KenCrest Community Champions 2021
Alexis and David from Seeds of Purpose, a horticultural therapy program.
Dear Friends and Supporters, Thank you for your commitment to KenCrest’s mission of delivering supports to our community’s most vulnerable and under-resourced people and their families. While I’m disappointed to not celebrate your contributions at a festive in-person event, I’m thankful for the way COVID has lent perspective and highlighted the qualities of character we most value. The pandemic has been a challenge for all of us. Rather than conserving your resources, you have stretched your arms wide to support our KenCrest family with philanthropy, advocacy, and good cheer. 753 donors made financial commitments to KenCrest last fiscal year. Nearly 2,500 people were following us on social media by the end of fiscal year 2021; an increase of 900 over the previous year. Dozens of supporters provided testimony to state and local agencies advocating for our KenCrest family, and countless others wrote letters and sent emails to elected officials to champion our cause. Every one of you is a hero.
Thank you!
On behalf of the entire KenCrest family, thank you.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey A. Dubnow Chief Development Officer
Applauding our Community Champions In its sixth year, Community Champions recognizes outstanding people, businesses, community organizations, and advocates who through their everyday actions support the mission of KenCrest, and most importantly, make an impact on the people we serve. While much has changed in the past year, many things stayed the same; the enthusiasm and sincerity of our supporters did not waiver. This year, we shine a spotlight on our supporters and advocates who have made 2021 brighter. You will see how our Champions have explored new possibilities, mobilized their networks, and through their efforts have empowered the dreams of many members of the KenCrest family. Flip through the pages to read their stories.
Ladies and gentlemen from PA Residential touch hearts with a Happiness Delivery.
Sponsors Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Carol Hammarberg and donors at KenCrest’s in-person Community Champions event in 2019.
Marian Baldini & Larry Filtz Carol Hammarberg Aurora Kripa & Jessie Fells
Bronze Sponsors Cont. Reformation Lutheran Church (Media, PA) Joy & Robert Reiss Ann Sheafer Paul & Kathy Trumbore Joe & Vicki Tyler
Silver Sponsors Jeff & Stacie Dubnow Colleen Kelly & Paul Hisem Maryann Ludwig Brian Skinner & Barbara Vanett
Bronze Sponsors
Additional Sponsors
Merri & Drew Brown Marla & Richard Cohen Mariel Filtz Revs. Alina Gayeuski & Daniel Smith Barbara & Nick Kochard Elaine & James O’Connor Ann Marie & Cameron Pendleton Kim & Scott Quinn
Greg & Roseann Adamo Josh & Rachael Balascak Jan & Kevin Ballard Leigh Anne & Steven Bell Larry & Loyce Brown Linda Bucher Cheryl & Paul Coffin Erfan Zoghi
...And the winners are:
Marc’s Mission, Mobilizing Resources Champion
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his award is presented to a Champion who multiplies the power of community in support of our mission. Mobilizing Resources is coming together to ensure we can overcome the challenges we face as a community. Marc Sternberg, the founder of Marc’s Mission, exemplifies those values. For the past several years, Marc has partnered with Philadelphia-area nonprofits to help them access needed resources. Marc and his wife, Rese, organize donation drives, volunteer days, and social media campaigns to raise awareness. Earlier this year, Marc’s Mission hosted a donation drive to benefit KenCrest in May and June. Marc collected thousands of items from our wishlist. Many of the donations were school supplies for KenCrest’s Early Learning Centers, just as students were preparing to return to in-class learning after a year of virtual education. The supplies were the perfect jump-start to get our classrooms ready for the next school year. For Marc’s selfless work in bringing the community together to support KenCrest, and spreading awareness
of our mission, we are happy to announce Marc’s Mission as the Mobilizing Resources Champion! Tap on a photo to watch Marc’s video.
Marc collected thousands of items from our wishlist.
Marc dropped off a trunk full of wishlist items for our seven Early Learning Centers across Philadelphia.
Carol Hammarberg, Empowering Dreams Champion
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his inaugural award honors a Champion whose joyfulness and generosity has made three decades worth of difference for KenCrest families. Carol Hammarberg always approaches philanthropy with rare compassion and selflessness. A true inspiration, Carol is KenCrest’s Empowering Dreams Champion. It is difficult to sum up how integral Carol has been to the KenCrest family since being introduced to us through her involvement in another Luthern Service organization.
Her relationships and network are farreaching. She shares the vision of KenCrest and the importance of radical inclusion wherever she goes and with whomever she meets. Carol maintains relationships with some of our most loyal supporters, even visiting them when she is on vacation out of state. As Carol says, “I was blessed to get to see firsthand how children, adults, and families were cared for at KenCrest.” She described herself as a story teller and, after a career in the human services field, has no shortage of stories to share. After seeing the difference KenCrest made in many lives Carol was only too happy to throw her support behind our mission and the team members who bring it to life.
“I was blessed to get to see firsthand how children, adults, and families were cared for at KenCrest.” Carol supporting our in-person KenCrest Masters event in 2019.
Carol has led the charge at her church during the holiday season to collect thousands of gifts for the Family Fund. She has made connections for people in the community to find supports they need or find employment at KenCrest.
In “Carol Hammarberg” fashion, her immediate response to winning the Empowering Dream award was to offer a list of other supporters who she felt were more deserving. Tap on a photo to watch Carol’s video.
Charles Davis, A Place in the Sun Champion
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his award is presented to those who give selflessly of themselves in order to brighten the lives of others. If you were to speak with Charles Davis for just a few minutes, you understand why he is a Community Champion.
and inclusive environment for those in need; a home away from home. Charles turned Carolyn’s house into a loving home by doing yard work, providing holiday meals, stopping by for weekly visits, and leading trips out in the community.
Charles’ kindness and passion to help are impossible to miss. When Carolyn came to KenCrest in 2017, Charles made a large donation to help construct a new, purposebuilt house that she, and other people with disabilities, could live in. However, it is the way that Mr. Davis has helped transform that house into a home that makes him this year’s Place in the Sun Champion.
His can-do attitude is contagious and he is a staunch advocate for the DSPs who support his daughter and her house mates. Charles always works to make sure they have the resources they need to support those around them. The light he brings is precisely why Charles Davis is this year’s A Place in the Sun Champion. Tap on a photo to watch Charles' video.
“A Place in the Sun” was the rallying cry of KenCrest over a century ago, as our founders worked to create a comforting
Charles with his wife and daughter, Carolyn.
Charles turned Carolyn’s house into a loving home.
A wall of colorful artwork Carolyn and her friends at the home created.
McLean Contributionship, Exploring Possibilities Champion
With their help, KenCrest was able to purchase PPE, cleaning supplies, and technology.
A stockpile of medical supplies McLean funded to help support meaningful lives.
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his award honors a Champion who seeks opportunity to help members of the KenCrest family lead meaningful lives.
When the pandemic hit last year, there were so many unknowns. At KenCrest, the biggest unknown we grappled with was: “How do we keep everyone safe but still connected to the supports they need?” McLean listened to the unprecedented needs of local nonprofits and responded by making emergency grant funding available. With their help, KenCrest was able to purchase PPE, cleaning supplies, and technology to keep people connected with their doctors, therapists, and most importantly their families and friends, while under lockdown. Our friends at McLean helped people lead meaningful lives while staying safe
Asia, Lead Direct Support Professional, and Michael wave hello from his purpose-build home in Delaware.
and healthy during a very challenging time. Their willingness to engage in a dialogue with us to lend support where it was needed most, particularly given the unforeseen supply need we faced, was admirable and demonstrates why McLean is this year’s Exploring Possibilities Champion! Tap on a photo to watch McLean’s video.
Patty & Jasmine Pike, Advocacy Champions Patty is a fierce advocate for herself and knows how to stand out for all the right reasons.
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his award is presented to Champions who promote greater awareness, appreciation, and independence within the disability community. Patty and Jasmine Pike are reminders of why the dreams of people KenCrest supports are truly our mission. Over 25 years ago, Patty joined the KenCrest family while pregnant with her daughter, Jasmine. She dreamed of raising Jasmine herself and was introduced to our Lifesharing program. In Lifesharing, Patty met a woman named Robin who helped bring that dream to fruition. Over time, Patty and Jasmine wished for further independence as mother and daughter as well as individually. Patty transitioned into Supported Independent Living where she has an apartment and works part-time. Jasmine moved into a Community Living residence where she’s setting her own goals and determining the direction she wants to go in life. Patty and Jasmine experienced challenges and setbacks in their journeys. Along the way, they have never wavered in advocating for themselves and the lives they envisioned of independence, love, and choice. Tap on a photo to watch Patty and Jasmine Pike’s video. Jasmine enjoys living a life with independence and choice.
Jasmine moved into a Community Living residence where she’s setting her own goals.
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