Founded in 1970 by Sally Gearhart, Garten currently serves more than 500 adults with disabilities from three locations across Oregon’s Willamette Valley, in the cities of Salem and Eugene. Garten Services utilizes a distinctive not-for-profit business model that exists to promote job training and employment for people with significant disabilities, including brain injury, chronic mental illness, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, autism, as well as visual or hearing impairments.

Garten successfully funds over 83% of its annual budget through revenue from sustainable business enterprises. Garten operates businesses that include confidential document destruction, green clean custodial, electronic recycling, landscape maintenance, and print and mail services. Garten continues to work to expand job options for people and has a department dedicated to placing and supporting people in jobs at other community businesses.

Through the guidance of an eight-member volunteer Board of Directors, all revenues from these business enterprises are dedicated to fulfilling Garten’s nonprofit mission: to be a leader of employment for people with disabilities and create life-changing impact through genuine belonging. Our actions increase society’s awareness of human potential.