The Campaign for Gemma: a $3 Million Initiative to Support a New Martin Luther School Campus
Gemma Services is thrilled to announce the launch of a $3 million, 3-year capital campaign to support the construction of a new, best-in-class campus for our Martin Luther School!
MLS is a Pennsylvania Approved Private School for students referred from 45+ Philadelphia-area school districts for a holistic special education program with comprehensive social, emotional, and behavioral supports. We are designing our new school facilities, located less than a mile from our current Plymouth Meeting campus, to educate approximately 350 students in grades K-12, providing exceptional learning and extracurricular opportunities and to support MLS’ future enrollment growth.
According to Kristen Gay, President and CEO of Gemma, “Several years ago, we realized many of our 8th graders would benefit from staying at Martin Luther School through their high school years. With that in mind, we began to expand, adding one grade each year, and are now proud to have a thriving high school.” Gay continued, “Throughout this time of exciting growth for our school, we outgrew our current school facilities and our vision for a new, best-in-class school campus took shape.”
Gemma has purchased a property at 5200 Butler Pike in Plymouth Meeting and is renovating and expanding the existing building and campus to feature bright and spacious interiors with 30+ classrooms, an electives suite with dedicated spaces for art, music, and more, a library, a black box theater, two cafeterias, a multipurpose gymnasium, and private spaces for counseling. Exterior plans include playgrounds, outdoor learning spaces, and a track, multi-sport field, and a sports facility to support interscholastic athletics.
In addition to funds raised through the Capital Campaign, the project will be supported by bank financing, a grant from the Gemma Foundation, and proposed municipal funding. The new school facility is projected to open in 2026.
We are pleased to partner with Kimmel Bogrette Architecture and construction manager C. Raymond Davis & Sons, among others, on this transformational building project.
“Our students are capable of remarkable things,” said Eva Morrison, Ed.D., Head of Martin Luther School and Vice President of Education for Gemma. “Our new school will provide an exceptional environment that honors, nurtures, and respects our students, supporting their academic and social-emotional growth, because they deserve it.”
The new campus will allow MLS to offer a truly best-in-class educational experience with spaces to meet current and future student enrollment, rich learning opportunities in and beyond the classroom, and a building and campus that shows students how deeply they are valued and fuels their strong sense of “Panther Pride.”
“Thanks to 100% support from our Board of Directors and several other generous friends, we are already 50% of the way toward our goal,” Gay shared. “Additionally, we have received a pledge from The Stratton Foundation to match donations 1:1 up to a total of $500,000! This incredible support will allow donors to double their impact.”
Please see a downloadable Campaign Summary here and click here to view a short video about the exciting project!
Please visit our Campaign webpages here to learn more and make a donation. For info about naming and recognition opportunities, or to discuss a multi-year commitment, please contact us at [email protected] or 610-825-4440 x3206.
Thank you for considering joining Gemma in creating a fantastic educational facility and campus for our current and future students. Because they matter!
