Nightlight Foundation is a non-profit, charitable foundation designed to address life-long living choices that support individuals with autism through affordable housing, continuing education and vocational options within their own community.
Our principle objective is to design, build, acquire and manage residential facilities that will assist adults with autism transition from at-home living into a supported and supervised long-term living environment.
Residents will be afforded the opportunity to live independently, within the care of family-like 24/7 support staff, in a nurturing environment with access to all of the comforts available within a local, vibrant community.
On June 1, 2016 we opened Nightlight Ice Cream in Flourtown, PA. The ice cream shop generates funds for the Nightlight Foundation and provides vocational opportunities for individuals affected with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). All profits from the ice cream shop go to the Foundation.
We are also very excited to be partnering with the Nexus School in Roslyn, PA (devoted to educating children within the autism spectrum).
Over a dozen young adults, some with autism or intellectual disabilities, work at Nightlight Ice Cream (watch our video). They make fresh batches of water ice, shop for and restock inventory, clean interior surfaces, floors and windows, clean exterior tables and chairs, set up the umbrellas, water the plants, and make sure the dog bowl is filled with fresh water each day.
Ultimately, our vision is to provide long-term comfortable, educational, supportive and affordable solutions for the aging autistic population – which today includes approximately 1.5 million Americans, most of whom are currently under the age of 22. Our hope is that our initiative will become a comprehensive and proven model worth duplicating in urban and suburban communities throughout the world.
Watch our story about Nightlight Ice Cream on CBS3 Philadelphia
Nightlight Foundation Board Members
Alex Viele
Damien Park
David Masterson
Daniel McGowan
Kim Crowley