Julia came into Edward ’ s life when she was three years old . Edward lived in a small town in Northern California when he and his now-wife , Jessica , began their lives together . Meeting Julia was a pivotal moment in Edward ’ s life and eventually led him to advocate for people with special needs . Edward shares , “ Julia would sit in the corner at school , playing with Play-Doh . She was not receiving the services she needed to thrive . Programs and services were not available in our small town .”
Edward and his family returned to San Diego in 2000 , where he immersed himself in learning more about the availability of programs and services for people with developmental disabilities . He soon realized there was a “ huge , unmet need in this industry .”
In 2014 , after a successful career at Father Joe ’ s Villages as the VP of Operations , an opportunity arrived when HGH announced an opening for VP of Operations . “ I realized it was my chance to make a difference in the lives of people like my daughter Julia ,” said Edward .
HGH Clients at the park for a day out
Julia and Edward
During the COVID pandemic , HGH converted one of its homes into the first model for community inclusion – an affordable housing option for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities . In San Diego , people with disabilities have faced a history of challenges regarding access to housing and inclusion in their communities . Often , these individuals fall through the cracks . Julia is a participant in the Independent Living Program and now resides in one of HGH ’ s homes , which she happily shares with two other roommates .
Edward is proud of his endeavors with HGH and looks forward to continuing the successes of his predecessor , Mark Klaus , while curating his vision to better the lives of the people HGH serves . He says , “ our work not only improves the life of the person needing services but their families and the community as a whole . I believe that success comes from working together , and I am fortunate to have a team to do just that .”
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