Presenting and accepting the check for $50,000 are, from left, Biomet Vice President and Division General Counsel, RJ Hall, Cardinal Services’ Director of Development Vickie Lootens, Cardinal CEO Jane Wear, and Danielle Rich, Biomet. (Photo provided)

By MICHELLE BOXELL
Community Relations Manager, Cardinal Services

Funding cuts, no cost-of-living increases and growth in demand have combined to place Cardinal Services in the position of needing to raise $500,000 locally — every year — simply to maintain current services. They took a big step toward that half million dollar goal this week when Biomet donated $50,000 to the local non-profit.

According to Cardinal CEO Jane Wear, the donation will go into Cardinal’s general operating fund. There, it will help cover the shortfall in programs like community living, which allows people with developmental disabilities to live in apartments and non-group home settings.