuals. Forty-four years later, this dream has grown into the TERI Campus of Life in San Marcos that services the 900 families that use both the Oceanside and San Marcos services. As the Campus of Life 20-acre development continues to add new facilities, the number of individuals and families will grow as will the number of community members who will use the various programs and services offered.
We had arrived earlier that morning to enjoy coffee and a Cinco de Mayo breakfast of Huevos Rancheros at the https://www.tericommongroundscafe.com/ before the ceremony. As guests began to arrive and fill the seats in front of the new facility, in anticipation of the Red Ribbon ceremony, they were entertained by Ambier Harvey and the TERI Band, who sang a number of songs, many of which had the audience clapping along. The program began with TERI Chief Development Officer Dan DeSaegher welcoming those in attendance, introducing the dignitaries in the crowd and speaking about the vision Chery Kilmer had in beginning TERI. He pointed out the importance of the TERI mission and the involvement they wanted to have in the San Marcos community. Dan introduced TERI Board President Mark Neilson who also thanked everyone for supporting TERI and attending today’s ceremony. He also introduced a number of dignitaries in attendance. He thanked Cheryl for her insight into creating a facility like TERI. Mark pointed out that TERI is a world class organization with groundbreaking programs and that Cheryl had made sure no corners were cut in creating this facility. He thanked the Bornemann Family for their $1 million dollar donation in helping create the 200-seat theater in the Performing Arts Center. Other donors he thanked included Dr. Bronner, financially assisting with the Dr. Bronner Country Day School & Learning Academy, and the Tomlinson Foundation who have financially assisted with the Tomlinson Vocational Center where the TERI Commons Grounds Café and Coffee Shop is located. Mark also pointed out that the next project for TERI Campus of Life is the $50 million dollar initiative to complete the campus in its entirety.
Dan next introduced San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones and County Supervisor Jim Desmond. Mayor Jones spoke about the importance of TERI for the San Marcos community as the campus will provide another way to discover the possibilities of how the community and the campus can work together. Supervisor Desmond complimented the TERI organization on what this facility will mean to both the community and the families and individuals that will use the programs they offer. He also pointed out that he had been able to obtain $200,000 of county funds to assist TERI in finishing Cheryl’s “Labor of Love”.
Next on the agenda was hearing from TERI founder, Cheryl Kilmer. Cheryl pointed out that many of them had been able to attend a concert in The Bornemann Theatre Friday evening to hear The Heartland Rock Revue, featuring Feat, Jesse Ray Smith, Ash Easton & Adin Boyer. The concert gave those in attendance a chance to christen the theatre’s first performance. Cheryl said she was so proud of the team of professionals that were responsible for designing the new Fine Arts & Performing Arts Center, especially J&J Construction, dealing with all of the challenges that surfaced during construction. She also said she was very excited about seeing the rest of the campus being designed and completed. She ended by saying this is her dream come true and it is being built on love and dedication.
All that was left was the Red Ribbon Cutting Ceremony officially opening the Walter J. & Betty C. Zable Foundation Fine Arts & Performing Arts Center. Dan invited all staff members, board members, dignitaries in attendance, members of J&J Construction and others integral to the TERI organization to take part in the ceremony as Cheryl cut the red ribbon to officially open the center. Staff members were then excused to go into the new Fine Arts & Performing Arts Center as guests were going to be allowed to tour the facility. Prior to being dismissed to take the tour, TERI member Kyle Ramirez sang “Happy Sunday”, a song he said is sung at the beginning of each day by individuals taking part in TERI programs (the day is changed according to the day of the week). Those in attendance were also invited to attend the Cinco de Mayo Brunch at the Commons Ground Café and Coffee Shop and the Acoustic Alliance performance at The Bornemann later that evening
Following this, members of the audience were dismissed to visit the art, ceramic and craft studios, music studios, dressing and make-up rooms, the 200-seat theatre, the multi-sensory room and other sections of the new facility. The multi-sensory room was partially developed by Cal State San Marcos students. Information about TERI and refreshments was also available with members of TERI ready to answer any questions visitors might have. Some of the TERI students were also on hand to show their artwork and to demonstrate some of the techniques they use in creating their work.
As more facilities are completed on the TERI Campus of Life, there will be many more Red Ribbon ceremonies to commemorate the work, organization and dedication that went into the continued development of the TERI Campus of Life. For more information on the TERI Campus of Life go to www.teriinc.org or http://www.tericommongroundscafe.com TERI Campus of Life is located at 555 Deer Springs Rd., San Marcos.
