About US
Caramore began in 1974, as a result of one mother's unlikely vision, unrelenting advocacy, and unparalleled dedication to her own son who was facing the every day challenges of living with his disability in a time and a community that wasn't equipped to provide him or people like him with the resources and support they needed and deserved. In fact, back in those days, there wasn't even a clear distinction between disabilities, which often led to generic services catered to the many, with little or no individualization. Since this just would not do, the tenacious and talented woman took it upon herself to create a program that met the more specific needs of both her son and many others. In so doing, she created the framework for what ultimately became the Caramore Community we know and love. While operating under our previous name, NCAET, Inc. and under her leadership, we were able to open the first group home serving people with mental illness in Chapel Hill (Ephesus Group Home) in 1976. That mother's name was Caroline Livermore, and she is the namesake of our organization, but much more than that, she is a woman who championed this work for the rest of her life, ensuring that this unique and deserving population would have access to the kind of life they, and we all, deserve to live.
In 1984, Jack Simonds came on staff serving as our President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) until 2002. His legacy within the Caramore tapestry was vast and colorful, but most notable was "the house the Jack built," a beautiful, functional 10,000 square foot facility on Smith Level Road in the heart of Carrboro. During Jack's tenure, Caramore grew in significance and accomplishment. Jack’s vision, passion and leadership continue to inspire and sustain the stable, dedicated group of men and women who now serve as the Caramore staff. Today, Caramore leads our state in effectively providing comprehensive community based support services to adults with mental illness, and as a result, Caramore is nationally accredited and locally designated as a high confidence provider of mental health support services.
Today, we are guided by the light of our fearless leader, current President and CEO, David Chapman. Having stepped into this role in 2002, he has continued to promote the vision and efforts of both Caroline and Jack, while forging strong community ties and engaging with local businesses, churches, and nonprofits to help eliminate the stigma surrounding employment for people with mental illness. He has worked closely with like-minded organizations to create long and sustainable employment opportunities for the participants of the Caramore Community, and he maintains a strong and healthy relationship with our Board of Directors to ensure that Caramore's mission is at the center of what we do, each and every day.
In 1984, Jack Simonds came on staff serving as our President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) until 2002. His legacy within the Caramore tapestry was vast and colorful, but most notable was "the house the Jack built," a beautiful, functional 10,000 square foot facility on Smith Level Road in the heart of Carrboro. During Jack's tenure, Caramore grew in significance and accomplishment. Jack’s vision, passion and leadership continue to inspire and sustain the stable, dedicated group of men and women who now serve as the Caramore staff. Today, Caramore leads our state in effectively providing comprehensive community based support services to adults with mental illness, and as a result, Caramore is nationally accredited and locally designated as a high confidence provider of mental health support services.
Today, we are guided by the light of our fearless leader, current President and CEO, David Chapman. Having stepped into this role in 2002, he has continued to promote the vision and efforts of both Caroline and Jack, while forging strong community ties and engaging with local businesses, churches, and nonprofits to help eliminate the stigma surrounding employment for people with mental illness. He has worked closely with like-minded organizations to create long and sustainable employment opportunities for the participants of the Caramore Community, and he maintains a strong and healthy relationship with our Board of Directors to ensure that Caramore's mission is at the center of what we do, each and every day.
Caroline Livermore
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Jack Simonds
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David Chapman
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If you are a nonprofit or charitable organization in the Triangle area, and in search of no-cost meeting space, please contact us, and we'll do our best to accommodate your needs!
