Our goal is to provide our disabled sons with more than just a place to live. We’d like them to have the choice to live with those of their own choosing, with whom they are compatible in terms of age and abilities. In short, we want an opportunity for them to gain a sense of independence within the community they all know and love.
Our sons were born with developmental disabilities. As time went on and they grew into adolescents, we realized they would not be able to live independently as adults. We investigated various housing opportunities and discovered that there were long waiting lists for group homes and that our sons’ names might never get to the top of those lists.
Our current goal is to provide our sons with more than just a place to live. We’d like them to have the choice to live with those of their own choosing, with whom they are compatible in terms of age and abilities. So began our goal of working towards creating S.P.A.R.K. Independence, a home where our young men can live together.
We envision S.P.A.R.K. (Supportive Parents Advocating for Our Kids) as an organization that also provides opportunities for other disabled people to come together to socialize and participate in group activities, helping them to live fuller lives.
We feel it is important to give back to the community that supports our efforts. As such, participants perform volunteer work in the community through the Denville Mayor’s Council for People with Disabilities (MCPC).
We hope to realize our dream of providing housing for our sons through fundraising efforts that support S.P.A.R.K.
Mayor's Council for
People with Challenges
(MCPC)
MCPC is dedicated to discovering opportunities for residents with challenges to volunteer, work or participate in township events and local businesses and to facilitate the residents' participation in these opportunities.
The vision of the Denville Mayor's Council for People with Challenges is to encourage and assist Denville residents with challenges to become active participants in the community, to encourage community acceptance of these residents, and to partner with organizations and business that offer opportunities for these residents.
Supportive Parents Advocating foR our Kids is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity. We are governed by an independent board of directors committed to providing our developmentally challenged children, now young adults, with the opportunity of independent living in the town of Denville, the community in which they have grown up feeling safe, welcomed, appreciated, and loved.
Susan Reinhardt, President
Sheila DiFalco, Vice President
Susan Anzelmo, Secretary
Donna Farrelly, Treasurer
TAX ID number: 42-1651534
Since its’ founding in 1969 by three local businessmen who recognized the need for a local bank that could service the area and support the community', Lakeland Bank continues to embody their vision of supporting and building healthy, vibrant neighborhoods through their support of community service initiatives such as S.P.A.R.K.’s. Under the leadership of branch manager, Alexis Schoerner-Neinstedt, Lakeland Bank of Denville has demonstrated these founding principles by being committed to supporting our community’s children and young adults with challenges.
Planet Networks is proud to support S.P.A.R.K. in their mission to establish a permanent residence for independent living for some of Denville’s special community members. Planet continues to utilize our extensive technology background to support S.P.A.R.K. in areas of web hosting, communication, graphic design, and all things technology, combined with our continued commitment to helping members of the community. To learn more about Planet Networks, visit us at: www.planet.net.
JAG-ONE Physical Therapy is a comprehensive outpatient physical and occupational therapy company which provides rehabilitative care for general orthopedic, sports and soft tissue injuries, Workers’ Compensation cases, and Medicare patients. Our experienced, caring physical therapists, athletic trainers and exercise physiologists are invested in your full recovery.
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
