Our Future Has Never Looked Brighter

There is a wonderful quote by famed American poet Nikki Giovanni that says, “Now everything I do, I do because I want to. And I think the best is yet to come.” Ms. Giovanni’s powerful statement is a perfect summarization of how I feel about Penn-Mar Human Services’ focus and future outlook. And while I consider every year Penn-Mar is operating to be worth celebrating, the accomplishments of the previous year make it one of the most significant in Penn-Mar’s 43-year history.

But before I discuss what’s next, I must thank the incredible people who make Penn-Mar such a transformative organization. Our consistent success demands time, energy, and unwavering commitment. This would never be possible without our dedicated team members, many of whom operate behind the scenes. These professionals invest a significant portion of their lives to enhance the quality of life for others. This is the essence of our community – intertwining lives to uplift everyone, creating a space that is not just functional but truly exceptional.

I’d also like to acknowledge the loss of two very close friends and champions of Penn-Mar’s mission: Jon and Tim Kinsley, who passed away in January 2023. Jon was an executive at the York-based Kinsley Enterprises, the parent company of Kinsley Construction and Kinsley Properties, of which Tim was the president.  Jon joined our Board of Directors in 2008 and served in a variety of leadership positions. Though he was presented with an unlimited amount of board opportunities in our community, Jon chose to stick with us for over 15 years. He and Tim were incredible ambassadors for Penn-Mar and dear friends who will be forever missed. In Jon’s honor, we are renaming our Impact Award, given out to a deserving individual each year at our Gala, the Jonathan R. Kinsley Impact Award. A fitting tribute to someone who gave so much to help others.

Reflecting on Penn-Mar’s accomplishments in the past year, the most significant was the successful completion of our $7.5 million Building Bold Futures (BBF) campaign, which officially concluded during our annual Gala (more about that in a moment) in March. In fact, we not only reached the goal but eclipsed it, securing $7.6 million! Ambitious from the start, BBF was only possible because of our supporters. The funds are already being put to great use, but more importantly, BBF allows us to take on exciting new opportunities to Live Courageously.

It’s fitting that the Gala was the scene where BBF wrapped, as it is the night we set aside each year to celebrate our supporters and successes. As if the campaign’s completion wasn’t exciting enough, the Gala itself raised $1 million for the first time in its 32-year history. It was truly humbling to see such an outpouring of spontaneous altruism and unprecedented generosity.

2023 also saw the acceleration of our Belonging Initiative, an internal exploration of our team culture, which has helped us identify ways we can make the Penn-Mar employee experience even better. In a blog post from October 2023, I highlighted some key areas based on team feedback. These insights have been vital to our organization as we remain focused on recruitment, retention, and delivering the highest quality services.

Much of that retention and recruitment success will be a result of our continued commitment to increased wages for our invaluable Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). As you well know, our DSPs are the lifeblood of what we do. Financed in part by our BBF fundraising, Penn-Mar’s Board dedicated $3 million toward wage increases for our DSPs in 2023. Together with our Career Ladders program for professional DSP advancement, we have taken substantial steps to further invest in this critical workforce.

It’s important to share how each of these achievements came to fruition. As with every Penn-Mar endeavor, our goals are a direct a result of constantly asking: “How can we do more?” We wanted to secure a future where we can focus squarely on innovation and positive mission growth. Or, as I like to think of it, a future where we navigate a higher quality of problems. For instance, worrying about putting food on the table is a very different concern than having to decide between lobster or steak. Your generosity during our BBF campaign, as well as some very smart business decisions made by our boards and team, have allowed us to make immense strides in securing this future.

Indeed, Penn-Mar’s challenges have elevated significantly. While wise financial decisions will always be part of our strategy, we are able to approach supports in more creative and person-centered ways than ever before, helping people with IDD find jobs they love, live more independently, pursue personal goals and dreams, and develop an increasingly inclusive community.

By tackling complex questions about how we can do more, we open the door to possibility and a strengthened focus of Penn-Mar’s mission. Is it hard work? Absolutely. But because of your support, I not only love what I do, but couldn’t be more excited about what’s to come.

Thank you,

Greg Miller, CEO

Penn-Mar Human Services

Laying the Groundwork for a Future of Prosperity 

Since its humble beginnings in a church basement in 1981, Penn-Mar Human Services has always been a forward-thinking organization, never able to settle for what’s been done or dwelling too long on past accomplishments. And as we consider the extraordinary achievements of 2023, the Penn-Mar Foundation is in a tremendous position to charge ahead and tackle new opportunities for success and change.  

One of the biggest factors in this enthusiasm comes from the successful completion of our $7.5 million Building Bold Futures (BBF) campaign, which concluded at our Gala in March. The outpouring of support was awe-inspiring and because of this effort, Penn-Mar’s future is perhaps the most solid it’s ever been. Penn-Mar continues to approach problem-solving by focusing on action, strategy, and mission acceleration, rather than merely raising funds without a clear plan for how they’d be utilized. Ensuring that Penn-Mar can be a transformative organization for years to come, and our future leadership can continue to carve out new programs and services, required an intrepid approach. And as we dove into the solution, BBF was revealed as the clear path to take – regardless of how daunting it may have seemed at the time. But our commitment is unshakable, as is the generosity of the stakeholders who support Penn-Mar’s mission. 

Many of those stakeholders were on hand to celebrate BBF’s conclusion at our annual Gala, the single most important fundraiser of the year. And I am honored to share that for the first time in its 32 years of existence, we raised $1 million. A proud moment I will remember forever.  

That generosity continued right until the end of 2023 with our End-of-Year (EOY) campaign, which saw a remarkable 94% increase over the previous year’s EOY efforts, showcasing the strength of our benefactors’ loyalty to Penn-Mar.  

One of the most significant projects that came from the BBF funds was the completion of renovations for our Far Hills location in New Freedom, Pa. The improvements are part of a greater move to create inspirational work environments for our team and the people we serve.  A workforce that feels engaged, valued, and respected is key to delivering the highest levels of support, which is why our fealty to nurturing a positive and supportive work environment remains unwavering.  

And a key component of that employee support also comes from our Belonging Initiative, which has been funded by the Foundation. The Belonging Initiative brings a central focus on inclusivity and mutual understanding. As champions of inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we recognize the importance of understanding and leveraging differences internally. This enterprise ensures that new and veteran employees fully grasp the essence of Penn-Mar’s allegiance to individual expression, empowerment, and appreciation.  

That appreciation of our employees continues with The Foundation’s ongoing funding of Penn-Mar’s Career Ladders program for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Though the industry average for DSP retention hovers around 50%, this past fiscal year Penn-Mar saw a 90% retention rate for DSPs who have graduated from the program – irrefutable proof of its value. Penn-Mar has relied heavily on the Career Ladders Program to give our DSPs the chance to acquire professional credentials and increased compensation. But the wage issue, which stems from inadequate government funding, continues to be a problem for the entire industry. This is why in 2023, Penn-Mar made a commitment to annual increases of $3 million for DSP wages, allowing us to attract and retain the best talent in the field. DSPs are the most important members of our team and are critical to our mission.  

Another method for furthering our mission to Live Courageously is through Penn-Mar’s concerted effort to utilize Assistive Technology (AT). The AT Lending Library at our Far Hills location is visited by dozens of individuals each week, all eager to use the items for everyday tasks many of us take for granted. Leveraging technology allows us to empower the people we support and our workforce, providing more independence and freedom. AT is a crucial component of our initiatives and enables us to offer assistance even when our team is not providing in-person support.  

As we move forward into 2024, we are filled with gratitude for the support Penn-Mar has received. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and the potential for real, transformative change. Together, we can continue to grow, do more, help more, and face the challenges that lie ahead. 

On behalf of everyone at Penn-Mar and the Penn-Mar Foundation, thank you for being an integral component of the Penn-Mar Human Services legacy.  

Thank you,
Kathy Rogers

Executive Director, Penn-Mar Foundation
Chief Advancement Officer, Penn-Mar Human Services

Human Services Board of Directors

• William T. Yanavitch, II, Chair
• Elizabeth Pitts-Madonna, Vice-Chair
• Paul Shifrin, Treasurer
• Kristine A. Crosswhite, Secretary
• Douglas A. Rein, Immediate Past Chair
• Dr. James Ball
• Marriah Barnett
• Bruce Bartels
• Anthony P. Campisi
• Jill Golueke
• Denise Hargrove
• Julia Huggins
• Chrysta R. Stine
• Matthew Superczynski
• Robert Zerance, Jr.
• Morton F. Zifferer, Jr.

Foundation Board of Directors

• Elizabeth Pitts-Madonna, Chair
• Julia Huggins, Vice-Chair
• Anthony Gallo, Immediate Past Chair
• Dr. James Ball
• Bruce M. Bartels
• Max Blumenthal
• Anthony P. Campisi
• Kristine A. Crosswhite
• Joe DiPaola
• Gary Gilbert
• Holly Litrenta
• William T. Yanavitch. II

Statement of Activities:

REVENUES:

Expenses:

Statement of Financial Position: