Family Advisory Committee
Kerry’s Place established the Family Advisory Committee (FAC) in 2018 to create a forum for families in our Supported Living services. This committee is a space for members to share experiences and to advise, give input or make recommendations to management, ensuring the highest quality of programs and services for all people receiving Kerry’s Place’s Supported Living services.
The Family Advisory Committee meets approximately every six weeks. All meetings are held virtually. Each member commits to a two-year term, up to a maximum of six years.
Lise Lareau
Co-Chair
Lise Lareau’s sister Jackie has lived in a Kerry’s Place home in the Toronto region for 35 years. Lise has been on the Family Advisory Committee since 2019 and served on the KPAS Board of Directors in the 1990s. She is a part-time instructor at York University and a former producer at CBC News.
Steve Simkus
Co-Chair
Steve Simkus’ brother Richard has lived in a Kerry’s Place home in the Orangeville area for more than 40 years. Steve has served on the Family Advisory Committee since 2019. He is a former Vice-President of Marketing & Communications for the Canadian Standards Association.
Phyllis Disenhouse
Phyllis Disenhouse’s son Herschel has lived in Kerry’s Place group homes for 42 years, in Thomasburg, Caledon, and now Toronto. Phyllis has been on the Family Advisory Committee for two years. She is a retired teacher and helped run an information service for families of exceptional children for several years called The Exceptional Family Information Service.
Dianne Gaggi
Dianne Gaggi’s daughter Sandra has been with Kerry’s Place for 20 years and lives in a home in Toronto. Dianne has been on the Family Advisory Committee since 2019 and previously served six years representing families at Developmental Services Toronto. She is a former VP of Human Resources at Unisource Canada where she retired in 2013.
Jonathan Gross
Jonathan Gross’s brother Adam was one of the original residents at Kerry’s Place and now lives in the Supported Independent Living program in Toronto. Jonathan has been on the Family Advisory Committee for a year and is president of the entertainment distribution company ‘Unobstructed View’. His other claim to fame is that he once co-wrote an episode of Seinfeld.
Carolan Halpern
Carolan Halpern’s son Jeffrey has lived in Kerry’s Place homes for more than 30 years, including his current residence in the Durham Region. Carolan was president of the former Toronto Chapter of Autism Ontario and participated in fundraising for what was then called the Ontario Society for Autistic Citizens. She is retired and has served on the KPAS Board of Directors and other committees.
Vanessa Morgan
Vanessa Morgan’s brother Scott has lived in various Kerry’s Place group homes since the original pilot project in 1974, as their parents were among the founding parents of the organization. She has been on the Family Advisory Committee since 2022 and also served on the KPAS Board of Directors in the 1990s. Vanessa and her brother Jonathan were actively involved with the Evening for Autism organizing committee for 16 years. Vanessa is President & CEO of Morgan Meighen & Associates Limited, an investment management firm.
Howard Weinroth
Howard Weinroth’s son Jordan has been a resident of Kerry’s Place group homes for 38 years including his current residence in the Central region. Howard is a new member of the Family Advisory Committee but brings vast experience from several other boards, including the Behaviour Support Plan Review Committee at REENA and Kerry’s Place Residential Services. He has also volunteered at Autism Ontario, Surrey Place and the Geneva Centre.
Joanne Huggins
Joanne’s brother Jonathan has been with Kerry’s Place for over 36 years, including his current residence in Durham region. Joanne served as a Project Manager professional for various Fortune 500 companies in Manhattan for over a decade. She is a longtime volunteer with the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, working with seniors and participating in fundraising initiatives throughout the year.
Jon D’Alessandro
Jon’s daughter Jessica has been in the care
of Kerry’s Place since 2017. He recently joined the Family Advisory Committee to
advocate for families and contribute toward the continued success of Kerry’s Place.
Jon is the founder and CEO of BayPoint Technology Services Group.
Learn More or Contact
The following commitments and guidelines govern the Family Advisory Committee at Kerry’s Place.
Email fac@kerrysplace.org to get in touch with our Family Advisory Committee.
Money Talks: A Virtual Session About Autism and Finances
Kerry’s Place Family Advisory Committee (FAC) organized and hosted a 90-minute virtual session in February 2024, tailored to autistic individuals in full-time residential care at Kerry’s Place and their families to discuss and answer questions about finances, taxes, and estate planning. Check it out here.
