St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center

St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) sits on nearly six acres in El Cajon, California. The Center is a day program that provides educational and vocational training for over 400 adults with developmental disabilities. SMSC is committed to educating and empowering individuals with developmental disabilities to realize their full potential through innovative and customized programs that are seldom offered by other facilities. Each day, students have the opportunity to participate in various specialized programs such as speech therapy, aquatics, art, organic gardening, culinary arts, adaptive computer lab, reading, music, dance, and much more.

 

KRAEMER ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION (KEF)

The Kraemer Endowment Foundation was established in 1992 in honor of Sr. Maxine Kraemer, RSCJ (also known as “Mackie”). In 1968, Sr. Mackie became the Director of St. Madeleine’s, originally a school for children with developmental disabilities. Once the State of California mandated (1975) that children with special needs were to be integrated into the public school system, SMSC transitioned to serving adults with developmental disabilities. During the twenty-four years she was Director, Sr. Kraemer was instrumental in orchestrating this transition to services for adults. Once the focused changed, Sr. Kraemer launched a multifaceted program that included Education (continuing math, reading and basic education curricula), Independent Living Skills, Vocational Training, and Arts (dance, music, and visual arts). Among her accomplishments, Sr. Kraemer implemented a supported work program, placing developmentally disabled adults into integrated community jobs, for which she received local and national recognition.

The Kraemer Endowment Foundation helps to ensure the financial future of St. Madeleine’s by protecting assets through careful and intelligent investments. It exists to protect the essential quality programs that are unique to St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center. The Foundation has grown from assets worth $200,000 in 1993 to over $14M today. The interest earned on KEF’s investments help support St. Madeleine’s operating costs and special needs that totals $500,000 annually.

The name, Kraemer Endowment Foundation for St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, underscores the close ties between the Center and the Foundation. The two organizations, together with friends and donors, are partners in the same life-giving work of providing the best programs and opportunities possible for adults with developmental disabilities.

FOUNDATION GOALS

The goals of the Kraemer Endowment Foundation are:

  • Increase the permanent endowment, ensuring the long-term existence of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center;
  • Make available to the Center the interest earned on investments to help with current expenses and special needs; and
  • Assist in maintaining the high quality and effectiveness of SMSC programs, particularly those that create independence, foster growth, build self-esteem, and develop the lives of adults at the Center.

 

WAYS TO GIVE TO THE KRAEMER ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION

The Kraemer Endowment Foundation accepts gifts in many forms including cash gifts, stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, will/estate plans, life insurance policy or retirement plan, and charitable gift annuities (CGAs). For more information on the Kraemer Endowment Foundation, download the KEF Brochure or contact Laura Nottoli Bozigian at (619) 223-5953 or John Seiber at (858) 551-9402. The KEF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

 

HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS

Sr. Maxine Kraemer, RSCJ*

Martine C. Dickinson

Joan D. Eichen*

Tom Finn*

Frances Glasser

Larry D. Murphy

Rosemarie Murphy

Gloria Rimland*

Terry Whitcomb*

*deceased

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John M. Seiber, Chairman

Maureen P. King, Vice Chairman

John A. Trifiletti, Secretary/Treasurer

The Hon. Victor Bianchini

Sue Brandt

Alex Irving

Angel Kleinbub

Eric Kraemer Kleinbub

Jim Mulvaney, Jr.

John B. Murphy

Sr. Virginia Rodee, RSCJ

 

SMSC REPRESENTATIVES

Debra Emerson, Chief Executive Officer, SMSC

Judy Mantle Ph.D., President, Board of Trustees, SMSC

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Laura Nottoli Bozigian

 

The Board of Directors gratefully acknowledges the many contributors and continuing generosity of donors to the Kraemer Endowment Foundation for St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center. Your gifts make the life-giving work of SMSC possible today and provide and endowment prepared to meet the needs of tomorrow.

For more information, please call (619) 223-5953 or Email kraemerfdn@gmail.com.