This issue contains...

1. Celebrating Strong Leadership: Past, Present, & Future

2. 2026 Annual Celebration: Fueling Our Future

3. JCHAI Member Advocacy & Peer Leadership in Action

4. Recognizing a Legacy of Inclusion with JCHAI Chair Emeritus

As of July 1, 2026, we are proud to welcome new JCHAI Board Chair, Jon Zuckerman! It is with great joy that longtime chair Judith Creed passed the torch with full confidence in Jon's ability to lead JCHAI into a stronger tomorrow.

JCHAI's 2026 Annual Celebration was a perfect opportunity to celebrate this formal transition, as we honored incoming Board Chair Jon Zuckerman and recognized Judith Creed as she transitioned into her new role as Chair Emeritus.

Looking ahead to the future, Jon stated that "[he] can’t wait to lead JCHAI forward in continuing to empower independence and redefine what is possible for adults with varying abilities across Greater Philadelphia."

Jon Zuckerman, Vice President of Operations at Zuckerman Honickman, has served on JCHAI’s Board of Directors for 14 years, and has successfully fulfilled the role of Treasurer as a part of the Executive Committee since 2019.

A successful business leader with a deep commitment to our mission, Jon brings his values to life by volunteering alongside his children and modeling civic leadership in action.

Jon's leadership ensures that JCHAI remains strong and well-positioned to serve our community for generations.

As JCHAI recently wrapped up our 2026 fiscal year, we reflected back on our 2026 Annual Celebration and what an incredible success it was!

Special shout-out to our 2026 Event Chair, Rob Thomson! Over the past several years, Rob has truly become an integral part of our JCHAI community, spending time getting to know our members firsthand and seeing for himself all they can achieve with the right supports in place.

We'd like to extend a big THANK YOU to our entire community, from our members, families, and staff, to our donors, volunteers, and community partners, for coming together and truly making a difference as we honored incoming Board Chair Jon Zuckerman!

We're so grateful to all who came out in a strong show of support and made it such a special evening. With your help, we raised over half a million dollars to directly support JCHAI's year-round work!

JCHAI's work is made possible thanks to our community's incredible generosity, support, and unrelenting commitment to empowering independence and redefining what's possible for adults with varying abilities.

JCHAI empowers our members to become self-advocates, enabling them to serve as peer leaders and mentors. Our Member Advocates co-present with us at educational workshops, community outreach events, and JCHAI affinity programs, sharing insights on their journey to independence across various aspects of life, such as independent living, career success, social connections, and community engagement.

Our JCHAI Member Advocates play a key leadership role at events like these. Recent examples include:

Inclusive Post-High School Resource Fair — January 2026

Member Advocates and staff represented JCHAI at this community resource fair for high school transition-aged students and families at the Greater Philadelphia Convention Center in Oaks, PA.

JCHAI's Spring Virtual Open House — April 2026

Prospective members and families learned more about JCHAI programs and services, met current members and families, and got their questions answered by program leaders and staff.

JCHAI's College-Aged Transition Open House — March 2026

Students from Villanova University's VUnited Scholars and other accessible college programs had the opportunity to learn firsthand from JCHAI Member Advocates, hear from program leaders and staff, and take a tour of JCHAI's Main Line Hub Supported Apartment program.

As self-advocates, leaders, and peer mentors, our JCHAI members help inspire others on their path to independence, and we are so proud to have them represent JCHAI at community outreach events like these!

Judith Creed's changemaking legacy continues through her new role as Chair Emeritus.

As she stepped into her new role, Judy was featured on Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum podcast where she shared her very personal story as a parent of a child with disabilities and the co-founding of JCHAI with a group of parents who wanted to give their adult children with disabilities a real path to independence.

Recalling her earliest memories when experts told her that her son would never walk, talk, or live independently, Judy refused to accept that as his future. Instead, she turned one family's challenge into a movement that has transformed hundreds of lives.

Looking back on her many decades of leadership at JCHAI, Judy expressed sincere enthusiasm for what the future holds, and reflected that “[she is] incredibly proud of JCHAI’s unique position in our community. We serve over 300 members and provide individualized services to all our members so they can live their best lives.”

Because of Judy's inspiring dedication as a founding family member and longtime Board Chair, today JCHAI's mission is stronger than ever, helping individuals unlock their limitless potential and redefine what's possible in their lives. JCHAI looks forward to her continued involvement to provide invaluable support to the organization.

About JCHAI

JCHAI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonsectarian organization in the Greater Philadelphia region that inspires and empowers individuals with developmental differences or disabilities to imagine and fulfill their life aspirations and be valued contributors in the community.

We rely on funds raised by generous donors like you to support the vibrant array of programs and services benefiting our 300+ members, helping them reach their personal goals and achieve their life aspirations.

Check out JCHAI's nonprofit profiles on Charity Navigator and Candid to see the great work we do in our community. We want to make sure you have the progress updates you need to confidently support our work with trust and assurance.