Charitable Giving 11.30 - Flipbook - Page 2
* The Baltimore Sun | Sunday, November 30, 2025 17
Fello Expands Opportunities
for Marylanders With Disabilities
F
or nearly 65 years, Fello has played
a central role in shaping what
inclusion looks like for people with
disabilities across Maryland. What
began in 1961 as a family-driven advocacy
movement has grown into a multifaceted
organization supporting thousands of people each year through personalized services, trauma-informed behavioral health,
self-directed services, and a growing portfolio of inclusive, affordable housing.
At the heart of Fello’s work is a simple
belief: people with disabilities deserve real
choice, meaningful opportunities, and the
chance to build the life they want in the
communities they call home. That vision of
inclusion has guided Fello from the beginning and continues to shape everything the
organization does today.
A Legacy of Advocacy
& Empowerment
Fello was founded by families seeking
more independence, choice and opportunities for their children with disabilities.
Over the decades, the grassroots movement has grown into a dynamic organization that champions advocacy, person-centered services, affordable housing,
and community development initiatives.
“We’re building a future where equity
and inclusion are the norm—where housing
and services go hand-in-hand, and people
have the support they need to live life they
choose for themselves,” says Jonathon
Rondeau, Fello’s President & CEO.
Building What People Need
Fello focuses on removing barriers,
championing choice and building inclusive communities. Its work spans four key
areas:
• Services: A core part of Fello’s work is
providing personalized support for people with disabilities. Rather than offering
one-size-fits-all solutions, Fello focuses
on understanding what matters most
to each person and building supports
that reflect their goals and priorities and
grow with them over time.
• Self-Directed Services: As Maryland’s
largest provider of Self-Directed
Services, Fello supports more than
3,000 people who hire and manage
their own employees. Fello oversees
payroll and administrative functions,
allowing people to focus on daily life.
• Behavioral Health: Fello offers trauma-informed behavioral health services
delivered by licensed clinicians. This
work centers on understanding how
past experiences shape present needs
and is designed to provide integrated, person-centered behavioral health
support.
• Fello Communities: Fello develops
affordable inclusive housing where
people choose where and how they
live. These communities are designed
to promote independence, connection
and belonging because housing is the
foundation for a meaningful life.
Housing as the Foundation
for Belonging
Accessible, affordable housing remains
in short supply across Maryland, and Fello
has expanded its community development
work to meet that need. Projects such as
Easton Crossing, Port Street Commons
and Silo Court combine residential units
with shared community spaces to promote
interaction, connection and inclusion.
“Home is where belonging begins,”
Rondeau says. “People thrive when they
have stable housing in communities that
welcome them.”
A Growing Vision for Maryland’s Future
Fello continually adapts its work based
on what people with disabilities and their
communities say they need. At Fello, innovation is not a buzzword—it is a responsibility to push for better outcomes and more
equitable systems for our communities.
“Our work is about removing barriers,
building trust, and ensuring that belonging
is the starting point for everyone,” Rondeau
emphasizes. This philosophy shapes
everything from personalized supports
to community development and guides
Fello’s work across the state.
Belonging, Together
Fello reflects a vision of neighbors,
advocates and allies working together for
a more inclusive world. The organization
creates communities where no one is left
out and where belonging is the foundation
of every life.
In 2025, Fello unveiled a new name
and brand to honor nearly 65 years of
legacy while embracing a future rooted
in connection, belonging, and innovation.
Though their name has changed, their
work remains the same: building inclusive
communities shaped by the people who
live in them.
How to Support Fello
Donor support fuels two critical areas:
Children, Youth, & Their Families services
and innovation. Contributions fund key
programs that remove barriers for families
and provide access to educational, financial and direct services as well as initiatives
that expand opportunities and independence throughout the community. Your
gift creates real impact by helping Fello
continue to break barriers and find creative
solutions that meet the needs of people
and communities across Maryland.
Fello envisions a Maryland where
people with disabilities live the lives they
choose in communities that are equitable,
accessible and fully inclusive. The organization continues to remove barriers, build
trust, and place belonging at the center of
every service, program, and community it
creates.
For those interested in supporting Fello,
more information is available at fello.org or
by contacting give@fello.org.
Together,
we are
We champion the rights of people with
disabilities & invest in what matters most:
real opportunities, strong relationships,
& inclusive, equitable communities.
fello.org
