Lakeshore Foundation
Website
Organization Location
4000 Ridgeway Drive, Birmingham, AL, United States, Alabama
Description
Vision & Mission
Vision: A world in which every person has the opportunity to achieve a healthy, active, independent life
Mission: To provide opportunity for individuals with disability to live a healthy lifestyle through physical activity, research, advocacy and health promotion
Values: Passion, Creating Opportunities, Integrity, Changing Expectations
Our History
Jefferson Tuberculosis Sanatorium Formed (1926)
Lakeshore has a rich history rooted in providing opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions that dates all the way back to the early 20th century. Birmingham was among the many cities in the United States affected by tuberculosis during the 1920’s.
In response to the rising number of cases, the Birmingham community saw the need to establish a tuberculosis hospital. Land along Lakeshore Drive was donated and the Jefferson Tuberculosis Sanatorium was formed in 1926.
Transition To Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital Completed (1973)
In 1973 the Sanatorium transitioned to Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital. Rather than hire administrators, the Board of Directors contracted Baptist Healthcare System to manage the hospital for a few years. During that time a UAB Master’s student named Michael Stephens was an intern at the hospital. When he finished his degree in Health Administration, Stephens assumed the role of Administrator for Lakeshore Hospital.
From the beginning of his tenure, Stephens noticed that patients were discharged but would then show up months later with pressure sores and other secondary health conditions. Stephens realized the need for physical activity to improve the lives of Lakeshore patients and came up with a solution. Through his leadership, Lakeshore grew from a 100-bed rehabilitation hospital to a multi-facility system which included services for patients at each stage of rehabilitation and recovery.
Lakeshore Foundation Formed (1984)
The Birmingham Chariots wheelchair basketball team was Birmingham’s first adapted sports team, which was developed out of Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital. There was no gym on campus, so the team practiced at local recreation centers and UAB’s Bell Gymnasium.
Wheelchair basketball proved to be very popular and over the years the programs expanded to other sports. Soon basketball was joined by tennis, swimming, track, aerobics, and numerous youth programs. In 1984 the decision was made to put those community-based sport, fitness and recreation programs under a new entity called Lakeshore Foundation. Jeff Underwood was named the first president and CEO.
Lakeshore Today
Over time these sport, fitness, and recreation programs grew and shifted from being operated by the Lakeshore Hospital and its therapeutic recreation program to being managed by Lakeshore Foundation and open to anyone in the community and state who were living with a physical disability.
Today, Lakeshore has become an internationally renowned organization, serving over 4,000 unique individuals annually through physical activity, sport, recreation, advocacy, policy and research. It serves as an Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, strengthening the ongoing commitment to the development of para sports. The creation of the UAB/Lakeshore Collaborative, an advocacy department and the Lima Foxtrot are further examples of programs designed to achieve Lakeshore’s mission and vision.
Our Future
Each day we work to use our time, energy, expertise and resources to be a leader in advancing our mission to encourage and provide opportunities for people with disability to live a healthy lifestyle through activity, research, advocacy and health promotion.
Strategic planning has long been an important and effective tool in our evolution. Our previous plan guided our progress that led to the construction of new facilities, integration of technologies to expand our reach, and growth of our work in advocacy and research.
Our 2021-2026 Strategic Plan is not a radical shift in the work of the recent past, but it builds upon those experiences and lessons. It should result in a sharper focus, better understanding of Lakeshore’s work internally and externally, greater measurable impact, the use of technology as a major tool in service delivery, refinement of our messaging, and most importantly, move us closer to a world in which every person has the opportunity to achieve a healthy, active, independent life.
Our Team
Here at Lakeshore, our job is to provide the expertise, facilities, equipment and programs to maximize the return on our members’ investment of time and energy ensuring they can be as healthy, active and independent as possible.
Our Outdoor Spaces
Lakeshore’s Outdoor Spaces are part of the Campus Enhancement Plan that features three outdoor elements: the Campus Commons, Woodland Trail and the Allison and Michael Stephens Contemplative Garden. These spaces are designed to improve campus connectivity and provide more opportunity to explore, engage and enjoy the outdoors. Throughout the planning and construction process, we worked with our designers, partners and members to ensure these spaces would be accessible and used in many different ways. We encourage you to learn more about these spaces and enjoy all they have to offer.
Explore, Engage, Enjoy
Elevate your heart rate by completing one of the three 0.3-mile loops beginning at the compass located in the Campus Commons.
Stroll or jog along the tree covered Woodland Trail, which features a semi-cushioned sealed rubber pathway and elevated wood-plank bridge overlooking the Contemplative Garden. Seating areas along the path provide nice spots to stop and enjoy nature.
Take a moment to be mindful in the Contemplative Garden. The sound of the water feature and natural landscape create a peaceful and rejuvenating space.
The Campus Commons is the hub of our campus. This paved open space connects buildings, pathways and offers a meaningful gathering place in the sun or the shade and a grassy lawn for additional activity. Multiple water features and native plant life serve to cool the area in warmer months. A compass in the center of the Commons is the starting point for three .3-mile loops that lead you through the new elements of campus and to the outlying buildings and campus organizations.
The Woodland Trail is a meandering tree-lined path that connects the Campus Commons and upper parking lot to the Contemplative Garden. The flat semi-cushioned sealed rubber pathway and elevated wood-plank bridge make it perfect for a stroll or a jog. Seating areas along the path provide nice spots to stop and rest or enjoy a picnic under a shade tree. Take the trail from the entrance in the upper parking lot down to the Contemplative Garden and back for a .3-mile distance.
The Contemplative Garden is a serene location situated at the end of the Woodland Trail and across the street from The Cottages of Lakeshore. The sound of the water feature and natural landscape of rocks and greenery create a peaceful and rejuvenating space. The elevated pergola overlooking the water is a great spot to practice mindfulness, yoga or read a good book. Move around the semi-cushioned sealed rubber pathway to examine the native plant life.
The Plantings and Landscaping for our outdoor spaces were selected for seasonal interest and successional bloom. Large native deciduous trees provide shade, fall color and support a rich ecosystem of butterflies, caterpillars and birds. Smaller ornamental flowering trees provide early spring color. Late season autumn foliage compliment the evergreen pine and cedar groves. Additional shrubs and plantings were selected for their varied foliage, fragrance and bloom times.
Contact
Phone - +1 205-313-7400
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lakeshorefoundation/
Upcoming events
- No upcoming events
Past events
- – (CDT)
- Shallow Water Exercise
- – (CDT)
- Ai Chi
- – (CDT)
- Adult Learn to Swim
- – (CDT)
- Range of Motion
- – (CDT)
- Aqua Neuro