Building a Permanent Home

The One Community Campaign is raising $18 million to build Keshet’s first headquarters. Our goal is to create a truly inclusive community center that welcomes all. With your support and investment, Keshet can forge a brighter future for our community.

Introducing the Kersten Campus
Keshet Justin Coe Center

Four adult males holding lemonade and smiling with their arms around each other with a blue border around it

From Kitchen Table to Community Center

In 1982, a small group of parents met in a kitchen with a dream for their children with disabilities to be part of the Jewish community by establishing Keshet. As their children grew, Keshet grew along with them welcoming more families and adding programs for each age and stage of life.

Over the years, Keshet developed a reputation for always dreaming big. We’ve added schools, camps, adult services and residential homes. Now at capacity, it’s time for us to undertake our most impactful project to date—building a community center where people of all abilities can learn, play, work, live and grow together.

Two campers and two staff shaking balls around a parachute with a pink border around it

Meeting the Community’s Needs

Keshet provides life-changing services for kids, teens and adults with disabilities. Yet, every week, we receive inquiries we can’t meet because of enrollment and space limitations. Thousands in Illinois are on waitlists for services, and the number of children diagnosed with developmental disabilities is skyrocketing. With a permanent home, Keshet can welcome more people to experience our special community while also raising the bar on inclusion and engagement.

Looking to The Future

Expanding Opportunities & Centralizing Services

Three adult women sitting on a bench outside with their arms around each other

Strengthen adult programming

Growing enrollment and choices for adults

Two young boys sitting in a wagon and smiling

Enrich kids' lives

Offering more recreation, camps and after school activities

Transition student working on a vocational sorting activity at her desk

Become a leader in transition

Guiding more students from high school to adulthood

Group of Keshet staff and participants wearing matching gray Keshet sweatshirts

Create efficiencies

Bringing staff, volunteers and leadership under one roof

Group of Keshet staff, participants and families at the Botanic Garden

Engage community

Welcoming people to feel at home and creating partnerships

Two adult participants walking down a hallway and holding hands

Model universal design

Increasing independence through accessibility

Strength in Numbers

Our new building opens avenues for Keshet to expand its impact and capacity, and enrich its offerings in tandem with the needs of our community.

200 %

Projected enrollment growth within 3 years

2 X

Increased amount of adult day services

40000

Square feet of new space available for programs

20

Additional hours of weekly recreation activities

Arched thermometer showing that 87% of goal raised

Forge A Brighter Future For Our Community

Thank you in advance for joining the One Community movement to build this much-needed facility at 799 Central Avenue in Highland Park.

Together, we can create a vibrant, welcoming and accessible space where individuals of all abilities can learn, socialize and thrive, fostering a sense of belonging for all.

Get Involved

New Building, New Features

Welcome center with coffee bar
Flexible spaces for arts, fitness, learning and social activities
Large community room for events
Dedicated space for adult day program
Full-size gymnasium with basketball court and climbing wall
Transition classrooms
Administrative offices
Swimming pool (future project)
Group of adult participants and staff with their arms around each other in front of the building with a green border around it

Groundbreaking Celebration

You’re invited to the groundbreaking for the Kersten Campus and Keshet’s Justin Coe Center.

Distinguished speakers and light refreshments

Sunday, October 27
9:30am (rain or shine)
799 Central Ave., Highland Park

RSVP by Oct 18
"Our family is honored to share the Justin Coe Center with the Keshet community. We know that Justin’s friends will forever now have a place to call home and continue to spread the love that Justin taught us all."
— The Coe Family
"In so many ways, Keshet already is a pillar of the community. Now, with a flagship location sitting within the community Keshet serves, the two can become unified as part of each other’s identity. A win-win."
— Galya & Andrew Silver
"I feel great about the building. There’s the gym and pool with showers and a sensory room. It’s going to be a new building for us."
— Luke Greenebaum
"I am so proud to see Keshet move into this marvelous building as a home base, which will allow them to serve so many more individuals with friendships, education, recreation and so much more—all done with love, dignity, and respect."
— Sharon Frankel
"Keshet has been the most positive part of Jonah and our family's lives for the past 10+ years. We have seen those at Keshet grow, thrive and achieve remarkable things. Keshet's new community center will provide even more opportunities for participants of all ages."
— Jocelyn & Doug Weiner

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