MANSFIELD — Troy Smith said Jeff Colatruglio has a heart of gold.
Colatruglio is the life enrichment and events coordinator at Richland Newhope’s Raintree residential facility at 721 Scholl Road.
He’s been with Newhope for about 10 months. His work centers around event creation and taking residents out into the community and state.
“They just have a lot of fun with me and I have a blast with them,” Colatruglio said Thursday to the Richland County Board of Commissioners.
Smith, manager of community education and special projects for Newhope, said Colatruglio does an excellent job creating opportunities for Raintree residents in the community.
“(He) works really hard to make sure they’re (residents) included,” he said.
Smith, Colatruglio and other Newhope representatives, along with two Raintree residents, attended commissioners’ Thursday meeting to receive a proclamation declaring March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
Raintree renovations
Raintree is a care facility for adults with developmental disabilities that opened in 1981.
In May 2024, Newhope staff and clients celebrated renovations, about two years in the making, to the facility. Upgrades included larger resident bedrooms, a family visitation room and advanced tools for resident care.
The renovations also include an outdoor courtyard and new lift systems in residents’ bedrooms that make it easier to lift and lower patients out of their beds.
Raintree is licensed for 27 residents and has about 30 staff members employed at the facility. Richland Newhope supports more than 1,200 Richland County residents through its various programs.
“(Renovations) made it (Raintree) a lot more comfortable and accessible for everybody that lives there,” said Michele Giess, Newhope superintendent.
“We added some square footage, put in some more updated equipment and just made it a much more nice setting for the people that live there,” she said.
Commissioners Tony Vero, Cliff Mears and Darrell Banks each thanked all Newhope representatives in attendance Thursday.
Schuster appointed to children services board
In other action Thursday, commissioners approved the appointment of Fred Schuster to the Richland County Children Services Board.
The term expires at the end of 2025.
Vero said due to employment, a former board member had to step down — creating the vacancy.
Schuster, COO of ArcelorMittal Tubular Products, has a vast experience working with people and managing operations, he said.
“He (Schuster) said he doesn’t have to travel enough where he would miss any appointments and he would be very eager to serve, as Fred’s always looking to get involved,” Vero said.