Amherst County resident pays tribute to his late brother by making a one-of-a-kind donation to residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities

MADISON HEIGHTS, Va. – A man from Amherst County chose to commemorate his late brother by making a one-of-a-kind donation to the caregivers and patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities who get treatment at Horizon Behavioral Health.

On Monday, Jeff Crickenberger made a donation of a gazebo to the Horizon’s home in Madison Heights. David Crickenberger spent the last few years of his life there. Jeff’s donation was in David’s honor.

Jeff said that David was unable to move after surgery to remove a brain tumor and that he passed away in July 2022 at the age of 61.

When they were small children, the two were separated and put in different foster homes; it wasn’t until much later that they tracked each other out.

Jeff said that his brother liked spending time outdoors, but that the facility was in need of some improvements.

“It didn’t give them a good opportunity to come outside, to enjoy the outside. They have the porch here, but I just thought they needed more. So, I did this not only for David but for everybody else,” Jeff said.

“It didn’t give them a good opportunity to come outside, to enjoy the outside. They have the porch here, but I just thought they needed more. So, I did this not only for David but for everybody else,” Jeff said.

Additionally, Jeff was effusive in his admiration of the staff members’ compassionate treatment of David.

“It was always nice because I always attended his doctors’ appointments, and they always made sure he was there with me. They always kept in touch with me as far as his medical decisions,” Jeff said.

Horizon Behavioral Health runs eight facilities in Lynchburg and Madison Heights, where they care for nearly 40 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.