In the 1960s, individuals discharged from psychiatric hospitals, who were not ready to live on their own, had no place to go. The Mental Health Association (MHA) of Rochester, headed by Hilton Hedrick, developed a plan that would provide supported housing options for individuals with persistent mental illness in the community. As a result of the MHA plan, East House was founded. The founding board members, led by Paul Wolk and Hettie Shumway, championed East House to become incorporated as a non-profit organization. East House was founded by The Honorable David O. Boehm, Ralph T. Collins, M.D., Hilton Hedrick, Hettie L. Shumway, James Sterner, M.D., and Paul Wolk.
In 1966, with the additional support of local foundations and private donations, Dorothea Brayer was hired as East House’s first executive director. That year, with three employees and an annual budget of $39,000, East House became the first halfway house in New York State and one of the pioneer programs in the country for individuals recovering from mental illness.
Since 1966, East House has been on the cutting edge of providing recovery services and programs to individuals in recovery from mental illness and substance use disorders. To see the full East House Chronology, Click Here.
Ways To Give
Support East House and Move Lives Forward.
Donations and grants are important to maintain our quality of services, staff and facilities.
Your donation goes directly where it is needed – to programs, services and client care.
For more information of ways to give, please contact development@easthouse.org
Board of Directors & Leadership
-Board Officers-
Michelle Pitti, SPHR • Chair • Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
Patricia Phillips • Vice Chair • Clarity Recruiting and Career Management, Inc.
Dawn Sullivan • Secretary • Rochester Institute of Technology
John Leary • Treasurer • Community Volunteer
Kim Brumber • President & CEO • East House
-Board Members-
Ann Bergeman • Rochester Regional Health
Michael Fowler • Capstone Information Technology
Bret Garwood • Home Leasing
Jane Knickerbocker • Jewish Senior Life
Chuck Montante • Westfall Associates
George Nasra, MD, MBA • University of Rochester Medical Center
Roger O’Brien • O’Brien Associates LLC
Aaron Olden, MD, FACP • Mindful Medicine Rochester
Hezekiah Simmons • Monroe Community College
Roxanne D. Walther • Roxanne Darling Walther Healthcare Consultant, LCC
– East House Executive Leadership Team –
Eileen Cavalier • Vice President of Finance and Information Technology
Mark DeRycke • Vice President of Human Resources and Facilities
Valerie Way • Vice President of Programs
This summary is based on 2018 financial statements audited by RDG+Partners.
East House Corporation is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization recognized under
501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. East House IRS Form 990 financial reports are
available from: www.guidestar.org; NYS Department of Law Charities Bureau, 120
Broadway, New York, NY 10271; and East House, 259 Monroe Avenue, Suite 200,
Rochester, NY 14607.
