Kennedy-Donovan Center
Kennedy-Donovan Center Headquarters Location
Foxboro, MA
About Us
Kennedy-Donovan Center grew out of the close relationship between Luella Hennessey Donovan and the family of Joseph Patrick and Rose Kennedy. Luella Hennessey joined the Kennedy family in 1936 as a private duty nurse and traveled with them when Joseph Kennedy was appointed ambassador to Great Britain in 1937. Luella tended to the needs of the Kennedy children, including Rosemary, the eldest daughter, who had developmental disabilities and was institutionalized in 1941.
Rose Kennedy confided with Luella that she wished her daughter could have lived a typical family life attending a local school. This inspired Luella to embark on a new career at the age of 59. In 1969, after earning her degree from Boston College, Luella fulfilled her dream by opening one of the first community-based educational and therapeutic programs for young children with a three-year grant from the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation.
In gratitude, Luella named her program the Kennedy Center for Handicapped Children, the program began serving four children in a borrowed space, with Luella as teacher, along with a physical therapist. Over the years, the center grew into a multi-purpose agency serving thousands of children and adults throughout eastern and south central Massachusetts. The agency was renamed Kennedy-Donovan Center upon her retirement in 1987 in recognition of Mrs. Donovan’s contributions.
Today, Kennedy-Donovan Center remains committed to the principle that all individuals have the right to participate and thrive in their communities. We honor Luella’s legacy through leadership in providing flexible, creative, and community-based human services.
Mission, Vision & Our ApproachRose Kennedy confided with Luella that she wished her daughter could have lived a typical family life attending a local school. This inspired Luella to embark on a new career at the age of 59. In 1969, after earning her degree from Boston College, Luella fulfilled her dream by opening one of the first community-based educational and therapeutic programs for young children with a three-year grant from the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation.
In gratitude, Luella named her program the Kennedy Center for Handicapped Children, the program began serving four children in a borrowed space, with Luella as teacher, along with a physical therapist. Over the years, the center grew into a multi-purpose agency serving thousands of children and adults throughout eastern and south central Massachusetts. The agency was renamed Kennedy-Donovan Center upon her retirement in 1987 in recognition of Mrs. Donovan’s contributions.
Today, Kennedy-Donovan Center remains committed to the principle that all individuals have the right to participate and thrive in their communities. We honor Luella’s legacy through leadership in providing flexible, creative, and community-based human services.
Our Mission
Empower and support people to realize their full potential.
Our Vision
A world where every individual and family thrives, no matter the circumstances.
Our Approach
For children, adults, and families with developmental delays, disabilities, or challenges, Kennedy-Donovan Center delivers life-changing outcomes. KDC brings a unique combination of pioneering data-driven approaches, a wide breadth of family- and community-based services, and a passion for human empowerment.
We partner with families, caregivers, professionals, and the wider community to provide the highest-quality human services possible.
Our HistoryEmpower and support people to realize their full potential.
Our Vision
A world where every individual and family thrives, no matter the circumstances.
Our Approach
For children, adults, and families with developmental delays, disabilities, or challenges, Kennedy-Donovan Center delivers life-changing outcomes. KDC brings a unique combination of pioneering data-driven approaches, a wide breadth of family- and community-based services, and a passion for human empowerment.
We partner with families, caregivers, professionals, and the wider community to provide the highest-quality human services possible.
Throughout our history, Kennedy-Donovan Center has delivered life-changing outcomes for children, adults, and families with developmental delays, disabilities, or challenges. KDC offers a unique combination of pioneering data-driven approaches, a wide breadth of family- and community-based services, and a passion for human empowerment.
Our story started with the relationship between families and professional caregivers, and our commitment to this collaboration remains today. KDC originated with the connection between Luella Hennessey Donovan and the family of Joseph Patrick and Rose Kennedy.
Luella joined the Kennedy family in 1936 as a private duty nurse and tended to the needs of the Kennedy children. Rosemary, the eldest daughter, had developmental disabilities and was institutionalized in 1941. When Rose confided to Luella that she wished her daughter could have attended a local school to remain with her family, Luella was inspired to embark on a new career. In 1969, after earning her degree in public health nursing from Boston College at the age of 59, Luella fulfilled her dream: she opened one of the first community-based educational and therapeutic programs for young children.
The program was launched with a three-year grant from the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation. In gratitude, Luella named her program the Kennedy Center for Handicapped Children. The Center began serving four children in a borrowed space; Luella was their teacher, and she worked with a physical therapist to serve the children.
Over the years, the Center grew to serve the complex needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities, serving numerous communities and thousands of families throughout Central and Southeastern Massachusetts. In 1987, when Luella retired, the agency was renamed the Kennedy-Donovan Center, in recognition of her own impact for life.
Our story started with the relationship between families and professional caregivers, and our commitment to this collaboration remains today. KDC originated with the connection between Luella Hennessey Donovan and the family of Joseph Patrick and Rose Kennedy.
Luella joined the Kennedy family in 1936 as a private duty nurse and tended to the needs of the Kennedy children. Rosemary, the eldest daughter, had developmental disabilities and was institutionalized in 1941. When Rose confided to Luella that she wished her daughter could have attended a local school to remain with her family, Luella was inspired to embark on a new career. In 1969, after earning her degree in public health nursing from Boston College at the age of 59, Luella fulfilled her dream: she opened one of the first community-based educational and therapeutic programs for young children.
The program was launched with a three-year grant from the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation. In gratitude, Luella named her program the Kennedy Center for Handicapped Children. The Center began serving four children in a borrowed space; Luella was their teacher, and she worked with a physical therapist to serve the children.
Over the years, the Center grew to serve the complex needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities, serving numerous communities and thousands of families throughout Central and Southeastern Massachusetts. In 1987, when Luella retired, the agency was renamed the Kennedy-Donovan Center, in recognition of her own impact for life.
Number of Employees in Kennedy-Donovan Center
501 to 1,000
Kennedy-Donovan Center Revenue
$25M to $100M (USD)
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