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-
Patty Phillips • Chair • Clarity Recruiting and Career Management, Inc.
George Nasra, MD, MBA • Vice Chair • University of Rochester Medical Center
Kwasi Boaitey, LMSW, SAP,PCC, RYT, CPT • Secretary • Upper Level Fitness
David VanBlarcom • Treasurer • Veterans Outreach Center
Lindsay Gozzi-Theobald • East House • President & CEO
-Corporate Board Members-
Erika Ange • Independent Health Policy Consultant
Marcus Burrell, MD • BPSE Behavioral & Educational Solutions
Barry Carrigan • Nixon Peabody, LLP
Sahar Elezabi • Webster Psychiatry & Medicine, PLLC
Bret Garwood • Home Leasing
Kelly Glover • Center for Governmental Research
Deron E. Johnson, MBA • Pacific Life
Jane Knickerbocker • University of Rochester
Jim Lessard • Broadstone Net Lease
Catherine Lovejoy • Lakeview Health Services Inc.
Donna Maxwell • Benefit Resource LLC
Stuart Sacks • Board Certified Anesthesiologist now working in the recovery field/Medical Legal Consultant
Dawn Sullivan • Rochester Institute of Technology/National Institute for the Deaf
-Foundation Board Members –
Jennifer Shoemaker • Chair • ESL Federal Credit Union
Andrew Dollinger • Howard Hanna Commercial Real Estate
Andrea Holland • Holland Communications, LLC
Jane Knickerbocker • University of Rochester
Danielle Pierleoni, MPA • Heritage Christian Services
Kathleen Whelehan • The Upstate Bank
– East House Executive Leadership Team –
Jamie Comenale • Vice President of Residential Services
Lisa Daly • Vice President of Human Resources
Beth Hershel • Vice President of Development and Community Relations
Nia Jones • Vice President of Operations
Elizabeth Kingsley Curran • Vice President of Community Support Services
Elizabeth McGrath • Director of Strategic Initiatives
Scott Moquin • Vice President of Corporate Compliance and Risk Management
Chadwick Roy • Vice President of Finance
