champions place news
JUly 2026
The Ripple effect of champions place
How sharing what we have learned is helping other communities bring their own visions to life.
One of Champions Community Foundation's strategic initiatives, and an important part of our mission, is to share what we've learned through the development and creation of Champions Place with others who are passionate about serving adults with disabilities. Rick Thompson often reflects on a piece of advice from one of Champions Place's generous supporters: "Rick, share what you have learned with others...and don't charge them. It's God's IP (intellectual property).” That encouragement continues to shape the way we approach this part of our mission.
Over the past several years, we have hosted around 15 to 20 groups interested in learning from Champions Place with the hope of creating similar communities in their own local communities. The IDDeal Place is the first of those dreams to become a reality, making this milestone especially meaningful to celebrate.
Celebrating the Opening of The IDDeal Place with a ribbon cutting on June 23, 2026.
Watch highlights from the ribbon cutting celebration of The IDDeal Place on June 23, 2026.
As one of the cornerstone donors whose generosity helped make Champions Place possible, The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation invited our team to share everything we had learned as they partnered with The IDDeal Foundation to create The IDDeal Place—Ruttura Family Campus. Beginning in May 2023, we opened our doors, hosted tours, answered questions, and shared everything from building plans and operational processes to fundraising strategies and technology. We were grateful for the opportunity to leverage what we learned through the development and creation of Champions Place to help accelerate their progress and think through what The IDDeal Place could become.
CCF and The IDDeal Foundation during a three-day work session in May 2023.
To everyone who has supported Champions Community Foundation over the years, thank you. Your generosity not only impacts lives here at Champions Place, but reaches far beyond our walls. It is an honor to share what we've learned through the creation of Champions Place so that more communities can be created where adults with disabilities can live with greater independence, purpose, and belonging.