Vivian G. Bass, the CEO of JFGH, has been committed for over 30 years to improving the quality of life, independence, community inclusion and dignity of individuals with disabilities
on a non-sectarian basis throughout the Washington DC area, nationally and globally. She oversees all facets of the organization which provides supports in 74 residential locations as well as for two innovative transition programs for young adults. She has extensively traveled and hosted to advise and mentor more than 25 communities globally wishing to emulate the JFGH model. The agency, under Vivian’s leadership as Executive Director/CEO has grown from under $5 million in total assets in 1995 to over $27 million in 2015, has been rated as a Four-Star (highest rating) organization by Charity Navigator for twelve of the past thirteen years, and has earned and sustained the Seal of Excellence from The Standards for Excellence Institute.
Trained as a special educator at The University of Michigan and being a graduate of Leadership Montgomery, Vivian has been sought out locally, nationally and internationally as a speaker, consultant and mentor and/or recognized by organizations supporting individuals with developmental disabilities including: The American Association on Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), Best Buddies International, InterACC, Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), Maryland Association of Community Service Providers (MACS), The National Organization on Disability (NOD), Potomac Community Resources (PCR), RespectabilityUSA, Sulam, Sunflower Bakery, and The World Congress on Disabilities in conjunction with the Paralympics.
On a volunteer basis, Vivian currently serves as the Chair-Elect of The Board of Trustees of JWI, a member of the Board of Directors of JCPA, a member of the Religion and Spirituality Division of the AAIDD, an Officer-at-Large on the Executive Committee of Leadership Montgomery’s Board of Directors as well as Chair of its Governance and Ethics Committee, a member of the Board of Directors for PCR and as a member of the Advisory Board of Nonprofit Montgomery.
Prior to her tenure at JFGH, Vivian was a special educator and coordinator at the Sh’ma V’Ezer Program and later served as the Coordinator of Special Needs at the JCC of Greater Washington.