History
Friendship Village was founded in 1974 and began welcoming residents three years later, with the opening of our A & B Pavilions and Phase I of the Health Care Center. Our 59-acre campus had first been considered for a hospital site, back in the early 1970s, but when the hospital chose a different location, then-Mayor Bob Atcher approached Life Care Services, Inc. about the possibility of developing a retirement community at the site.
Life Care Services took on the project, and was contracted to develop and manage the new community. At the same time, Friendship Village's first Board of Directors was formed, comprised largely of clergy from the Schaumburg area, with Bill Biven as Executive Director. In 1978, after ending the contract with Life Care Services, the Board of Directors hired Reverend Kenneth Timm as Executive Director, who served until he passed away in 1985. Frank Mezio was appointed Executive Director in 1986.
In 1987, Friendship Village became the first Continuing Care Retirement Community in Illinois to be accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission. That same year, the Board approved the development of an Assisted Living program, which opened on the third floor of our B Pavilion in September of 1988. The result was one of the first Assisted Living residences in Illinois. A few years later, in 1992, an increasing demand for services led to the addition of ten new beds in the Health Care Center.
In 1997, after an exhaustive nationwide search, President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert M. Alston, was hired. Soon after, our strategic planning process began with the adoption of a Long Range Strategic Plan.
As part of that plan, 1999 saw the addition of 60 new beds to the Health Care Center, as well as the opening of skilled nursing services to the surrounding community. The Assisted Living Center was also expanded at this time.
Today, Friendship Village continues to grow. We have just added a new neighborhood of Garden Homes, completing the first phase of an ongoing and dramatic expansion of our campus that will also include the creation of new apartment homes and new amenities.
In January 2006, Friendship Village of Schaumburg welcomed new President and CEO, David Loop. Mr. Loop succeeded Robert M. Alston, who took a new role as President and CEO of Friendship Senior Options, Inc., the newly formed parent company of Friendship Village.
During the more than quarter-century since its founding, Friendship Village has been recognized with several prestigious awards for the quality of its programs and amenities, for its landscaping, and for community service. Perhaps more importantly, we also consistently receive high satisfaction ratings from our residents, their families, and our employees.
Over the years, our residents have received numerous community awards, including "top float" in the Septemberfest parade and recognition for active involvement and support in many local community-based organizations. In 1998, our Board Chair was recognized as one of the top trustees in the field by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. In 2000, another Board member was recognized as the 2000 Outstanding Trustee in the State of Illinois by Life Services Network.
