Part 6: The People Were Always the Priority

Ask Nancy Riggle what she's most proud of after nearly five decades at Valley Residential Services, and you won't hear her talk about buildings, budgets, or awards.

She'll talk about people.

She'll tell you about someone who learned to live independently after years of being told they never could. She'll remember a family who finally found hope during one of the hardest times in their lives. She'll smile as she talks about a veteran who found stability, purpose, and a fresh start through the CORD program.

Those are the moments that mattered.

Throughout her career, Nancy believed every person deserved the opportunity to live with dignity, to be treated with respect, and to have someone believe in them—even when they didn't yet believe in themselves.

That philosophy shaped every decision she made.

When challenges arose, the question was never, "Is this easy?" It was always, "Is this what's best for the people we serve?"

The answer often required creativity, determination, and a willingness to do what others thought couldn't be done. It meant finding resources where none seemed to exist, building partnerships throughout the community, and never losing sight of the mission.

Over the years, Valley Residential Services grew because the needs of the community grew. But even as programs expanded, one thing never changed: people always came first.

For Nancy, leadership was never about sitting behind a desk. It was about listening, encouraging, solving problems, and making sure every individual who walked through the doors of Valley Residential Services knew they mattered.

That simple belief, that every life has value, became the heart of the organization.

It still is.