Bancroft Unveils Newly Rebuilt Campus for Adults with Autism, Intellectual Disabilities

Upper Pittsgrove, NJ – Oct. 5, 2012 – Disabilities advocates and local dignitaries celebrated the unveiling of a newly rebuilt, state-of-the-art campus in Upper Pittsgrove last week for people with autism and other developmental disabilities. 

The “grand re-opening” took place at the Bancroft Lakeside Campus at Mullica Hill – where the facility’s new name was also announced. Opened in 1973, it was formerly called the Bancroft Mullica Hill Campus.

“The Bancroft Lakeside Campus is an important component of our continuum of care,” said Toni Pergolin, president and CEO of Haddonfield-based Bancroft. “It helps people prepare for the next step in their independence: to live successfully in the community, in a group home or  supervised apartment, and to work or volunteer in the community.”

As part of the celebration, Bancroft also went public with its related fundraising campaign, which recently reached 70 percent of its $6 million goal. The campaign is helping to fund the $12 million campus renovation.

About 100 friends and supporters attended the opening ceremony, which featured remarks by N.J. Senate resident Steve Sweeney, Bancroft’s president and other board members, and campus resident Matthew Sartori and his mother, Donna. Gloucester County Freeholders Heather
Simmons and Lyman Barnes also attended.

Senator Sweeney said the new campus is an innovative option that should serve as a model.

“The work that Bancroft has done here is truly remarkable.  It is great to see that they not only care about individuals with disabilities, but that they also go the extra mile to improve their facilities.  I want to congratulate the staff and residents here and I look forward to be being a working partner with them in the future,” said Sweeney.

Noted Donna Sartori, whose son Matthew lives on the Lakeside Campus: “Matthew’s total needs are met here. Watching Bancroft’s vision unfold showed Matthew and us what a wonderful organization Bancroft is by improving
the lives of the people they support here at Mullica Hill and what a wonderful, unique place the Mullica Hill Campus continues to be.” 

The renovation includes:

• Fully accessible living, learning and working
  environments, including state-of-the-art universal design features.
• Nine new, four-bedroom homes that foster greater
  independence while allowing less-intrusive staff support.
• A new vocational building that offers individual
  and group session rooms to improve personalized learning and work-readiness skills.
• Additional computers in residences and the vocational building, to enhance learning and communication.
• A safe, accessible pedestrian environment that encourages outdoor socialization and activities.

About Bancroft:               

Founded in 1883, Bancroft annually serves 1,300 children and adults with autism, acquired brain injuries, and
other intellectual or developmental disabilities, through a wide variety of programs in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. For more information, visit www.bancroft.org. For the latest updates, follow Bancroft on Twitter @BancroftOrg, and like Bancroft at www.facebook.com/BancroftOrg.

Bancroft programs include early childhood, education, vocational, supported employment, structured day
programs, rehabilitation, community living, behavioral treatment, and in-home and outpatient services.

Bancroft strives to ensure that every person is given opportunities for lifelong learning and fulfillment. It
does this by altering perceptions and supporting people with neurological challenges in achieving their life goals as valued and respected members of our world.