Location
South Orange
Leader
Audrey Winkler, executive director
Origin
JESPY House was founded in 1978 by a small group of families who saw there was a lack of resources in the community for their young adult children with intellectual and developmental disabilities to have lives of independence and choice after high school.
Mission/vision
JESPY House supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or IDD, helping them achieve their full potential and lead lives of independence. Its philosophy promotes individual choice, self-direction and community living. Today, JESPY serves over 400 adult clients, ages 18 through their 70s, supporting them in every facet of their lives.
Key programs
- Wide range of residential options with JESPY support
- Day program to foster skill-building and socialization
- Vocational program to provide employment opportunities and support
Biggest event/fundraiser
JESPY seeks support throughout the year for its operational needs, with a year-end campaign and spring gala generating the most support. These funds help to ensure it can provide clients with high-quality programs and services.
JESPY also has a capital campaign now called Go Big for JESPY to help raise funds for two buildings to provide enhanced programs and services and more residential options that are affordably priced. Some residential opportunities will be geared toward older adults and some toward young adults who wish to start their independent residential journey.
Supporters/donors
JESPY’s Go Big campaign has been fortunate to have a matching challenge grant from philanthropists Toby and Leon Cooperman. Any gifts made to the campaign will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, until it reaches its goal.
One more thing
When you support JESPY, you are literally changing lives.
How to support
Funding is always needed and welcomed for day-to-day operational needs. Interested donors may go to jespyhouse.org/Donate to make their gift, or email aengel@jespy.org.
