More than 300 people gathered under a tent on Prospect Street for an emotional ceremony as JESPY House broke ground for the 80,000-square-foot JESPY Center on the Cooperman Family Campus, which will provide affordable housing and as well as services to enable JESPY clients to age in place for decades to come.
From left, Assemblywoman Garnet Hall, JESPY Board President Dr. Ahadi Bugg-Levine, South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum, and JESPY Executive Director Audrey Winkler at the groundbreaking for the JESPY Center on the Cooperman Family Campus. (Photo by Laura Griffin)
The building will provide 26 one-bedroom apartments and 20 aging-in-place suites, in addition to enhanced accessible program space for vocational training, health and wellness and clinical support. Nearby on Milligan Street, another JESPY project — The Hub — which will house 20 young adult clients, is in the works and they hope to break ground on it soon. Fundraising for the two projects is part of a $26.5 million “Go Big for JESPY” campaign, in which Toby and Leon Cooperman provided a $13.5 challenge grant to incentivize others to give, including three families — the Myers, the Eisenbergs and the Peskin families — that each gave $1 million.
“’Go Big for JESPY’ will support longtime clients to remain in their homes in the community that they love as they grow older, with the right care and supports in place, and will provide stability for those at risk of displacement due to increased housing costs,” JESPY Executive Director Audrey Winkler told the crowd. “I’m so thrilled this day is here. This is not just about the building — it’s about building lives. For too long, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities or IDD have been left out of conversations about affordable housing and aging services. The JESPY Center on the Cooperman Family Campus changes that and it says loud and clear, ‘You belong. Your future is important.’”
The lots have been cleared of houses to make room for the JESPY Center on the Cooperman Family Campus. (Photo by Laura Griffin)
Other featured speakers included Leon Cooperman; South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum; State Senator Renee Burgess, who brought a Senate proclamation supporting JESPY; Assemblywoman Garnet Hall; JESPY donors John Myers and Judy Peskin, who along with the Eisenberg family, gave $1 million each; and JESPY clients, staff, family members and board president.
Cooperman told the audience that he and Toby believe in the work JESPY House is doing and that giving back to the community is “our moral imperative to help others to fulfill their dreams.” As the son of a plumber who didn’t always have money, he wants give others “the chance to live the American Dream.”
Toby and Leon Cooperman provided a $13.25 million challenge grant, in which they will match up $13.25 million in donations. (Photo by Laura Griffin)
“You know, one thing that we’re proud of in South Orange is, we have a motto that ‘everybody belongs here,’” said Mayor Collum. “The JESPY community doesn’t just live here. They contribute to our community in so many ways. As volunteers, as activists, as people who work in our many businesses are spending money in our downtown and our commercial districts, and most importantly, the smiles that they share with our residents. When our residents get to meet a JESPY client, I think it just makes everybody’s hearts a little bit bigger.”
Collum became emotional when she addressed Toby and Leon Cooperman, calling them and the other big donors “angels among us.”
“It’s people like you who pay it forward in this world,” she said. “You stepping up to give such a sizable contribution along with the other families that you had mentioned and that Audrey has mentioned it’s just a gift in this world is that there are many good causes and yet you chose the JESPY House and you decided not just to go big, but you went humongous.”
She said even if others can’t give that kind of sum, it inspires them to think about how much they are able to give. “If everybody chooses to give what they can give and be inspired by these incredible angels, I know we will be able to push this project over the finish line.”
Adding more affordable housing and services that allow JESPY clients to age in place will help people like Kelly, a JESPY client for 30 years, who works part-time and uses JESPY services, but lives in her own apartment in South Orange.
“My rent for my apartment is $2,000 a month. As I get older, I may not be able to pay that rent, especially after I retire from my job,” she said. “Affordable housing in South Orange is non-existent, but the motto for South Orange is ‘everyone belongs here.’ When I do retire from my job, I would like to live in South Orange, and that’s so expensive. Plus, having spent 30 years living here and being a JESPY client, I’ve made a lot of really good friends that have become like family. And since both my parents have passed away, I will have no home to go to. If everyone belongs here, don’t I? Thanks to the new JESPY Center many clients will have an opportunity to remain in South Orange.”
Kelly and an older client Ben and a younger client David who also spoke were among a large contingent of JESPY clients attending the event — and who originally got the ball rolling because they advocated for themselves, said JESPY Board President Dr. Ahadi Bugg-Levine.
“I want to take a few minutes to think about how we got here,” she said. “Before there were board approvals, before there were so many conversations with all of you, our donors, so many people contributing and before we told you about ‘Go Big for JESPY,’ before the feasibility studies, before the needs assessments, it started with our clients. Our clients are the reason we’re here.”
JESPY has been helping adults with IDD live independently and contribute to the South Orange community for 47 years.
State Assemblywoman Garnet Hall applauded JESPY House and its clients and its mission. “We celebrate community and we empower adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be seen, to be heard and to be recognized as part of our community,” she said. “So as we lift our shovel today, I join you with pride, with purpose and with this shared commitment to creating a place that will continue to change lives.”
Philanthropists Toby and Leon Cooperman (holding hardhats) are flanked by JESPY Board President Dr. Ahadi Bugg-Levine (left), JESPY Executive Director Audrey Winkler (right) and members of JESPY Board of Trustees. (Credit: Elise Campbell Photography)
With smiling faces and shovels in hand, JESPY clients, board members, and local politicians were joined by philanthropists Toby and Leon Cooperman at the groundbreaking site. (Credit: Elise Campbell Photography)
Attendees make their way to the big tent for the hour-long groundbreaking program. (Photo by Laura Griffin)
