Jett Foundation announced its most ambitious milestone to date: the launch of a capital campaign to fund the building of Jett’s Place, a premier wellness and retreat center serving as a dedicated sanctuary for individuals and families affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The fundraising campaign was anchored in its initial phase by two transformative $1 million donations from the Emilson Family and ITF Therapeutics.
Established in 2001, Jett Foundation empowers people and families impacted by Duchenne muscular dystrophy through the development of transformative programming, educational opportunities, and ongoing support for every stage of a Duchenne journey. The creation of Jett’s Place marks the next major evolution of Jett Foundation’s mission. Nestled on 10 acres in Norwell, MA, Jett’s Place will serve as the dual home for Jett Foundation’s national headquarters and the new wellness and retreat center.
"Jett’s Place represents a hopeful vision where everyone belongs, and everyone is celebrated exactly as they are. This campus will be a space where individuals with Duchenne can truly be free, whether they are seeking the peaceful tranquility of nature or the thrill of new, fully accessible experiences,” said Eric Snyder, Jett Foundation’s President & CEO. “The monumental support we received from our early champions required immense vision and a deep leap of faith. To believe in this project when it was just a blueprint takes a special kind of leadership. Their trust has given us the momentum we need to turn this vision into a reality, and we are honored to have them as pillars of our journey.”
Conceived and designed by insights provided directly by families living with Duchenne, the facility is being meticulously engineered to eliminate physical and social barriers entirely. Powered by community volunteerism, the state-of-the-art campus will allow children, youth, and adults with Duchenne to experience nature and recreation freely, fully supported by specialized, adaptive infrastructure.
Key Features Planned for the Jett's Place Campus:
● Barrier-Free Accessibility: A zero-barrier layout thoughtfully engineered around the specific mobility and medical needs of individuals across all stages of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
● Specialized Wellness Infrastructure: A retreat framework balancing professional, specialized care with spaces optimized for family respite, emotional rejuvenation, and community bonding.
● Adaptive Nature & Recreation: Tailored outdoor facilities allowing participants to safely experience nature trails, sports, and outdoor activities alongside peers and loved ones.
● Empowering Educational Programming: A continuous thread across all campus and nationwide initiatives, offering specialized Duchenne workshops alongside skill-building programs in areas like coding, 3D printing, broadcasting, communications, and life skills coaching designed to foster lifelong independence.
"ITF Therapeutics is honored to be a founding contributor to Jett’s Place, a visionary project that will create opportunities for connection, support, and community for individuals and families living with Duchenne,” said Matt Trudeau, President, ITF Therapeutics, the U.S. rare disease affiliate of Italfarmaco. “Jett Foundation has continually evolved to meet the needs of individuals and families living with Duchenne, and Jett’s Place is a bold extension of that commitment: a dedicated space where people can connect, learn from one another, and build lasting relationships. We are inspired by this vision and grateful for the opportunity to help make it a reality.”
To bring this vision to life, the capital campaign has set an overall fundraising target of $10.7 million. Early momentum and the generosity of foundational partners, enabled the campaign to successfully cross the halfway mark, raising over $5 million during its quiet phase. The leadership milestones achieved by the Emilson Family and ITF Therapeutics provide a strong foundation as the project transitions toward broader public engagement.
“The Emilson Family is proud and excited to be part of Jett's project, right in our "backyard!” We are huge advocates of children (and families) spending as much time as possible outside,” said Karen McArdle, trustee of the family’s philanthropic giving. “Combining nature and animals that are in tune with the human body– more than we know–along with complete care facilities will be the perfect setting for time away from their normal lives. Please join us to make this happen.”
The journey toward building Jett's Place has officially begun. Jett Foundation invites local businesses, philanthropic leaders, and community members to join this expanding circle of support and help turn this critical dream into a reality. Together, the community can establish a lasting environment where individuals with Duchenne can thrive among friends, explore the outdoors safely, and achieve their best selves.
Let’s build this together. For more information on how you can support this campaign, track fundraising milestones, or view architectural layouts, please visit jettfoundation.org/jetts-place.
