By DIANNE RUSSELL
Mae House was inspired by Liz and Ed Slater’s youngest child, daughter Hannah Mae. “Hannah was diagnosed with a seizure disorder when she was 9 months old,” Liz said. “She had brain surgery just before she was 2 years old, and it was clear to us at that time she wouldn’t live a normal life.”
Hannah’s sister, Jess said, “Growing up with Hannah as my little sister was the most wonderful experience of my life. She blesses me with her nonstop smile, hugs and big belly laughs. I love spending time with my sister, and each time I do, I see growth within her, and I have Mae House to thank for that.”
One of the members, Carrie, joined Mae House in 2021, after her mother, Robin, passed away. Carrie’s father, Cory, shared how the transition was for their family. “Mae House has provided joy for both me and my daughter, Courtney, knowing that Carrie is in a safe, supportive and loving community. Before, Carrie lived at home, and our family helped her with most of her daily tasks. Now, she’s becoming more independent, and we can rest easy knowing she is being well taken care of. Mae House has allowed Carrie to thrive, and it’s given us peace of mind that she’s happy, engaged and building a future. We no longer worry about Carrie being alone or how she’ll navigate life.”
(L-R) Hannah, Tanette, Gina and Carrie enjoying an outing
The four members of Mae House are active every day. Sightings of them throughout the neighborhood on their three-wheeled bikes, ordering a smoothie at Mother’s Market, or participating in worship and activities with Mariners Church are normal occurrences. Two of the girls have jobs in town, one at the local market and the other at a cat rescue clinic. The other two girls participate in day programs where one focuses on building social skills while the other learns different aspects of performing and visual arts. And when you walk past the house, you hear the chatter and laughter of girls having fun and living a full life.
Mae House goes above and beyond in every aspect of care to instill healthy living in body, mind and spirit for the members. According to Annie, executive director and administrator, “Mae House is where the lives of our members unfold. Our members and assistants build a relationship based on trust, connection and compassion where they work together to see each other through the challenges and celebrate each moment of joy. This is how Mae House becomes a home for life.”
Jess said, “Hannah and her fellow members are living full lives like you and I do. They have healthy and delicious meals, daily physical activity (walking on the beach and neighborhood bike rides), personal hygiene and emotional care as well. All of these aspects of a healthy and full life are very important to me as Hannah’s sister, and I’m proud that these values have been implemented into Mae House.”
To ensure they have family-oriented, long-term staff members, Mae House is committed to supporting viable careers, not just steppingstone employment, for the women who work there. To do this, benefits, flexible scheduling and above industry rate of pay are important aspects of the Mae House way.
(L-R) Hannah, Tanette, Gina and Carrie on another fun field trip
“I’ve been here since January 2021 and it’s a very special place to work. We have had four sets of sisters who have worked here because they wanted their siblings to work at Mae House, too,” said Megan, who started as a part-time employee and is now a full-time assistant administrator. Megan coordinates all of the day-to-day activities and schedules, including medical appointments, social activities, any kind of therapeutic work, such as, therapeutic horseback riding with Shea Riding Center, and everything else involved to support the girls to be thriving and happy.
“The staff is aware and attuned to what’s going on with each member,” Annie said. “The assistants are paying attention and anticipating because sometimes the women can’t anticipate for themselves – such as bringing a sweater on a chilly day or putting on sunscreen when the sun is out. I think the little things we do mean so much and carry a lot of weight in grounding the ladies.”
The four residents are loved by all who meet them. “For years now, Pizza Bakery has delivered pizza, lasagna and salad twice a month. John Craft said it is his favorite delivery, and the Mae House girls agree it’s their favorite too!” Additionally, A Market makes sandwiches for the members every Saturday. Liz emphasizes that Mae House is grateful for the community involvement through these local businesses.
Longtime family friend and board member, Barbara Heffernan, volunteers with science projects. She said, “When I walk through the front door of Mae House, I am at peace. I love the members of the house. It is a lovely place to be, and there is a wonderful sense of calm inside the house. Mostly, I experience a sense that I don’t want to leave.”
To continue promoting community awareness and grow their reach, Mae House is in design for an outreach program in the form of a Social Club. Annie shared, “For those who don’t live at Mae House, they can come and participate in activities with us. It’s one way to be an active part of the community. It is important to us to create a community – and not just for the women who live here – but for all the friends and family and then the community. Our existence has a reach and depth much like the branches and roots of a tree.”
A seed that has taken root, Mae House has come a long way.
To continue serving others, Mae House is in the planning stage for a state-of-the-art new home on the existing property to make space for two more women. This is an exciting time, and all hands are on deck to make this transition proceed as smoothly and seamlessly as possible.
If all goes according to plan, construction is scheduled to start in fall 2025, with the team comprised of a local architect, local Interior designer and other community leaders.
The ladies brighten the lives of those they meet
Of course, all of this takes funding. Although they are partially state funded, Liz gives credit to the list of more than 700 family and friends of Mae House who have donated to fill the gap. “Additionally, we’ve received two grants in the past couple of years, one from a group called 100 Companies That Care and the other from Farmers and Merchants Bank. Recently, a Family Foundation generously gifted Mae House $100,000 towards the expansion,” Liz said.
Additional future plans include Mae House purchasing the property from current ownership, followed by an endowment campaign that would allow the future operational costs and overhead to be funded through the endowment in perpetuity. Further information will be forthcoming as plans unfold.
Many people are positively impacted through the presence of the Mae House community – it begins with the four girls and then reaches into the lives of their families, friends and loved ones. The branches reach out to touch the lives of the assistants, the volunteers, and community partners who find their way to Mae House to share their time and resources. The current members all have strong ties to their families who are local to the Newport Beach community, and they are all grateful for their presence.
Just like a tree growing deeper roots and stronger branches, there is a lot of support needed. Mae House invites you to join in supporting their capital campaign to raise funds for the expansion project, where your contribution will generate continued beauty by enriching the lives of people with developmental disabilities, today and for years to come.
For more information about Mae House, go to www.maehouse.org
A Dream
Mae House is not just a house; it is a home – a home for women with developmental disabilities in Newport Beach.Mae House was inspired by Liz and Ed Slater’s youngest child, daughter Hannah Mae. “Hannah was diagnosed with a seizure disorder when she was 9 months old,” Liz said. “She had brain surgery just before she was 2 years old, and it was clear to us at that time she wouldn’t live a normal life.”
Photo Courtesy of Mae House
(L-R) Carrie, Gina, Liz Slater, Tanette and Hannah
The seed of the idea for Mae House was to build a home that would have high quality of care for their child and others, as they develop into young adults and beyond. As primary caregivers, Liz and Ed felt there was not a lot of support for the community of the developmentally disabled. They also felt it was important for aging parents to have a residential community for their child, and for the responsibility not to be passed on to the child’s siblings or other family members.
In 2017, after many years of prayers, preparation and hard work, Liz and Ed established Mae House as a non-profit organization. The mission of Mae House is to provide a residential community and home for adults with developmental disabilities to live active and engaging lives.
(L-R) Assistant Administrator Megan Parrish, Founder Liz Slater, Jess Slater Piscetta (Liz’s daughter) and Administrator/Executive Director Annie Mai Bevacqua
When stepping through the door, it is obvious the dream for Mae House is in full bloom. The word “house” suggests a structure; however, this is not merely a dwelling, but a home to four women, a place where one can live permanently as a member of a family.
A Home
Similar to when the Slaters’ two older children, Jess and Ted, went off to college, Mae House is the college experience for Hannah. It is her opportunity to live with more autonomy, greater independence, and most importantly, to develop friendships and community. Now, Hannah lives with her friends, Carrie, Gina and Tanette, and interacts daily with the staff of nine assistants and a nutrition specialist.Hannah’s sister, Jess said, “Growing up with Hannah as my little sister was the most wonderful experience of my life. She blesses me with her nonstop smile, hugs and big belly laughs. I love spending time with my sister, and each time I do, I see growth within her, and I have Mae House to thank for that.”
One of the members, Carrie, joined Mae House in 2021, after her mother, Robin, passed away. Carrie’s father, Cory, shared how the transition was for their family. “Mae House has provided joy for both me and my daughter, Courtney, knowing that Carrie is in a safe, supportive and loving community. Before, Carrie lived at home, and our family helped her with most of her daily tasks. Now, she’s becoming more independent, and we can rest easy knowing she is being well taken care of. Mae House has allowed Carrie to thrive, and it’s given us peace of mind that she’s happy, engaged and building a future. We no longer worry about Carrie being alone or how she’ll navigate life.”
Photo Courtesy of Mae House
(L-R) Hannah, Tanette, Gina and Carrie enjoying an outing
The four members of Mae House are active every day. Sightings of them throughout the neighborhood on their three-wheeled bikes, ordering a smoothie at Mother’s Market, or participating in worship and activities with Mariners Church are normal occurrences. Two of the girls have jobs in town, one at the local market and the other at a cat rescue clinic. The other two girls participate in day programs where one focuses on building social skills while the other learns different aspects of performing and visual arts. And when you walk past the house, you hear the chatter and laughter of girls having fun and living a full life.
Mae House goes above and beyond in every aspect of care to instill healthy living in body, mind and spirit for the members. According to Annie, executive director and administrator, “Mae House is where the lives of our members unfold. Our members and assistants build a relationship based on trust, connection and compassion where they work together to see each other through the challenges and celebrate each moment of joy. This is how Mae House becomes a home for life.”
Jess said, “Hannah and her fellow members are living full lives like you and I do. They have healthy and delicious meals, daily physical activity (walking on the beach and neighborhood bike rides), personal hygiene and emotional care as well. All of these aspects of a healthy and full life are very important to me as Hannah’s sister, and I’m proud that these values have been implemented into Mae House.”
To ensure they have family-oriented, long-term staff members, Mae House is committed to supporting viable careers, not just steppingstone employment, for the women who work there. To do this, benefits, flexible scheduling and above industry rate of pay are important aspects of the Mae House way.
Photo Courtesy of Mae House
(L-R) Hannah, Tanette, Gina and Carrie on another fun field trip
“I’ve been here since January 2021 and it’s a very special place to work. We have had four sets of sisters who have worked here because they wanted their siblings to work at Mae House, too,” said Megan, who started as a part-time employee and is now a full-time assistant administrator. Megan coordinates all of the day-to-day activities and schedules, including medical appointments, social activities, any kind of therapeutic work, such as, therapeutic horseback riding with Shea Riding Center, and everything else involved to support the girls to be thriving and happy.
“The staff is aware and attuned to what’s going on with each member,” Annie said. “The assistants are paying attention and anticipating because sometimes the women can’t anticipate for themselves – such as bringing a sweater on a chilly day or putting on sunscreen when the sun is out. I think the little things we do mean so much and carry a lot of weight in grounding the ladies.”
The four residents are loved by all who meet them. “For years now, Pizza Bakery has delivered pizza, lasagna and salad twice a month. John Craft said it is his favorite delivery, and the Mae House girls agree it’s their favorite too!” Additionally, A Market makes sandwiches for the members every Saturday. Liz emphasizes that Mae House is grateful for the community involvement through these local businesses.
Longtime family friend and board member, Barbara Heffernan, volunteers with science projects. She said, “When I walk through the front door of Mae House, I am at peace. I love the members of the house. It is a lovely place to be, and there is a wonderful sense of calm inside the house. Mostly, I experience a sense that I don’t want to leave.”
To continue promoting community awareness and grow their reach, Mae House is in design for an outreach program in the form of a Social Club. Annie shared, “For those who don’t live at Mae House, they can come and participate in activities with us. It’s one way to be an active part of the community. It is important to us to create a community – and not just for the women who live here – but for all the friends and family and then the community. Our existence has a reach and depth much like the branches and roots of a tree.”
A seed that has taken root, Mae House has come a long way.
A Future
One key component of the dream for Mae House has always been to create a safe and nurturing forever home for the members and other people with special needs, where there is a true sense of fellowship and belonging. It is with this intention in mind that Mae House is committed to doing their part to provide quality care and housing for people with developmental disabilities in Orange County.To continue serving others, Mae House is in the planning stage for a state-of-the-art new home on the existing property to make space for two more women. This is an exciting time, and all hands are on deck to make this transition proceed as smoothly and seamlessly as possible.
If all goes according to plan, construction is scheduled to start in fall 2025, with the team comprised of a local architect, local Interior designer and other community leaders.
Photo Courtesy of Mae House
The ladies brighten the lives of those they meet
Of course, all of this takes funding. Although they are partially state funded, Liz gives credit to the list of more than 700 family and friends of Mae House who have donated to fill the gap. “Additionally, we’ve received two grants in the past couple of years, one from a group called 100 Companies That Care and the other from Farmers and Merchants Bank. Recently, a Family Foundation generously gifted Mae House $100,000 towards the expansion,” Liz said.
Additional future plans include Mae House purchasing the property from current ownership, followed by an endowment campaign that would allow the future operational costs and overhead to be funded through the endowment in perpetuity. Further information will be forthcoming as plans unfold.
Many people are positively impacted through the presence of the Mae House community – it begins with the four girls and then reaches into the lives of their families, friends and loved ones. The branches reach out to touch the lives of the assistants, the volunteers, and community partners who find their way to Mae House to share their time and resources. The current members all have strong ties to their families who are local to the Newport Beach community, and they are all grateful for their presence.
Just like a tree growing deeper roots and stronger branches, there is a lot of support needed. Mae House invites you to join in supporting their capital campaign to raise funds for the expansion project, where your contribution will generate continued beauty by enriching the lives of people with developmental disabilities, today and for years to come.
For more information about Mae House, go to www.maehouse.org
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