– Venture Community Services, one of the Commonwealth’s leading providers of innovative human services, has announced a merger with fellow provider Life-Skills, Inc. of Webster. The merger, effective July 1, 2024, marks a strategic union with Venture continuing as the sole entity led by Mike Hyland as President & CEO of the combined organization. Life-Skills CEO Tom Amick will be retiring after 38 years of dedicated leadership.

Venture and Life-Skills have a long-standing relationship built on shared goals, values, and mission to provide high-quality support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The combined organization will employ over 1,000 people, support close to 600 people with disabilities statewide, and have an annual operating budget of $66 million.

“This merger represents an exciting time for Venture and Life-Skills,” said Hyland. “It allows us to grow together in forming an elite human services agency that is innovative, impactful, and successful.”

The decision to merge allows Venture to intentionally shape the future and adapt to trends of agency consolidation within the state. Joining forces also enables the combined organization to have a stronger voice with funders and ensure sustainability. Venture’s strategic agenda post-merger prioritizes the enhancement of existing programs, development of new initiatives and the cultivation of a robust workforce prepared to meet evolving client needs.

“Our board is so excited about the opportunity to create a single organization that is even stronger than its individual parts and will continue to provide consistently high levels of service to individuals in need,” said Donna Peters, President of Venture’s Board of Directors.

About Venture Community Services

Venture Community Services is committed to providing compassionate, person-centered services to nearly 600 people with developmental disabilities and autism across Massachusetts. From its beginnings with two small group homes, Venture has evolved into one of the states’ premier human service providers with over 1,000 employees. Venture encourages independence through a continuum of support, which includes community residential services, day programs, supported employment, transportation, autism supports and shared living. Next year, the agency will celebrate its 50^th anniversary of providing support to those in need.

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