Opportunity Partners history

The expansion was completed in 1958.

By 1961, people from all over Minnesota sought Opportunity Partners' (then Opportunity Workshop) services.

On May 13, 1963, the first Opportunity Partners board of directors meeting took place and was featured in the Richfield News.

1974 - Three Northwest Orient Airline stewardesses volunteered to teach beauty and personal grooming classes to women served by Opportunity Partners, helping boost their confidence and experience some pampering!

1978: 22 people served by Opportunity Partners participated in various events of the Minnesota State Special Olympics and brought home 37 medals! Job well done!

1981: Opportunity Partners’ Food Service workers model their new aprons during a well-deserved break!

1983: Cleo, pictured working on word recognition with Tom, was one of 50 volunteers who regularly came to Opportunity Partners to instruct people served in areas such as academics, crafts, industrial arts and evaluation/testing. “It’s different from a job – it’s more like recreation for me.

1992: Opportunity Partners’ Asplin Center was built in Plymouth to provide a variety of life-skill opportunities for more than 100 adults, as well as the ability to better serve assembly and packaging customers.

1996: Joe no longer requires services from Opportunity Partners but still enjoys playing basketball with the friends he made in the Semi-Independent Living Service (SILS) Program.

1998: Opportunity Partners’ Residential Services expanded to the north metro at the request of Anoka County.

1999: Bob transitioned from the Opportunity Partners work floor to a housekeeping job at the Marriott Southwest, earning a sizable pay raise that allowed him to pursue his love of travel! He traveled to Nashville, Memphis and New York City.

2003: Dennis grew up around horses, knew countless facts about them, attended horse shows and owned a Quarter horse named Dream.

2007: Opportunity Partners’ Golden Opportunity seniors day program opened its doors on June 4, much to the delight of program participants and staff who relocated to Eden Prairie.