Posted on May 27, 2026
Penn-Mar’s Washington Heights building will expand opportunity and independence in Carroll County.
May 13, 2026 was a day to remember as we celebrated the grand opening of the new home of Penn-Mar West – an innovative space that caters to the needs of our team members, families, and the people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) we support in Carroll County.
The opening brought together Caroll County officials, representatives from the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), community leaders, supporters, friends, and our extensive Penn-Mar family at a long-awaited ribbon cutting celebration. We expect to be officially operating in the facility in July.
The transformation of this flexible 7,000 square foot space features:
The star of the transformation is a fully accessible smart kitchen that we hope to replicate in our community homes in the not-too-distant future.
The smart kitchen, funded by Civitan and The Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FCIDD), will allow people with IDD to be more independent, build their skills, and cook their own meals with confidence. This hands-on learning hub incorporates the latest Assistive Technology (AT) such as cabinets with pull-down shelves, stoves with sensors, and infrared features that allow a person to cook their food quickly and safely without using extreme heat.
In addition to providing a state-of-the-art space for the people we support and team members, the Washington Heights building will allow us to open services to people who previously couldn’t be supported due to Penn-Mar West being a 100% community-based program.
Penn-Mar West has always been rooted in community-based support. But team members and families made something clear: that model doesn’t work the same way for everyone.
Some people need a place to spend a few hours, drop in for a quick break or lunch, or just visit with friends. Creating that kind of “home base” was the missing piece to strengthen our service model and help us live our mission more fully.
Washington Heights will have a significant impact on the IDD community given the current realities:
We estimate our new center will allow us to support 50-plus families in the years ahead.
Thanks to the incredible support of the Kahlert Foundation, Penn-Mar received a $200,000 dollar-for-dollar challenge match that helped us raise $450,000 towards the new space during our March Gala. These funds, along with other organizational resources, including a significant grant from The Penn-Mar Foundation, are allowing us to operate a debt-free facility!
This vision was brought to life through the generosity of many partners, including The Kahlert Foundation, The Penn-Mar Foundation, Civitan, The Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FCIDD), nearly 300 individual contributors, and the many people who believed in creating more opportunities for people with IDD in Carroll County.
We also extend our sincere thanks to Kinsley Construction Group, Warehaus Architects and Engineers, Penn-Mar’s Director of Capital Projects and Physical Assets, Will Cambley, Penn-Mar West’s Day Supports Administrator Danielle Gattine, and the Penn-Mar team members whose insight and collaboration helped shape a space designed to support independence, connection, and growth.