Every choice we make today shapes the communities we build tomorrow. That’s why Fello made sustainability a focus of our Leading Boldly strategy, reducing energy use and emissions across our corporate offices and housing properties while staying true to our commitment to creating belonging and inclusion. 

“Sustainable practices are as much about advancing equity as they are about protecting the environment,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO. “Inclusive communities where people can live their best lives depend on a healthy, high-quality living experience. Embedding environmental stewardship into our work is a natural extension of our mission.” 

Our Impact

Four years into Leading Boldly, we’ve made real progress toward our sustainability goals. We’re not just creating a greener future—we’re strengthening the communities we serve and showing what’s possible when organizations lead with purpose and responsibility.

Improving energy efficiency 

• 90% of Fello properties have completed energy audits—and we’ve acted on every recommendation to create more comfortable, energy-efficient homes. 
• 11 properties have been identified for solar panel installation, expanding access to renewable energy. 
• Fello’s Linthicum office was upgraded to LED lighting, cutting lighting energy use by 43% and overall energy use by 16%, reducing both costs and environmental impact. 

Transitioning from fossil fuels 

• All oil and propane residential units have been converted to electric, creating safer, more efficient homes. 
• 73% of our vehicle fleet is now hybrid—and every future vehicle will be, too, reducing emissions across our daily operations. 
• EV charging stations are installed at Fello corporate offices and some Fello residential locations, with plans to expand to more residential properties, making it easier to support cleaner transportation choices. 

Reducing waste in the workplace 

• Every kitchenette at Fello corporate offices has reusable dishware, reducing everyday waste. 
• Energy-efficient dishwashers have been installed to reduce water use, supporting more sustainable daily operations. 
• Compostable products have replaced single-use plastics across our locations, reducing what we send to landfills. 

Expanding the Right Way 

Fello’s sustainability work isn’t separate from our mission—it’s part of it.  

As we increased our workforce, entered new counties, and invested in community development, we also ensured that our operations reflected our values. It was intentional—every choice we made was designed to benefit the people we serve, strengthen the communities we’re part of, and care for the planet we all share. 

“Our efforts are making a real difference, but what excites me most is the example we’re setting,” said Cody Skacan, Vice President of Strategy. “Fello is growing rapidly, but we’re growing mindfully. We’re proof that organizations large and small don’t have to choose between expanding their impact and doing right by the environment.” 

Just Getting Started 

Our commitment to sustainability doesn’t end with the completion of Leading Boldly. We’ll keep adopting sustainable practices, furthering our use of renewable energy, and rethinking how we work every day. 

Environmental stewardship is one way we show up for our communities. Even small changes add up to something big—healthier ecosystems, cleaner air and water, and stronger communities where people can thrive.  

“Sustainability isn’t something one organization can achieve by itself,” said Rondeau. “It takes all of us. When we commit to it together—in our offices, our operations, our communities—that’s when lasting change happens.” 

At Fello, we recognize that supporting people with disabilities means understanding that mental wellness and daily life are deeply connected. Since 2020, our Behavioral Health team has helped people with disabilities and mental health diagnoses build the tools and strategies each person needs to navigate life on their own terms—strengthening independence, inclusion, and opportunity. 

Our team includes licensed clinicians and behavioral health associates who specialize in supporting people with complex and overlapping needs. But the Behavioral Health team doesn’t stand alone.  Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are essential partners in this work and collaboration is critical to providing the best possible support to the people we serve. 

DSPs are present in the daily lives of the people Fello supports. That closeness gives them a window into each person’s world. By partnering with DSPs, Fello’s clinicians support with strategies built around real experience—what happens at home, in the community, and everywhere in between. That makes all the difference when developing support that fits each person. 

A Partnership That Builds Confidence 

Whether just starting out or with decades of experience, all DSPs benefit from access to Fello’s Behavioral Health team. The partnership helps build confidence, strengthen their skills, and creates new ways of seeing and responding to the people they support. 

For Sandy, that relationship made all the difference. A new DSP with Fello, she wasn’t sure how to support Joe when he felt overwhelmed and reached out to the Behavioral Health team for guidance. Together they explored Joe’s behavior from a different perspective and offered advice on how to meet him in the moment. 

What began as a quick conversation to bounce ideas off each other grew into a comprehensive Behavior Support Plan for Joe and a much more confident Sandy. 

That’s partnership in action—clinicians and DSPs learning and teaching each other, leading to an integrative approach to support. 

Communication Makes the Difference 

Effective support depends on effective communication—and that’s as true for DSPs as it is for the people they support. 

When Denise, a DSP, needed to navigate a difficult conversation with the person she supported, she turned to the Behavioral Health team to brainstorm. The team met with Denise to address her concerns, create a shared plan, and practice communicating. When the time came, all three met together, with the clinician supporting in real time, modeling techniques that created a healthy, safe dialogue.  

That experience didn’t just help Denise in that moment—it strengthened her ability to better communicate with the people she supports going forward. 

Support That Follows 

At Fello, we believe exceptional, person-centered support happens through collaboration. 

DSPs bring deep, firsthand knowledge of the people they support. Clinicians bring specialized clinical expertise. Together, they offer behavioral health support that follows people wherever they go—at home, in the community, and everywhere in between. 

That’s what partnership makes possible: support that adapts, responds, and grows with each person so they can live the lives they choose and feel good about who they are. 

Fello is excited to bring back its annual 50/50 raffle, a fun and easy way to win big while supporting children with disabilities and their families. Every ticket purchased directly contributes to Fello’s Family Fund, which provides financial grants so families can access therapies, equipment, and other educational and life-enriching opportunities for their children. The raffle prize grows larger each year, with last year’s winner taking home over $3,000. Every ticket gives you an opportunity to win big while making an even bigger difference in our community. 

How to Participate 

While the winning ticket will be drawn at Fello’s annual Golf Fore Kids Tournament on May 11, you do not need to attend the tournament to be eligible to win.  

Tickets are now available for $5 each or five tickets for $20. Each ticket you purchase increases your chances of winning and your impact on the lives of families and children throughout our community. 

To get your tickets:

1. Click here or complete the form below.  
2. Select the number of tickets you’d like to purchase.  
3. Complete your payment securely online.

The raffle drawing will take place on May 11 during the tournament. Winners will be notified directly, and you don’t need to be present to claim your prize.

The Power in Your Purchase 

All proceeds from the raffle support Fello’s Family Fund, a 100% donor-funded program that helps families pay for essential services that are often expensive or not covered by insurance.  Founded in 2021, the Family Fund has distributed over $382,000 to 239 families, with 2025 being the most successful year for the program yet.  

Behind every grant is a child with unique goals and the resources that help build the right support around them.  

For Christa, watching her nine-year-old daughter Della’s mobility decline was heartbreaking. As her bones grew faster than her muscles could keep up, Della lost the ability to straighten her legs fully for more than four years.  

As Della approached her pre-teen years, Christa knew this was a critical moment. Children often experience rapid growth during this stage, and the right intervention can make all the difference for their future independence.  

After years of research, Christa found a specialist who offered a less invasive procedure, called PERCs, with the potential to preserve Della’s strength and mobility. Insurance deemed the costly procedure ‘cosmetic’. 

With a grant from the Family Fund, Della was able to receive the surgery over summer break, giving her time to heal and focus on physical therapy without missing school.  

The results were immediate and remarkable. Within weeks, Della was doing things once thought impossible—like standing up by herself. The impact of the surgery was more than physical.  

“This really reduced my stress as a mother,” said Christa. “Having to watch my child struggle just to move her own body every day just hurt. This surgery that my daughter had will essentially affect her whole life. She has greater movement, more comfort, and better stability.”  

Hundreds of children like Della rely on the access the Family Fund provides, and the need grows steadily each year. Since the 2026 application opened in February, Fello has already received over 360 applications, a record high. 

“High-impact resources that empower children with disabilities to meet their potential are unfortunately out of reach for many families in our community,” said Sara Pease, Assistant Director of Children, Youth & Families. “The Family Fund helps close the gap by expanding access for families and creating opportunities for children to set and achieve their unique goals specific to their needs.” 

When you purchase a raffle ticket, you are not just entering to win. You are helping provide access, opportunity, and life-changing resources to children, like Della, who need them most. Join us in participating in the 50/50 raffle and help us reach more families through the Family Fund. Read more about how our grants change lives.