by Chloe Jones

Created on: May 14, 2007   Last Updated: May 17, 2007

Civitan International was founded in Birmingham, Alabama in 1917. Its mission is "to strengthen local communities by providing a network of volunteer clubs dedicated to serving individual and community needs, with an emphasis on helping people with developmental disabilities."

Civitan began its focus on helping people with developmental disabilities in the 1950s by funding special education training for school teachers. In 1960, the Civitan International Foundation was created. In the 1970s, Civitan partnered with the National Association of Retarded Citizens for a public information campaign to promote awareness of mental retardation. The Civitan International Foundation created the National Association of Retarded Citizens' Civitan Public Inquiry Program to answer inquiries about services for retarded citizens.

The Civitan Foundation has supported the International Special Olympics Games by providing funding and volunteers. Civitan sponsors summer camps and vocational programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

In 1989, the Civitan International Research Center was created. Located on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the CIRC conducts research on autism and cerebral palsy and provides clinical services to people with developmental disabilities.

Civitan International supports its missions with several fundraising programs. Their largest revenue producer is the Candy Box Program. They also sell fruitcake through partnerships with local grocery stores. Some of these funds are then used to secure government grants to further research into developmental disabilities.

For over fifty years, the primary focus of Civitan International has been to help people with developmental disabilities. By sponsoring research, vocational and enrichment programs, Civitan International is working to improve the lives of those with developmental disabilities and to try to prevent and treat these disabilities in the future.

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