A Dedication to Children

When Carolyn Hejtmanek began working at Orchard Place in 1969 as a milieu treatment counselor at Aliber House, little did she know that Orchard Place would become her "home" for the next several decades.

Following graduation from Morningside College, Carolyn began teaching middle school in Sioux City, Iowa. When her father was diagnosed with cancer, she decided to move back to Des Moines to be near her family.

During her time in Sioux City, she found herself being drawn to the children who were experiencing difficulties in their lives. She became familiar with Orchard Place since several of the children she had befriended had received treatment there. When beginning her job search in Des Moines, it seemed only natural to apply at Orchard Place.

Carolyn remembers with fondness her interview with Orchard Place Executive Director Merwin Crow and his words at her departure: "Don't call me – I'll call you." And call he did – the very next day.

Answering the Call

As time went on and Carolyn spent more and more time working with troubled youth, she knew her calling was in social work. When offered a scholarship from Orchard Place, she welcomed the opportunity to seek her master's degree at the University of Iowa. The scholarship came with the condition that once she had obtained her degree, she would be required to return to work at Orchard Place for at least two years. It was Carolyn's plan to fulfill the two-year commitment and then move to California, but as the saying goes: "Life is what happens while we're busy making plans."

Carolyn's devotion to the children at Orchard Place grew daily. In reflection, she says, "The 70s were exciting times in recognizing and treating mental illness in children, and the staff at Orchard Place was a close-knit group of people who worked hard to understand the difficulties the children were experiencing. So much has changed and improved in treatment methods throughout the years, but the one thing that remains constant is the dedication of the Orchard Place staff to the children they serve."

Ensuring Success in the Future

When discussing the distribution of their estate after their lifetimes, Carolyn and her husband, Larry, who works with adults with mental health issues at Eyerly Ball Community Mental Health Services, knew they wanted their estate to be used to continue the work that means so much to them. Thus, they have left a bequest to Orchard Place in their will. Carolyn notes, "Residential treatment such as that which is provided on the Orchard Place campus is expensive. It is often misunderstood and always underfunded. I strongly believe in the success of residential treatment for the right child, for the right reason, at the right time, and I want to be a part of helping to make the services available long into the future."

You Can Make an Impact

If you would like to join Carolyn and Larry in helping Orchard Place continue to Develop Strong Futures in the years ahead, there are several ways in which you can make an impact. We hope you will consider leaving a bequest in your will or trust to Orchard Place, making us the beneficiary of a portion of your 401(k) or life insurance policy, or establishing a life income gift such as a charitable gift annuity or trust to benefit the children we serve.

If you've already made arrangements for an estate gift for Orchard Place but haven't notified us, please let us know. We would love to welcome you into the Elizabeth Mann Society and thank you for your loving support of our work for the children who come to us for care and treatment. If you have any questions about how you can make a difference, please contact Cayla Walsh at 515-287-9648 or cwalsh@orchardplace.org today.