MOKA Raises $39,000 for Smart Home Pilot at Inaugural “Compassion in Action” Event
Grand Rapids, MI — On April 17, 2025, MOKA hosted its inaugural fundraising event, Compassion in Action, at the Bissell Tree House on the John Ball Zoo campus. The event welcomed 150 guests and successfully raised $39,000 in support of MOKA’s innovative Smart Home Pilot Project, an initiative aimed at enhancing independent living for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through accessible, tech-integrated residential services.
“It was truly incredible to experience the connection that came from gathering with community members, employees, leaders in the behavioral health sector, and residents of MOKA’s first Smart Home,” said Samantha Brigham, MOKA’s Development Director. “Having the opportunity to hear directly from the people developing the program, as well as the ladies living in the Smart Home, was an eye-opening and transformative experience for guests.”
The Smart Home Pilot Project is an initiative designed to increase autonomy, independence, and satisfaction among people with disabilities in residential settings, while also addressing the ongoing workforce shortage in the direct support profession. By incorporating widely available smart technologies, the project creates opportunities to expand care capacity and introduce a meaningful career ladder for direct support professionals.
Program highlights featured key voices in the field of inclusive and equitable care, including Tracey Hamlet, MOKA’s Executive Director; Todd Culver, President and CEO of Incompass Michigan; as well as moving testimonials from Smart Home residents. Speakers emphasized the vital shift toward a Tech First approach in Michigan and the potential for MOKA’s pilot findings to shape impactful, scalable change—not only for people with disabilities, but also for aging adults, people recovering from injury, and others who could benefit from accessible technology.
MOKA extends its heartfelt thanks to the local community, statewide supporters, and national advocates who have embraced this vision. To learn more about the MOKA Smart Home Pilot Project or the Michigan Tech First initiative, including ways to contribute, please visit: www.moka.org/smart-home-pilot
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MOKA is West MI based nonprofit organization committed to empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead fulfilling lives. Through innovative programs and unwavering support, MOKA fosters independence, inclusion, and personal growth for those they serve, while simultaneously creating a more compassionate and accepting community.