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justCommunity, Inc. is a non-profit organization based in Quakertown, PA and was founded in 1999 by its current Executive Director, Mr. Lee Rush. justCommunity's mission is to provide consultation, education and training services in the areas of youth development, community mobilization, substance abuse prevention, student assistance practices and restorative practices to schools, government agencies and other youth-serving organizations. justCommunity is the coordinating agency for the Upper Bucks Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth Coalition, a multi-sector group with representatives from the Palisades, Pennridge and Quakertown communtites committed to advancing the presence of the 40 Developmental Assets in all children. justCommunity also sponsors Project CARE, a state-approved provider of Student Assistance Program training and other services.

Board of Directors


Teri Ceraso - Director
Teri is currently the Executive Director of Learning Support Programs at Learning Support Programs at La Salle University’s School of Arts & Sciences, where she has also served as Assistant Dean. As director she is involved in developing and overseeing special programs for at-risk students, as well as academic support services for all students. Over her career she has almost 20 years of experience in higher education and in freelance writing and editing. She is also former director of the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce. Teri holds a bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College, with a double major in English & Business, as well as a Master’s in communication from Temple University. Other skills and interests include Vietnamese cooking, writing poetry, reading, and a general love of music. Teri has lived in Upper Bucks since 1991 and has two children, both Pennridge graduates, in college.


Teresa Gallagher- Director
For twelve years, Teresa Gallagher was employed at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley. She developed and oversaw mentoring programs for at-risk youth. Most recently, she worked for Pinebrook Services for Children and Youth where Teresa supervised their tutoring program and coordinated internships. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Shippensburg University and has 17 years of experience in volunteer management and providing mentoring services. Teresa is married with two boys and has lived in Quakertown since 1993.


Jan Jalenak- Director
Jan Jalenak moved from New York City to Bucks County in 2004. As a playwright, her plays have been produced in many theatres in New York City as well as in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Hawaii. Jan has written and directed for children and teens as well as adults. She is currently a playwright as well as the co-owner, with her husband, John Ordway, of Jules Thin Crust, a small chain of restaurants serving organic gourmet thin crust pizza and salads that she and her husband, John, began in 2005. A graduate of New York University, a lifetime member of the Actors Studio and a member of Circle East Theatre Company. Jan and her husband John are also the proud parents of two daughters.


Alex Londino - Vice President
Alex is a charter board member of justCommunity and is a long time businessman and civic volunteer. Alex is the owner of Visionetics, a full service company specializing in eye care and hearing loss located in Quakertown, PA. He is also the President of LifeQuest Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the charitable mission of LifeQuest, a senior services company specializing in long-term nursing care and adult and child daycare. For many years, Alex served on the board of directors for St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital. Earlier in his career, Alex established a magazine company that provided listings to the country’s medical community for Continuing Medical Education. In 2002, Alex was awarded the Community Service Award from the Quakertown Area Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth Coalition. Alex is married with three children and two grandchildren and lives near Quakertown, PA.


Tom Manns - President
Tom is an Agent/Partner with the Keller Williams Real Estate company based in Doylestown, PA. He leads the Tom Manns Group, a full service real estate sales team specializing in properties in Bucks and Montgomery Counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The Tom Manns Group is a consistent industry leader receiving many national awards and recognition. Currently they rank third in PA in listing and sales. Tom is a graduate of Delaware Valley College and an active member of Pleasantville United Church of Christ. Tom is married and has two children and resides near Doylestown, PA.


Lee Rush- Ex-Officio Director
Lee is the founder and Executive Director of justCommunity, Inc. since its founding in 1999. He served in senior management positions from 1986 to 1999 as the Director of Human Resources for LifeQuest, a mid-size company specializing in senior healthcare services and as Executive Director of LifeQuest Foundation. He held various positions as an administrator, counselor and teacher in an alternative school and day-treatment setting from 1979 to 1986. Lee graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology and Temple University where he earned a Masters of Education Degree. Lee served as the Executive Director of the National Student Assistance Association (NSAA) from 1995 to 2008. NSAA is the country's sole advocacy organization devoted solely to enhancing the development of Student Assistance Programs thoughout the United States. Lee and his wife have one child and live in Perkasie, PA.


Emily Shollenberger - Treasurer
Emily is Director of Training & Marketing at First Savings Bank of Perkasie, a community bank with offices in Upper and Central Bucks County, PA. She has had many years of experience in human resources management and adult education in both the financial and human services industries. In the past, she has served on the executive board of Bucks County United Way, as a board member of LifeQuest, Inc. and LifeSpan School and Day Care Centers, and is an active member of the First United Church of Christ in Quakertown, PA. She graduated from DeSales University and attained Professional in Human Resources Management certification from the Society for Human Resources Management. Emily and her husband live in Quakertown, PA, have two children, and four grandchildren.


Cheryl Swartley- Secretary
Cheryl Swartley is a Nursing Supervisor at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, PA. She has over 30 years experience in critical care and management positions. She is a member of the hospital's Ethics Committee and Main Line Health's "Smoke Free" initiative. " She is a member of the Upper Bucks Healthy Çommunities Healthy Youth (HCHY) Steering Committee, and has been a member of the Pennridge HCHY Coalition since its inception in 2000. In 2004, she was awarded Asset Champion of the year in her local community. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and resides with her husband in both Perkasie and Philadelphia, PA. They have two nieces and three nephews: the "children of their hearts.

Staff

Nate Fosbenner- Data Management Specialist

Diane Horvath - Fiscal Officer

Cindy Pepper- Program Director

Lee Rush - Executive Director

Jane Smith- Program Coordinator

Andy Wong - Data Management Specialist

 

In memory of Stu Woods ...

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