Posted on May 2, 2025
– Funds Will Be Used to Equip 30 Residential Homes with Smart Home Technology –
May 2, 2025
Baltimore – Penn-Mar Human Services, the region’s leading provider of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is delighted to share that the organization has received a $25,000 technology grant from the Aegon Transamerica Foundation. The generous award will allow Penn-Mar to equip 30 residential homes with Smart Home technology to enhance safety, health, and independence for people with IDD. Funds will be used for purchasing and installing technology, training team members and people supported, and providing ongoing maintenance to ensure long-term effectiveness.
By improving adaptability and skills, the technology updates will continue to foster self-reliance and empower residents to live more independently. Key outcomes include increased safety, improved health monitoring, and greater independence, allowing Direct Support Professionals to focus on personalized care. This project directly benefits people with IDD, providing tools for safer, more confident living.
This is not the first time the Foundation has supported Penn-Mar. For years, the philanthropic organization has been instrumental in advancing Penn-Mar’s Health and Wellness programs through generous grants, making a meaningful difference in the lives of adults with IDD. But the support transcends just substantial funding. Holly Litrenta, a Director at Transamerica, serves on the Penn-Mar Foundation Board of Directors, and many Transamerica employees have volunteered for beautification projects at Penn-Mar’s residential homes – many of the same homes that will benefit from the technology grant.
“The Foundation’s support not only strengthens our ability to advance Penn-Mar’s mission but also amplifies the immediate impact we can have on the people and communities we serve,” says Penn-Mar Human Services’ CEO Greg Miller. “Their commitment to our work is a powerful testament to the difference we can make when organizations come together to create lasting change. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and know that these funds will help more people to Live Courageously.”
Miller adds that the grant money will be used without delay, as Penn-Mar expects to begin making the Smart Home updates immediately.
For more information, please contact Roger Mecca at roger@vitaminisgood.com.
About Penn-Mar Human Services
Penn-Mar Human Services is a nonprofit that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to Live Courageously, whether that’s securing a job, being an active member of their community, building independence, or developing new relationships. Penn-Mar accomplishes this by supporting people on their own unique personal journeys. Founded in 1981, Penn-Mar operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. They support 400 adults with disabilities daily through an array of customizable services. www.penn-mar.org.
About the Aegon Transamerica Foundation
For more than 30 years, the Aegon Transamerica Foundation has proudly supported nonprofit organizations that help build stronger, more resilient communities in the places where Transamerica employees live and work. The Foundation’s charitable contributions are directed at programs that either expand opportunities and capabilities for everyone or equip people with the skills they need to achieve financial security. By investing in initiatives that empower individuals and families, the Foundation is committed to making an enduring positive impact where it matters most — in the lives of those seeking to build brighter futures. Grantmaking decisions by this independent nonprofit are primarily employee-driven through local advisory committees, a robust matching gift program, and other giving campaigns. www.penn-mar.orgÂ
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