The Ahmanson Foundation has made a generous grant to MERCI to help with the furnishings in the new residential home, The John and Mary Duce Centre at MERCI’s 523 N. Chandler site in Monterey Park. The grant will be used for the railing system at John and Mary’s Place which helps in moving the clients with mobility issues as well as for chair lift that will transport the residents upstairs. Appliances and furnishings for the soon to be licensed home are also included in this grant. In accepting the donation, MERCI Executive Director Marta Escañuelas says, “We really appreciate the generosity of the Ahmanson Foundation in helping MERCI complete John and Mary’s Place, this house will be a wonderful home for six adults.”

In May construction stopped on the new classroom and administration buildings at MERCI’s 525 N. Chandler site in Monterey Park. To restart the construction MERCI has to raise $500,000 to access the loan from the Non-profit Finance Fund so far MERCI has $200,000 in cash and pledges with $300,000 to go. MERCI will recognize all donations, but donations of $10,000 or more will have rooms named in honor of the individual, organization or business. With donations of $100,000 or more, an individual, business or organization will have building naming rights for one of the two buildings being constructed. Don’t let the two buildings sit half-way constructed. Donations can be mailed to MERCI, P.O. Box 676, Monterey Park, CA 91754 or potential donors can visit MERCI’s website at http://www.merci.org and make a donation online. Donations to MERCI are tax deductible, as MERCI is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. For more information contact Executive Director Marta Escañuelas at (626) 289-8817 or E-mail her at martaesc1@verizon.net.

A group of parents of children with developmental disabilities from the San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles formed MERCI in 1955 as a school because at that time there were no educational options for their children. In 1962 MERCI moved into the 525 N. Chandler Avenue site which had been built in 1919. Over the years MERCI has moved into supporting adults with day programs and adults in residential homes.
MERCI presently serves 111 adults with developmental disabilities from all over the San Gabriel Valley in five programs. It is estimated that there are 8,000 children and adults in this area alone who could benefit from the programs if there were more space. Planning for the construction of the new buildings started in 2006 with the award of $829,000 of federal HUD funds administered by the City of Monterey Park. John and Mary’s Place for six clients was completed in May. It still needs to be furnished and to pass a compliance review with the regional center.
MERCI thanks the Ahmanson Foundation for their donation, but MERCI continues to need the support of the community to complete the other two buildings.