A-1 Self Storage, which operates 48 facilities in California, has donated $500,000 to St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), a nonprofit that offers programs for adults with developmental disabilities. The money will be used for renovations for the center’s new aquatics locker room. The makeover, which began on Sept. 15, is a part of a comprehensive capital campaign, according to the source.

SMSC’s aquatics program offers year-round classes to its students as well as the general public. The program includes the Arthritis Foundation’s aquatic-exercise class and SMSC’s moderate-intensity aqua-fitness class. It also offers swim lessons for adults and children with special needs and adaptive swim-team training.

A-1 founders Terrence and Barbara Caster have supported SMSC for decades. Their son, Brian Caster, the company’s president, and his siblings worked at the center during summers in their youth, the source reported.

“On behalf of our 400 students with developmental disabilities at the center, we’d like to express our sincere gratitude to the Caster Family and A-1 Self Storage for their extremely generous gift,” said CEO Debra Emerson. “We deeply appreciate their caring generosity and ongoing support of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center and the students we serve.”

Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, SMSC provides programs for adults with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other development disabilities. In addition to its aquatics program, it also offers classes in art, computers, culinary arts and gardening.

A-1 Self Storage is a division of the Caster Cos., a third-generation, family-owned company headquartered in Southern California since 1959. Caster Cos. develops and manages A-1 Self Storage, A-1 Car Storage and other commercial properties in California. Its portfolio includes more than 5 million square feet of real estate.

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