352-394-0212
MY ACCOUNT

THE FRIENDSHIP PLACE

The Friendship Place provides adults with a safe and engaging day-time program to meet their mental, social, and healthcare needs while providing respite to caregivers.

THE FRIENDSHIP PLACE

The Friendship Place provides adults with a safe and engaging day-time program to meet their mental, social, and healthcare needs while providing respite to caregivers.

The mission of the Friendship Place is to share the love of God with every person we meet. To provide a place where each person is loved, not for what they can do or what they have and what they can give, but for who they are…a child of God.

The Friendship Place provides adults with developmental disabilities a safe and engaging day-time program to keep them active mentally and socially in a positive environment while providing respite to caregivers. 

The Friendship Place attendees have direct and immediate access to physical, speech, and occupational therapy services, as well as recreation and fitness programs to ensure healthy minds, bodies, and souls. Nowhere else in Florida offers such a variety of programs and services at a single location.

To everyone who visits this place, may you experience love and acceptance beyond measure.

THE FRIENDSHIP PLACE SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE
CAFE SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE

The mission of the Friendship Place is to share the love of God with every person we meet. To provide a place where each person is loved, not for what they can do or what they have and what they can give, but for who they are…a child of God.

The Friendship Place provides adults with developmental disabilities a safe and engaging day-time program to keep them active mentally and socially in a positive environment while providing respite to caregivers. 

The Friendship Place attendees have direct and immediate access to physical, speech, and occupational therapy services, as well as recreation and fitness programs to ensure healthy minds, bodies, and souls. Nowhere else in Florida offers such a variety of programs and services at a single location.

To everyone who visits this place, may you experience love and acceptance beyond measure.

THE FRIENDSHIP PLACE SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE
CAFE SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE

The mission of the Friendship Place is to share the love of God with every person we meet. To provide a place where each person is loved, not for what they can do or what they have and what they can give, but for who they are…a child of God.

The Friendship Place provides adults with developmental disabilities a safe and engaging day-time program to keep them active mentally and socially in a positive environment while providing respite to caregivers. 

The Friendship Place attendees have direct and immediate access to physical, speech, and occupational therapy services, as well as recreation and fitness programs to ensure healthy minds, bodies, and souls. Nowhere else in Florida offers such a variety of programs and services at a single location.

To everyone who visits this place, may you experience love and acceptance beyond measure.

THE FRIENDSHIP PLACE SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE
CAFE SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE

Is The Friendship Place the right fit for my family?

The Friendship Place is a program for adults with disabilities, age 22 and older. We are committed to providing the safest, most engaging program for those who need a place to meet others, participate in fun activities, and practice life skills. While we try to be as inclusive as possible, there is no behavior therapist on staff so we are not able to provide services to those who have behavior challenges. We welcome participants who:

  • Can function in a 1:3 setting (one staff member to three participants)
  • Are cognitively impaired and developmentally delayed
  • Are non-verbal
  • Use wheelchairs or walkers for mobility
  • Require assistance toileting

Some of Our Participants’ Diagnoses: Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Learning Disabilities, Brain Injury, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Spina Bifida

Our History

The Friendship Place was made possible by a very generous, anonymous donor. We encourage you to read the inspiring story from the donor’s family below.

“In January 2022, I received a call from a cousin I had not seen or heard from in over 30 years. During that time, this family member had become very successful and very wealthy. He called me and asked, ‘I know you have a daughter with a severe disability, what can I do to help?’

Just like that. Without prompting or solicitation. I had no interaction with him at all for decades!

Without hesitation, I explained my 22-year-old daughter no longer attended school and there was no adult day care in my area for adults with disabilities. My daughter spent every day at home. I told my cousin, ‘I need an adult day care center for adults with disabilities where she can be safe, loved, and engaged in all sorts of activities.’

Within two hours of presenting the entire idea to my cousin, he said, ‘I’ll do it,’ and committed to $1 million to fund the start of the project…right then and there over the phone! Just like that! THAT’S A MIRACLE!

Eighteen months later, on July 23, 2023, a completely brand new, beautiful, state-of-the-art Friendship Place opened up and immediately started serving nine clients. 

One year later, we were serving over 40 clients every week with a significant waiting list of families who want their loved ones to participate in the program. I encourage everyone to donate to keep this program thriving, so that other adults with disabilities may experience the same love and acceptance my daughter now feels at The Friendship Place.”

Show All Collapse

Meet The Director

PEDRO RODRIGUEZ, Director, and his family moved from New York to Minneola, Florida in 2004. Pedro has been married to his high-school sweetheart for 27 years and they have 3 adult sons, including a son with developmental disabilities. Their family enjoys fostering and rehabilitating shelter animals and attending church at Family Christian Center.

His first year in Minneola, Pedro began volunteering for the Miracle League of South Lake, and that’s where his passion for the special needs community began. Pedro has been coaching children and adults with disabilities in the sport of baseball since then and, despite being a native New Yorker and diehard Yankee fan, he has tolerated wearing a Red Sox team uniform, laughing it off saying, “anything for my players”.

For over 29 years, Pedro worked as a professional truck driver. In 2020, he felt called by God to change his career path and began working as a Direct Support Professional for adults with developmental disabilities. In 2022, Pedro was highly recommended and approached to become the Director of The Friendship Place for his optimistic mindset and determination to make a difference for those with disabilities.

Pedro’s goal is to aid the special needs community to attain their highest level of skills, purpose, and independence. He hopes to achieve this through an ongoing commitment to quality services, advocacy, and family partnership through The Friendship Place at The Central Florida Dreamplex.

READ MORE Collapse

PEDRO RODRIGUEZ
Director of The Friendship Place

APPLY

STEP 1

Complete the form at the link below

OR e-mail prodriguez@cfldreamplex.com

CONTACT US TODAY

STEP 2

We will reach out to you with more information, to answer your questions, or to schedule a tour.

JOIN OUR MISSION

Give Today

Whether you want to be a prayer partner, donate art supplies, baking ingredients (we LOVE to bake!), gift cards, a few dollars, or a lot of dollars, we would love to partner with you. Every gift is appreciated.

 

Give a Monetary Gift

Amazon Wish List

Contact Us

Contact our Main Office today to learn more about our therapies, programs, classes, and membership options!

CONTACT US