At the turn of the century, Tuberculosis ravaged the United States as the second-longest cause of death in the country, and the aptly named “White Plague” wreaked havoc on Kensington, Pa. To combat the onslaught of disease, Sister Maria Roeck and Rev. August Fischer came together to help those afflicted by providing care.

Sister Maria Roeck, a robust and forceful woman, “was strong enough to survive a man’s world and lead men who were themselves leaders in their own right,” according to “KenCrest: A Story of One Century, Two Missions, Three Pioneers.” 

She spent 42 years of her life taking care of her partially disabled mother, and when she passed away, Sister Maria applied to the Lutheran Deaconess Community. With her forceful and direct leadership, Sister Maria earned the respect of numerous doctors and was determined to help those who needed it most.

After a few years, many doctors noticed improvements in children who ventured away from the city and enjoyed time on a farm. Their spirits and condition greatly improved. So, Sister Maria and her board decided to buy the Rivercrest farm and turn it into a home and dormitory for children with TB.

By the end of 1925, Rivercrest cared for more than 2,000 children. At a joint meeting of the Dispensary Board of Managers and the River Crest Committee, they decided to build a new and larger facility. Thus, fundraising campaigns began with the slogan, “Gus us a Place in the Sun.”

On April 29, 1929, the brand-new Preventorium building was finished and dedicated in a grand ceremony.

A new Deaconess-In-Charge was appointed, Sister Grace Jones, who improved a mission that endured 50 years. She reshaped an organization that lasted 70 years.

As the third Deaconess, Sister Grace changed the mission from TB to helping people with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families. She firmly believed in family support and wanted to ensure that it met the needs of the family and the people we support.

It was customary for a person with disabilities to be placed within an institution like Pennhurst during this time. At the same time, children with disabilities raised at home couldn’t attend a public school. Along with many supporters, Sister Grace thought this was wrong and wanted to create normalization around people with disabilities and treat them like any average person.

With a clear need for community-based programs, Sister Grace formed a second class at the Kensington Dispensary and began a class at River Crest for children with developmental disabilities. River Crest even included a summer camp program.

For decades, the Kensington Dispensary and River Crest operated as two separate entities with different Boards of Directors. Under Sister Grace’s rule, she combined the two into a single board with a new name: KenCrest Centers for Exceptional Persons. Connecting the agency allows for a more effective way of dealing with governmental bodies.

After the merger, Sister Grace took a step into the background, becoming Director of Residential Services at River Crest, while James O. Vammen became the Executive Director of KenCrest.

As a visionary, Vammen was eager to see normalization implemented in Philadelphia, so he converted the dispensary into a group home for eight teenagers with developmental disabilities. He pushed policymakers to develop and fund Community Living Arrangements—small-group residential settings in local neighborhoods—so they could become active in their community.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was signed, causing Pennhurst to close. KenCrest then became the leader in developing Community-Based Services in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Nolan believed that as KenCrest’s mission grew, the balance of privately contributed funds and governmentally contracted funds would shift focus onto the ladder. So, he separated the agency into two corporate bodies: KenCrest Services, which manages programs funded through government contracts, and KenCrest Centers, which operates services provided through private funding.

The 152-acre River Crest site sold; it wasn’t finalized until 2001. River Crest was bought for $7,000 and was sold 90 years later for $6 million.

Since 1997, KenCrest has continued to expand, supporting people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Today, our services span from birth to seniors, helping people with disabilities to have lives full of meaning and independence.

Building on the EmployNet vision, it extended further in 2001 with the creation of TransitionMap, a regional guide designed to help families, educators, and students navigate the complex path from school to adulthood. Tailored to each Pennsylvania county KenCrest served, it became a trusted resource and a launching pad for connection, collaboration, and long-term planning. Several years later, KenCrest’s TransitionMap network expanded to Delaware, bringing its model of inclusive planning to even more families and communities.  

In 2001 KenCrest finalized the sale of River Crest, the cherished property Sister Maria Roeck once called her “Place in the Sun.” The land that had been purchased in 1911 for $7,000 was sold for $6 million—a poignant moment filled with reverence. River Crest had been a haven for generations, and the Board of Directors knew its legacy must be preserved. The proceeds were placed in an endowment, ensuring that Sister Maria’s vision of care, dignity, and healing would continue in new, meaningful, and innovative ways. Though its chapter had now officially closed, River Crest’s spirit would live on in every home, every classroom, and every community KenCrest touched.  

KenCrest’s growth was more than strategic—it was fueled by love. In 2004, the organization opened the West Early Learning Center on Elmwood Avenue, expanding access to high-quality early education, while a generous gift from the Davenport Family Foundation helped build a new playground at the West Center, where children could laugh, climb, and play safely under open skies. That same year KenCrest opened its first residential home for school-age children who were both medically fragile and developmentally delayed—a place where complex medical needs were met with compassion and where childhood could still flourish.  

Massive change came in 2011, when KenCrest acquired Lynch Homes, a family-owned and operated agency that had been serving people who are medically fragile for over 77 years. Henry Lynch, the owner and President of the organization retired, and without any family member available to carry on his work, he chose KenCrest as the place to continue his family’s legacy.  

At this time, KenCrest was one of the largest providers of community-based services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and autism in Southeastern Pennsylvania, serving over 8,700 people in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut. While Lynch homes consisted of 450 consumers, 51 locations, and 500 staff throughout Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties. This led to KenCrest expanding to over 2,000 staff members, providing services from 450 sites.34  

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, systems strained and uncertainty reigned. But KenCrest met the challenge with courage and creativity, just as it had in 1905 during a different public health crisis. Staff across the organization stepped up to lead: Rose Keho, Executive Director of Healthcare services, served on a regional committee to gather and share resources. Other staff members built a “hugging booth” after learning Boy Scouts had created one, ensuring connection in a time of distance. KenCrest shared freely with other organizations, offering training on mask-wearing, delivering meals door-to-door, and teaching individuals with disabilities how to support others in staying safe.   

Now, in 2026, KenCrest celebrates its 121st birthday. The nonprofit organization offers person-centered planning and believes everyone should live in a home of their choosing, participate in meaningful employment or activities, be deserving and capable of building genuine relationships, and have access to inclusive community settings. 

Our mission is to support community development by exploring possibilities, mobilizing resources, and empowering dreams. With over 2,100 employees, KenCrest serves more than 5,000 individuals in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut.