With adequate funding resources, The Lazarus Foundation is planning on converting a former garment factory building in Columbia, Lancaster County, PA. into a state-of-the-art therapy center designed to meet the special needs of brain-injured children and their families.

The Foundation is finalizing negotiations for the purchase of a vacant three-story building which consists of approximately 37,000 square feet and is located on a three-quarters acre plot with parking for approximately 50 vehicles.

A “Capital Fund Drive” is now underway for the purchase, renovations and conversion of the facility into a State of the art therapy and respite care center for brain injured children.

Our new home will house a variety of services. The plan for the new center includes:

• Basement: Special needs equipment repair and storage and fundraising center.
• First floor (ground level): The Lazarus Foundation offices, therapy rooms, classrooms, sensory stimulation rooms and exercise gym for “Special Needs Kids.”
• Second floor: Respite care center, Special Kid's Fitness Center and Lending library.
• Third floor : Overnight accommodations for visiting families with brain injured children, similar to a Ronald McDonald House, consisting of twelve motel type extended stay suites.

The conversion of this facility will be done in phases as funding becomes available. The basement and first floor conversion will be Phase 1, the second floor will be Phase II and the third floor will be Phase III. The elevator for client access to the second and third floors will be part of Phase II, except that the elevator shaft on the basement and first floor levels will be installed as part of Phase I.

The existing oil fired steam radiator heating system will be utilized until Phase II when it will be replaced with an energy efficient geo-thermal heating/cooling system. For the Phase I conversion, air conditioning will be provided to the occupied areas of the first floor by the installation of a roof top mounted AC unit. Permanent duct work will be installed throughout the first floor under the Phase I work, to be later tied into the geo-thermal system.

All costs to furnish offices and to provide equipment for the therapy room is being funded through contributions from private foundation and philanthropic organizations.

The new 'Lazarus' offices will be equipped with donated used office furnishings from several corporate supporters.

With adequate funding, the foundation's projected plan is to complete the renovations to the first floor basement of the newly acquired premises, in order to open the Brain Injury Center by December 2008 and all required code specific renovation in order to open the brain injury therapy center by late spring of 2009.