May 15, 2025
Dear friend,
By supporting Gemma, you are part of a powerful mission—showing children, youth, and families that they matter, they are not alone, and their dreams are within reach.
The world is full of distractions, but at Gemma, our focus is unwavering. Every day, children and families facing immense challenges stand before us. They need us. Today, I want to share Marcus’s story with you.
I came to Gemma’s residential program and Martin Luther School in 6th grade. After moving between foster homes, I didn’t trust anyone. I didn’t want to be here. When things got tough, I didn’t think anyone cared. When I got into trouble with the law, I thought that was it for me. But Gemma was different. Martin Luther School was different. My teachers and counselors never gave up on me, even when I was hard to deal with. No matter how much I messed up, there was always someone to push me to be better and remind me I could turn things around.
For a while, I lived in a shelter, and that was tough. Now I live with a foster family. Being at Gemma and Martin Luther School taught me how to keep going. I’m a senior now, and I’m graduating this year—something I never thought would happen. Playing on the basketball team has been a big deal for me. It’s the one place where I feel like I’m part of something real. That place doesn’t give up on you, no matter what you’re going through. They’ve helped me believe in myself, and now I want to prove to everyone—and to me—that I can make something of my life.
That is what Gemma is all about—making sure every child and family knows they matter. Walking with them as they heal, learn, and reach for their dreams.
Imagine you are Marcus. School is the one place where you feel safe, supported, and hopeful about your future. Now imagine your school offers you the same opportunities for academic and extracurricular excellence that the best public and private schools around us provide.
That is our dream.
A few years ago, we recognized that many of our Martin Luther School 8th graders would benefit from staying with us longer. So, we expanded our school, adding one grade each year. We now have a full high school—and this spring we will proudly graduate our first class of 12th graders! As our school has grown, so has our need for space. That’s why we are creating a new, best-in-class school campus. We have purchased a property near our current school location in Plymouth Meeting and are transforming it into an exceptional educational environment, designed to educate approximately 350 students in grades K-12 and provide top-notch learning and extracurricular opportunities for students like Marcus.
To support this project, we have launched a multi-million-dollar, 3-year capital campaign that’s well underway, and we have already raised commitments for $3 million to support this transformational project! Donations to the capital campaign are vital to enabling Gemma to create an exceptional MLS campus that supports a best-in-class educational and extracurricular experience for our current and future students.
Thank you to the many friends who have already extended support for this project, including the Stratton Foundation, our lead donor!
While we have met our Phase I fundraising goal, the Campaign for Gemma continues and will build on the foundation we’ve established together with our donors thus far.
Phase 2 fundraising will support a fantastic new sports facility with a track, field, and ample spectator seating. Please watch for more info to come about the sports facility and reach out to us if you would like to learn more!
You Can Help Make This Dream a Reality.
I hope you will consider a gift to the Gemma Capital Campaign. With the matching gift opportunity, you can double your impact and help make the dream of an exceptional Martin Luther School campus a reality. If you’ve already contributed to this effort—thank you! To learn more about this exciting project, please visit our Capital Campaign webpages at www.gemmaservices.org/capital-campaign. If you have questions, would like to discuss a multi-year commitment or naming opportunities, or learn more about donor recognition, please contact us at [email protected] or 610-825-4440, ext. 3206.
Together, we are building brighter futures – one child and one dream at a time.
With appreciation,
Kristen
Kristen E.M. Gay, Ph.D.
President and CEO
