TSI 50th Anniversary Celebration

In 1966, Orville J. "Bud" Royer established Transitional Services as a halfway house for newly released mental patients. Bud Royer dedicated his life as a mental health advocate. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette noted him as a "pioneer in the development of transitional living for mentally and physically disabled people from institutions."

Royer held a master's degree in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a lecturer and part-time faculty member at the graduate schools of social work and public health. He also served as the president of the Pitt School of Social Work Alumni Association. Additionally, he served as a consultant to mental health programs in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Hawaii, and to the Community Support Project of the National Institute of Mental Health.

In a 1972 interview, Royer shared that he was working to undo 30-40 years of damage done by the mental health system, noting that Transitional Services received several patients who were deaf, but were mistaken for mentally ill.

This May, Transitional Services Inc. celebrates our 50th year since our incorporation in 1969. An April 7, 1969 Pittsburgh Post Gazette article that announced the incorporation recognized: "Since being founded, Transitional Services has placed more than 175 ex-patients in its own 'halfway house' in furnished apartments and in foster homes."

In honor of this milestone of the 50th year of Royer's mission to help people with mental disabilities discover and achieve their hopes and dreams for a meaningful life in the community, TSI will be celebrating with a Gala Event on Friday, May 10, 2019 at the Hyundai Club at PNC Park from 6-10 p.m.

Sponsors, agency staff and guest, and other key stakeholders will be in attendance. The event will feature hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, dinner, live entertainment, a Chinese Auction and presentations on the history of the agency.