Maher Center Celebrates 60 Years of Memories

The James L. Maher Center will celebrate a milestone of 60 years of advocacy for people with disabilities at its Diamond Jubilee Party on May 11.

“It’s a night of recognizing the original 13 families who crusaded to get programs for their children,” said Dennis DeMarinis, Jr., director of development at the Maher Center.

In 1951, Thomas and Josephine Jeanes placed a notice in the Newport Daily News in hopes of finding other children like their daughter Sheila, who was diagnosed with down syndrome. At that time, children with developmental and intellectual disabilities faced many closed doors, including churches and public schools. What developed over the decade laid the foundation what is today the James L. Maher Center.  

A group of 13 families responded to the notice, and the following year, Rev. Daniel Quinby Williams of Emmanuel Church in Newport invited the families to use the church for meetings.

“We will be honoring Emmanuel Church at the Jubilee,” said DeMarinis. “They became the first group in Newport to open their doors to our organization,” he said.

By the mid-50s, the Newport Knights of Columbus started a day camp at the Arthur Curtiss James estate, which was then owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. In 1955, the Friendship School opened at Newport Hospital, which brought the first special education teachers to Newport County.

Today, the center serves 300 adults annually, operates 13 group homes, 16 apartments, provides early intervention to more than 150 families and supplies more than 250 rides a week for Maher Center clients and other members of the community.

Tickets are $75 a person and sponsorships start at $125. For ticket information, call 401-846-4600.

Can’t make the party?  Check out some upcoming events:

April 25, 7-9 p.m., Alex and Ani Charmed by Charity in-store event. Munchies and energy juice will be served

June 8, A night with Elvis at Middletown Knights of Columbus Hall in Middletown. Tickets are $20/person. Call 401-846-4600 for tickets.

July 26, 35th annual golf tournament at Green Valley Country Club. Call 401-846-4600 for sponsorship or to enter.