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10.22.09 | Bancroft Merges with the Walker Center in an Effort to Extend Its Mission to the Philadelphia Region
The Partnership Expands Both Organizations’ Reach to Provide Support for People with Developmental Challenges
Haddonfield, NJ - October 22, 2009 - Bancroft, serving over 1,300 individuals and families annually, is extending its reach of serving individuals with developmental challenges into the Philadelphia region through a strategic merger with the Walker Center. As the renamed Walker Center at Bancroft, the program will become part of Bancroft’s organizational structure.
Like Bancroft, the Walker Center is driven to help individuals with intellectual and developmental challenges lead more fulfilling lives. The Walker Center serves 24 adults with developmental disabilities in community living arrangements, including respite, in-home support and an innovative parenting program that assists parents with developmental disabilities. It provides services in seven homes and four apartments in the Lower Merion and Wynnefield, Pa., areas.
“We are pleased to welcome those served by the Walker Center into the Bancroft family,” said Toni Pergolin, President of Bancroft. “Founded by Philadelphia special education pioneer Margaret Bancroft, our organization has strong ties to the area and is looking forward to being back and providing support for individuals and families.”
In 1883, Margaret Bancroft founded one of the first private schools in the country for children with developmental challenges, which today has grown into a multifaceted organization known as Bancroft. The Walker Center was founded in 1945 by Mabel Stuart Walker as a day and residential school for children with developmental challenges. Not only do Bancroft and The Walker Center share a similar history of being founded by woman educators, but both organizations believe strongly that every individual should have opportunities to live active and fulfilling lives.
Recently, Bancroft has been engaged in a strategic planning process that has identified specific initiatives designed to ensure the future of the organization and continuity of services for those served and their families. The Walker Center merger is one initiative that will help strengthen the organization so that it can continue to provide the best possible service and support to those served for years to come. In addition, the merger is also fulfilling the Walker Center’s strategic plan of joining a larger organization in order to ensure its future.
About Bancroft
Founded in 1883, Bancroft NeuroHealth annually serves more than 1,300 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries. Based in Haddonfield, NJ, Bancroft has sites in Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem and Middlesex counties in New Jersey, Delaware and in Pennsylvania. Programs include education, rehabilitation, vocational, residential, evaluation and treatment services.