About Us History

History

 

Historical Timeline

Founded with the goal of developing educational and social programs to enrich the lives of at-risk youth, Unity Care Group is a community-based, non-profit youth and family development agency; “Providing quality programs for the purpose of creating healthier communities through life-long partnerships.”

 

1992

  • Unity Care is founded by André V. Chapman

1993      

  • Unity Care opens first residential treatment home for boys “House #1” – August

1994

  • Unity Care opens second residential treatment home for boys “House #2” – October

1995

  • Unity Care receives its first grant $10,500 from Silicon Valley Community Foundation for Youth After-school Leadership Program (YAL)

1996

  • Unity Care opens third residential treatment home for boys “House #3” – July

1997

  • 100 Black Men of Silicon Valley names Unity Care the recipient of its Nonprofit of the Year Award – February
  • Unity Care receives group home renovations through funds provided by “Christmas in April” and develops long-term relationship with Shea Homes and Charles Shea IV – April
  • Unity Care launches first major fundraiser event with title sponsor Hewlett Packard:  Virginia Clay/Unity Care Golf Classic held at Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San José – May
  • Unity Care President and CEO André Chapman pictured in Business Week Magazine with Reverend Jesse Jackson – July
  • Unity Care launches foster family agency to provide therapeutic foster homes; ages 0-17 years – October

1998

  • Unity Care opens fourth residential treatment home for girls “House #4” – February
  • City of San José Department of Housing names Unity Care as the Partner of the Decade Award

1999

  • Unity Care opens fifth residential treatment home  for boys “House #5” — May
  • Unity Care Launches Pre-College Minority Engineering Program (PC-MEP) sponsored with major grant from Applied Materials and Sun Microsystems at San José State University – June
  • Unity Care conducts first strategic planning event sponsored by Bay Networks – November
  • Unity Care receives major gift from San José Mercury Wish Book Fund  – December
  • Unity Care opens Santa Clara County’s first transitional housing program (THP) for former foster youth (18-21) “House #6” – December

 

2000

  • Unity Care President and CEO André Chapman appears on KICU TV-36 “Community Affairs” television program – January
  • Unity Care receives a $75,000 grant from the Lucile Packard Foundation for Youth After-School Leadership Program (YAL) – February
  • Unity Care receives a $37,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Silicon Valley to support the PC-MEP program – May
  • Unity Care is host of second annual fundraiser event with title sponsors Hewlett Packard and BEA Systems:  Virginia Clay/Unity Care Golf Classic held at Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San José – May
  • Unity Care receives major $10,000 grant from the Sobrato Foundation for Youth After-School Leadership Program (YAL) – June
  • Unity Care PC-MEP students attend stimulating networking workshop and participate in an informative educational tour throughout the campuses of  Cisco Systems, Inc. – August

2001

  • Unity Care President and CEO André Chapman receives the MAGIC  “Grand Heroes” award presented by Senator Bob Dole and the Avanti Foundation – January
  • Unity Care President and CEO André Chapman highlighted in USBE & Information Technology magazine feature article sponsored by major Silicon Valley technology companies:  Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard and Seagate Technologies – February
  • Unity Care receives a $525,000 grant from The Packard Foundation and AT&T Pebble Beach Foundation for capital campaign to purchase seven-acre parcel that becomes Unity Care’s Monterey campus – February
  • Unity Care opens Monterey County children’s shelter, sub-acute psychiatric facility and day treatment program “House #11, House #12”  – April
  • Unity Care expands services to Santa Cruz County opening 12-bed dual diagnosis drug treatment program “House #9”, “House #10” – April
  • Unity Care opens residential treatment homes for adolescent girls in San José  “House #7 and House #8” – April
  • Unity Care receives a $25,000 grant from Senator Bob Dole and the Avanti Foundation – April
  • Unity Care and title sponsor Hewlett Packard host third annual Virginia Clay/Unity Care Golf Classic held at Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San José – May
  • Unity Care receives a $12,500 grant from the Kirsch Foundation Silicon Valley for the PC-MEP program – August
  • Unity Care expands transitional housing program (THP) in San José “House #13” – August
  • Unity Care expands Youth After-school Leadership (YAL) program to East Palo Alto Ravenswood School District – July
  • Unity Care receives a $75,000 grant from The Lucile Packard Foundation for Youth After-school Leadership program (YAL) at four sites in Menlo Park and East Palo Alto – October
  • Unity Care launches its wraparound program “Unidad” in partnership with Monterey County Mental Health, Probation and Social Service Departments  – November
  • Unity Care and Department of Public Health  launches tobacco prevention campaign at several school sites in San José – September

 

2002

  • Unity Care and local officials opens top-of-the-line computer center at San José group home in partnership with Hewlett-Packard, IBM, the City of San José and Santa Clara county —February
  • Unity Care President and CEO André Chapman presented with prestigious “From Whence They Came” award by the Allstate Insurance Company for outstanding commitment to youth —March
  • Unity Care and title sponsor Hewlett Packard host fourth annual Virginia Clay/Unity Care Golf Classic held at Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San José – May
  • Unity Care moves to newly renovated 9,000-square-foot corporate offices at 237 Race Street in San José – September
  • Unity Care awarded $100,000 grant by Monterey Peninsula Foundation, AT&T Pebble Beach Charities and Harden Foundation for Monterey campus safety project
  • Unity Care’s Santa Cruz Campus becomes certified as a Robert Wood Johnson Certified site for Chemical Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) program
  • Unity Care unveils new logo and website design; now includes detailed range of services, success stories, news articles, and events calendar

2003

  • Unity Care and title sponsor Hewlett Packard host fifth Annual Virginia Clay/Unity Care Golf Classic held at Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San José – May
  • Unity Care celebrates 10th anniversary with festivities held at Race Street headquarters – August
  • Unity Care receives commendation from City of San José in celebration of 10 years in service to community

2004

  • Unity Care and title sponsor Hewlett Packard host sixth Annual Virginia Clay/Unity Care Golf Classic held at Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San José – May
  • Unity Care opens training center in Santa Clara county – August
  • Unity Care’s receives $250,000 in major funding and expands transitional housing for youth project from Santa Clara County’s affordable housing fund —August
  • Unity Care Group becomes accredited by The California Alliance of Child and Family Services and recognized for meeting standards for excellence in residential care, day treatment and family based services – October
  • Unity Care opens non-public high school:  Unity Care Academy in San José – October
  • Unity Care Opens “Cherish Center” Monterey County’s first-ever 23-hour receiving center for abused or neglected children  – October
  •  Unity Care launches Transitional Housing Program (THP) “House 14” in Monterey County – November
  • Unity Care’s PC-MEP program teams with members from NASA Ames Research Center, Laron Incorporated, Line-X of San José, P/C Selective Metal Plating, Inc. & Bellarmine College Preparatory, San José as Team 254 “Cheesy Poofs” who win the 2004 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Championship “Hall of Fame” Chairman’s Award  – November

2005

  • Unity Care receives $7,500 grant from Cisco Systems Foundation for Transitional Housing Program (THP) – March
  • Unity Care launches RISE (Reaching Independence through Sustainable Employment) Workforce Investment program in Monterey County  – April
  • Unity Care and title sponsor Hewlett Packard host seventh Annual Virginia Clay/Unity Care Golf Classic held at Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San José – May

 

2006

  • Unity Care opens Transitional Housing Placement Program (THPP) (House #4) for boys (ages 16-19) in San José
  • Unity Care opens community clinic certified by Santa Clara County Mental Health Department – June
  • Unity Care in partnership with the City of San José Department of Housing opens “Unity Place I” a 12-unit shared permanent and transitional housing complex  for former foster youth– October

2007

  • Unity Care launches Hip Hop 360 creative arts program designed to enhance students’ artistic abilities
  • Unity Care launches Santa’s Helpers donation drive to collect holiday gifts and food for residential foster youth – November

2008

  • Unity Care Purchases five new minivans through funds provided by Enterprise Rent-A-Car and in collaboration with The City of San José Housing Trust Fund – February
  • Unity Care in collaboration with “Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley” (RTSV) renovates two group homes – April
  • Unity Care receives a $25,000 grant by Silicon Valley Community Foundation to support food, clothing and transportation programs – April
  • Unity Care is host of open house for new Salinas office for Monterey County programs – June
  • Unity Care is host of the first annual Summer Of Learning program that connects foster youth and their families with fun, educational activities – August
  • Unity Care expands the Transitional Housing Placement Plus (THP+) program to Orange County, California, increasing its geographical boundaries to provide services to emancipated foster youth – August
  • Unity Care celebrates 15th year anniversary with open house festivities at headquarters in San José – November
  • Unity Care launches first annual Santa’s Helpers Donation drive to collect holiday gifts and food for foster youth – November

 

2009

  • Unity Care receives the prestigious “Drum Major Award” for outstanding service to the community presented annually by the African American Community Services Agency (AACSA) – January
  • Unity Care President and CEO André Chapman receives “Movers of Mountains” award from The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Santa Clara County – January 21
  • Unity Care expands with opening of Administrative offices at the Sobrato Center for Nonprofits located at 1400 Parkmoor Avenue, #115 in San José – March
  • Unity Care expands to Placer county providing Independent Living Program (ILP) – April
  • Unity Care is host of inaugural fundraising luncheon – May
  • Unity Care launches The Nia Project (Differential Response) program – July
  • Unity Care is host of the annual Summer Olympics outdoor event for foster children, youth and families – August
  • Unity Care launches Project Odyssey (Wraparound) – October

2010

  • Unity Care launches Resources Advocacy and Support Services program – February
  • Unity Care launches Parent Advocate Services program – February
  • Unity Care President and CEO André Chapman earns praise from  the Santa Clara County Board Supervisors and receives the  Human Relations Award – April
  • Unity Care is host of Placer county open house and kick-off for new Transition to Independence Process (TIP) program  – April
  • Unity Care receives a $75,000 grant by Monterey county charitable organizations in support of Girls’ Health in Girls’ Hands (GHGH) project
  • Unity Care receives a $20,000 grant from Sharks Foundation for “Project Connect” Unity Care’s new gang prevention mentoring program – May
  • Unity Care is host of second annual fundraising luncheon, “Giving Hope for a Brighter Future”  – May
  • Unity Care receives $8,000 from City of San José Mayor Chuck Reed’s Safe Summer Initiative Grant for the “Summer of Learning” program
  • Unity Care is host of annual Summer Olympics outdoor event for foster children, youth and families – August
  • Unity Care’s CFO Terry Boyle selected by the Silicon Valley/San José Business Journal and receives the 2010 CFO of the Year Award – November

2011

  • Unity Care President and CEO André Chapman becomes fellow of American Leadership Forum (ALF) – Silicon Valley Class XXIII  – March
  • Unity Care President and CEO André Chapman launches new blog series: “Rising Above:  Insights on Youth and Families at Risk” – April
  • Unity Care is host of third annual “Summer of Learning” luncheon fundraiser – May
  • Unity Care President and CEO André Chapman Receives Top Ten Community Dads Award – June 10
  • Unity Care is host of tenth annual Summer Olympics outdoor event for children, youth and families – August
  • Unity Care celebrates 18th Year anniversary! – August
  • Unity Care is host of grand opening celebration for “Unity Place II” 8-Unit newly renovated “green” affordable housing apartment complex in San José – September

2012

  • Unity Care chosen by Sleep Train Foster Kids Program as agency partner – January
  • Unity Care President and CEO André Chapman featured on “ABC7 African American Heritage Salutes” televised public announcement aired during Black History Month – February
  • Unity Care is host of inaugural fundraising dinner and talent and fashion show gala: YouthLive! With honorees Dale Carlsen, founder and CEO of The Sleep Train Enterprise and Lisa Sobrato Sonsini, President of the Sobrato Family Foundation – May
  • Unity Care receives $8,000 from City of San José Mayor Chuck Reed’s Safe Summer Initiative Grant for the “Summer of Learning” program
  • Unity Care is host of eleventh annual Summer Olympics for over 250 foster children, youth and families at Lake Cunningham Park, San José – August
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Our mission is to provide quality youth and family programs for the purpose of creating healthier communities through lifelong partnerships.