About Us
How it Started
Future Dream Facility & Sunshine Center Participation
Vision and Reach
Hello! My name is Dr. Phil. My wife, Rhonda, and I have been married for 48 years. Our first child was born to us 45 years ago and we were told by the doctors that she was a Down’s syndrome child who
would have significant disabilities.
This came to us as a tremendous surprise, leaving us in utter disbelief.
My wife and I were told by the d
Hello! My name is Dr. Phil. My wife, Rhonda, and I have been married for 48 years. Our first child was born to us 45 years ago and we were told by the doctors that she was a Down’s syndrome child who
would have significant disabilities.
This came to us as a tremendous surprise, leaving us in utter disbelief.
My wife and I were told by the doctors that they would give us a death certificate and that we would go home from the hospital without our little baby girl. Then she would be placed in a nearby institution to live
out her few years of life.
We could not believe what we were hearing! Despite being told she would never walk, cry, or be sociable, we knew in our hearts that leaving the hospital without her would be impossible.
A few days later we would leave the hospital with our little Down’s syndrome daughter in our arms and begin a journey that many parents today are traveling. Through our experience and the experiences of many others whom we’ve met over the last 45 years, we’ve realized the tremendous need for social and relational settings where these individuals and families
can find support, empathy, and hope.
The Sunshine Center was birthed to strategically address the needs, desires, and interests of families that have children or siblings with disabilities.
It has been our joy over the past 45 years to see our Sunshine bring joy and happiness to so many people who have met her. Our goal is to continue providing compassionate help and hope at the Sunshine Center to
many more families!
Dr. Phil Willingham Executive Director
Vision and Reach
Future Dream Facility & Sunshine Center Participation
Vision and Reach
Churches, schools, and other significant learning organizations should be a warm, welcoming, and safe space for everyone who is looking for a nurturing and inviting community.
Unfortunately, barriers exist that hinder families from making genuine connections in these places. This challenge is probably most felt by parents who have children
Churches, schools, and other significant learning organizations should be a warm, welcoming, and safe space for everyone who is looking for a nurturing and inviting community.
Unfortunately, barriers exist that hinder families from making genuine connections in these places. This challenge is probably most felt by parents who have children with autism and other learning disabilities.
After many years of successful
implementation, The Sunshine
Center seeks to expand its reach
throughout northwest Indiana and the Midwest to equip local churches, educational institutions, and non- profits who desire to serve families of those with learning disabilities.
Future Dream Facility & Sunshine Center Participation
Future Dream Facility & Sunshine Center Participation
Future Dream Facility & Sunshine Center Participation
- A special place for children with special needs...a place where they and their families might network with other families in a safe, secure facility serving their needs for faith, family, and friendship.
- Sunshine Center engaged an architectural firm to draw plans on a 43,000 square foot state-of- the-art sports, recreation, and development
- A special place for children with special needs...a place where they and their families might network with other families in a safe, secure facility serving their needs for faith, family, and friendship.
- Sunshine Center engaged an architectural firm to draw plans on a 43,000 square foot state-of- the-art sports, recreation, and development facility complete with a regulation size gym with basketball and volleyball courts, indoor soccer field capabilities, full-length batting cages, four fully functional sensory rooms for adults and kids with special needs, other meeting rooms, restrooms, lockers, and a state-of-the-art 3,900 square foot weight room with workout space.
- Sunshine Center’s architectural drawings reveal a facility with multiple classrooms and plenty of meeting space for children’s programs designed to enrich their lives and support their families.
- Sunshine Center plans to fully staff this facility with a “Special Needs Pastor,” at least three operational managers, and 10 to 15 full-time and part-time hourly positions for those skilled in teaching and caring for those with special needs.
Leader Endorsements
Mayor Matt Murphy - City of Valparaiso
The City of Valparaiso supports projects that advance
inclusion and accessibility. We are very thankful for all
Heartland Christian Center does for our community. I look
forward to seeing the children’s lives touched through
the Sunshine Center as well as benefits it will provide the
local families and we wish much success with this exciting venture.
Cameron Gilbert, PhD
Dr. Cameron Gilbert, a leading psychologist who specializes in mental health problems, treats his patients through a variety of
cutting edge methods.
People with developmental disorders still have the need to interact, to be needed, valued, entertained, respected, and to have medical and emotional issues met. Unfortunately, most communities lack any programming or setting to help families and individuals with developmental disorders meet the common issues that all humans face. “I am very thankful that the leadership team at The Sunshine Center has committed significant resources to meet the needs of those with developmental disorders. The Sunshine Center will fill an enormous void throughout Northwest Indiana, as well as nationally, assisting families and individuals to receive the hope and help they so desperately deserve. For many, it will be the difference between having basic human interactions, while for others it will literally be the difference between life and death, hope and hopelessness, self-worth and self-disdain.”