EDMESTON –The Pathfinder Village celebrated its 30th Anniversary this weekend with the announcement of a $1 million gift to assist the organization in its care of elders with Down syndrome.

This gift, which establishes the Jane Davey Hamilton Family Endowment, will also expand the Village’s outreach and education efforts to help families who care for an aging member who has Down syndrome.

The gift was announced by Jane Davey Hamilton Warriner and Edward Klees of Philadelphia, whose brother, Peter Hamilton, lived at Pathfinder Village from 1998 to 2005. Before a packed room Friday evening at The Otesaga Resort Hotel, Cooperstown, Warriner and Klees related their experiences with Pathfinder Village:

“Founding Chief Executive Officer Marian Mullet and an inspired Board of Directors had a vision that created Pathfinder in 1980.Thirty years later, Pathfinder and its residents have matured. Jane and I recognized this change, and after meeting with current CEO Paul Landers to discuss the aging demographic, and hearing his vision for Pathfinder’s future, we realized our goals are almost identical:  To address the residents’ long term needs as they age; to provide expanded family support, education and outreach services; and to provide specialized training and support for staff. … We have committed ourselves to helping Pathfinder accomplish these goals and to raise the funds necessary to support Pathfinder’s families, staff, and most importantly, the residents,” said Klees.