DAPHNE, Alabama - According to Exceptional Foundation of Baldwin County Board President Bob Callahan, the overwhelming response at a community meeting in August recently led the organization to hire a full-time staff aiming to open their doors in October – months sooner than expected. Callahan announced Friday that the Foundation has hired Ricky Trione as executive director, Vicky Cook as art director, and Candice Davis as program director.

“We had a meeting at St. Paul’s on Aug. 23 where we expected 15-20 people,” Callahan said Friday. “Much to our surprise, 83 people were there, most of which were caretakers of adults with special needs and some that just wanted to volunteer. We realized we couldn’t put it off any longer.”

Exceptional Foundation of Baldwin County incorporated as a 501(c)-3 as separate entity from a similarly named organization in Birmingham. The Foundation will offer a day care program for adults with special needs four days per week at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Daphne. Callahan said the doors will open Oct. 31 with a Halloween party.

The Foundation, which hosted former Alaska Gov. and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin at its initial fundraiser earlier this year – has booked another high-profile speaker in former Alabama football coach Gene Stallings for an event scheduled Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear. A protégé of Bear Bryant, Stallings coached at the Capstone from 1990-1996 and led the team to a national championship in 1992. He is also the author of “Another Season: A Coach's Story of Raising an Exceptional Son,” a memoir of his son John Mark Stallings who was born with Downs Syndrome and passed away in 2008. The Foundation will also host an open house prior to the dinner.

Interestingly, Trione said he and his family once met John Mark Stallings when he was working as a tour guide at the Bear Bryant museum in Tuscaloosa. Trione, who is known throughout the community as a blind artist, said he approached the Foundation soon after its incorporation to let the board know of his interest as a volunteer.

“I got to talking with Bob, Glenda Gravlee and the other board members and as things progressed, they became aware of my qualifications and I interviewed with everyone. Then they offered me the job,” Trione said. “I couldn’t refuse.”

Trione holds a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from the University of South Alabama, and has more than eight years’ experience as a counselor working with people with all types of physical and emotional disabilities. Cook was the fine arts and media supervisor for Baldwin County Public Schools from 2004-2010 and will provide visual art, music and drama programs for program participants. Davis has worked for United Cerebral Palsy for many years in several different capacities and will organize special events and field trips for the program.

“I am very excited and I hope the people of the community will be supportive and spread the word,” Trione said Saturday. “We’re not just looking at this as a service to individuals, but as something that will help families and the community. I’m very optimistic and positive and thankful to be a part of it.”

The Exceptional Foundation will be open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday at a cost of $20 per day. Participants must be over the age of 18, functionally independent and will be subject to an application process and probationary period.

“This meets a critical need for these services in Baldwin and Mobile counties,” Callahan said. “These adults still have the capacity to learn and the desire to be sociable and it’s important that we can offer that. What will happen is you’ll improve their development skills improve significantly, and their self-confidence and self-respect will increase.”

Tickets for the dinner with Gene Stallings will be $250 per person or $5,000 per table. Callahan said the Foundation “still has a heck of a lot of work to do,” including setting up offices and contact information. Until then, more information is available at www.exceptionalfoundationbc.org, or by calling 251-928-1559.