Ground was broken on June 1 for the future Jespy Center on the Cooperman Family Campus. The facility will be run by Jespy House, a 45-year-old nonprofit that provides services and programs that help more than 300 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live independently in South Orange.
The total cost of the project is $26.5 million and Jespy House hopes the center will be open by the end of 2026.
The facility will add 20 aging-in-place suites and 26 affordably priced apartments, alongside new space dedicated to vocational training, health and wellness, clinical and behavioral supports, and more. This expansion will enable longtime clients to remain in their homes and community as they grow older and provide stability for those at risk of displacement because of rising housing costs
More than 300 Jespy clients, families, board members, and supporters filled the seats to hear speakers that included South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum, philanthropists Toby and Leon Cooperman, Assemblywoman Garnet Hall, Senator Renee Burgess, and several clients.
“This is not just about buildings,” said Audrey Winkler, executive director of Jespy House. “It’s about building lives. For too long, adults with IDD have been left out of conversations about affordable housing and aging services. The Jespy Center changes that. It says loudly and clearly: you belong and your future is important.”
Jespy envisions expanding housing and services for clients across a wide age spectrum—from young adults starting out to seniors in their 70s. Plans are underway for The Hub, a complementary project that will offer 20 units of housing designed specifically for young adults, along with a training kitchen to develop job skills and daily living independence, plus a library and technology center to support ongoing learning and growth.
Toby and Leon Cooperman, whose $13.25 million matching gift helped launch the project, proudly shared why The Jespy Center means so much to them. “The Jespy Center is an investment in the future,” said Leon Cooperman. “These adults need a place they can call home—a place for recreation, support, and stability after their parents are gone. Toby and I have great hope that our matching challenge will inspire others to step forward.”
