Who We Are
An advocate for the growth of our clients,
our employees, and our community
About Us
Building Promising Futures Together
Martha J. Morrissey,
Founder
Promising Futures Inc. was founded through a personal journey of a mother navigating life with her daughter, Tiffany, who was diagnosed with autism at a time when few understood the condition. Driven by love and a determination to help her daughter thrive, she immersed herself in a journey of learning, and exploring therapiesβgaining hands-on experience and building a fifty year foundation of knowledge in behavioral support and individualized care.
Over time, her work in private schools and developmental programs exposed her to both effective practices and deeply troubling care systems. As her daughter grew older, so did her urgency to create safe, nurturing living environmentsβespecially after witnessing firsthand neglect, overmedication, and abuse often found in institutional settings and small living environments. Fueled by these painful experiences and a desire to ensure that vulnerable individuals who need protection, would find safe living environments and that model of protection is implemented throughout Promising Futures Inc. residential homes and day treatment programs.
With encouragement from mentors and guidance from her faith, she applied for and was awarded a grant to open the first Promising Futures homeβdespite initial doubts and the challenges of starting from scratch. A powerful moment of spiritual clarity and confirmation gave her the strength to move forward. What began as a motherβs mission has grown into a thriving organization that has served families challenged with developmental disabilities for over 40 years.
Through Godβs faithfulness and inspiration, He built three homes, the last home to serve individuals her daughters age. Faithful donors, dedication of remarkable staff and the support of the community, have made it possible to provide a rich environment of learning, experience the dignity of independance and the satisfaction of a jobwell done, while maintaining safe environment with compassionate care that enriches lives and empowers people every day.
Our Mission
Promising Futures mission is to deliver premier, person-centered services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a focus on behavioral needs. Through Individualized programs, we foster independence, dignity, life skills and meaningful community inclusion, empowering every individual to reach their fullest potential.
Our Vision
To build a thriving, inclusive community where individuals with disabilities live full lives, families feel supported, staff feel inspired, and every person is empowered to reach their highest level of independence and belonging.
What We Stand For
Empowerment
We focus on each personβs strengths and help build the skills to bring out their full potential, cheering them on along the way.
Personalization
With a 1:3 staff-to-client ratio, we give each person the personalized support they need to thrive.
Inclusion
Everyone is welcomed and respected, with opportunities to participate in ways that feel safe and comfortable for them.
Meet Our Dedicated Team
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Gina Parra
Executive Director
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Jennifer Valencia
CIA Director
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Tanner Harvey
Art Director
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Alex Watson
CIA Program Administrator
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Makaila Jenkins
QIDP
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Johnny Lopez
Director of Finance
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Sherry Pendray
Director of Human Resources
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Ashley Gondek
Transportation Coordinator-Support Specialist
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Elizabeth Guth
Administrative Assistant
Changing Lives, One Step at a Time
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βI am externally grateful for the purpose and meaning Promising Futures provides for our daughter Sonja. Knowing that she is productive and enjoying her days brings us peace and joy and allows me to work with the knowledge she is safe and having a great day. Best ay program ever!β
Mom & Dad Reiner
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βColin has been part of the Promising Futures family for 20+ years. Within 6 months we saw a difference in Colin, and today at 40yrs he is a productive/happy/content guy always with a smile. The personalized support, specialized teaching strategies, and patient, knowledgeable staff helped him grow in confidence and ability. A large part of his success is due to the caring and nurturing staff at both the home and day program, as well as the overlapping IEP development and consistency. Promising Futures absolutely made a difference in our journey. It was a hard decision to put our faith in Promising Futures, but it did not take long to know we made the right decision. Colin has found his niche in the world because of Promising Futures.β
The Gilley Family
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βWe are incredibly grateful for the support and care provided by Promising Futures for many years now. The staff is exceptionally patient and kind and ensures that Kier is engaged and challenged in the program. He is always treated with dignity and respect. The staff knows what Kier likes and incorporates those preferences into his program, making his experiences enjoyable and fulfilling.
Our family benefits greatly from the several hours of respite most weekdays, allowing us to refresh and better care for Kier. The staff keeps Kier safe, and the training and education program for him is structured and well-executed.
Thank you for making such a positive impact on Kier and our family.β
The Williams Family
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βPromising Futures is an organization providing services for adults with various disabilities comprising of a residential and day program. Our son is fortunate to be a participant in both programs. We appreciate the daily exchange of communication between the programs. Clients are treated with dignity and taught to be independent to the best of their abilities. During our sonβs time at the programs, we have seen much growth and improvement. We are relieved to have found this gem of a program. We feel at ease to travel knowing our son will be in excellent hands. This program offers hope for families looking for peace of mind.β
The Eng Family
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βPromising Futures was already started when we desperately applied to place our daughter Staci. Both Mom and I had to work in order to pay the bills and try to keep Staci in school. She was a handful, and the special ed teachers at the time, did not have the skills to deal with Staciβs rants, physical confrontations, and meltdowns. When Staci was accepted and moved out of our home and into a new home, and shared her new shelter with 5 boys, Mom and I had mixed emotions. Promising Futures changed all of our lives as it brought Staci a safe place to live with regulations put into place that brought Staci special medical attention and care, a learning place to mentally grow and deal with everyday life. Promising Futures also brought us as parents, peace of mind when it comes to Staciβs well being.β
The Wismont Family
Commonly Asked Questions
Do I have to pay for any programs?
No. Weβre a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and our programs are supported through funding from the San Diego Regional Center, as well as community donations.
Do I have to be a resident to participate in the CIA?
No, the Center for Independent Achievement (CIA) day program is open to both residents and non-residents. Participants must be a client of the San Diego Regional Center in order to partake. Many participants live at home or in other supported settings and attend CIA during the day.
Letβs Stay Connected!
Sunshine, fresh air, and music made for the perfect day at the park! βοΈπ³πΆ
Our members enjoyed spending time outdoors, making music on the xylophones, swinging, laughing, and enjoying each otherβs company. Days like these encourage creativity, movement, social connection, and …lots of smiles along the way.
A big thank you to our incredible staff for making every outing safe, engaging, and full of fun! π
#GrowingWithPromisingFutures #PromisingFuturesInc #CommunityInclusion #OutdoorAdventures #LifeSkills
βοΈ Happy Fun Friday! βοΈ
Today was all about creativity, teamwork, and a little friendly competition! Our members put their engineering skills to the test during our Paper Airplane Challenge, designing and decorating their own planes before seeing whose could soar the farthest.
…
Prize box rewards and certificates were awarded to the farthest-flying plane in each group, with special grand prizes for the overall farthest-flying airplane and the most creative airplane design! ππ¨
One of the best parts of the day was seeing how proud our members were of their paper airplane masterpieces. Their smiles, excitement, and confidence made this challenge one to remember! π
A special shoutout to our amazing staff and administration for helping our members every step of the wayβfrom folding the perfect airplane to teaching them how to launch it for maximum distance. Your patience, encouragement, and enthusiasm helped make this Fun Friday a soaring success! βοΈπ
#GrowingWithPromisingFutures #PromisingFuturesInc #FunFriday #CommunityInclusion #PaperAirplaneChallenge
βοΈ Happy Fun Friday! βοΈ
Today was all about creativity, teamwork, and a little friendly competition! Our members put their engineering skills to the test during our Paper Airplane Challenge, designing and decorating their own planes before seeing whose could soar the farthest.
…
Prize box rewards and certificates were awarded to the farthest-flying plane in each group, with special grand prizes for the overall farthest-flying airplane and the most creative airplane design! ππ¨
One of the best parts of the day was seeing how proud our members were of their paper airplane masterpieces. Their smiles, excitement, and confidence made this challenge one to remember! π
A special shoutout to our amazing staff and administration for helping our members every step of the wayβfrom folding the perfect airplane to teaching them how to launch it for maximum distance. Your patience, encouragement, and enthusiasm helped make this Fun Friday a soaring success! βοΈπ
#FunFriday #PromisingFuturesInc #GrowingWithPromisingFutures #PaperAirplaneChallenge #CreativeLearning #LifeSkills #BuildingConnections #InclusiveCommunity #PersonCentered #MakingMemories #CommunityInclusion #SanDiegoNonprofit
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out and supported our Texas Roadhouse Dine to Donate fundraiser! π
Whether you joined us for dinner, shared our event, invited your friends and family, or helped spread the word, your support means so much to all of us at Promising Futures. Because …of your generosity, we are able to continue creating meaningful opportunities, experiences, and programs for the incredible individuals we serve.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to show up and make a difference, and a special thank you to Texas Roadhouse for partnering with us and helping support our mission. We are so grateful for our amazing community! πβ¨
#PromisingFuturesInc #ThankYou #CommunitySupport #DineToDonate #TexasRoadhouse #FundraiserSuccess #SupportOurMission #InclusionMatters #CommunityStrong #MakingADifference #EmpowerThroughInclusion #SanDiegoNonprofit #SupportLocal #TogetherWeCan #PromisingFutures #growingpromisingfuturestogether
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out and supported our Texas Roadhouse Dine to Donate fundraiser! π
Whether you joined us for dinner, shared our event, invited your friends and family, or helped spread the word, your support means so much to all of us at Promising Futures. Because …of your generosity, we are able to continue creating meaningful opportunities, experiences, and programs for the incredible individuals we serve.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to show up and make a difference, and a special thank you to @texasroadhouse for partnering with us and helping support our mission. We are so grateful for our amazing community! πβ¨
#promisingfuturesinc #texasroadhouse #lifeatpfi #dinetodonate #eastcountycommunity
π¨ Creativity has no limits.
Our members always have an incredible time creating alongside our talented Art Director, exploring all-inclusive art in a space where every artist is encouraged to express themselves in their own unique way. Through creativity, collaboration, and …person-centered support, every masterpiece tells a story.
Weβre so excited to share more of the amazing projects our artists have been working onβstay tuned! πβ¨
#PromisingFuturesInc #AllInclusiveArt #PersonCentered #CreativeExpression #ArtForEveryone #SanDiego #CommunityThroughArt π¨π #growingwithpromisingfutures
Creating, expressing, and inspiring. π¨β¨
Our talented Art Director guided our members through another all-inclusive art experience, where creativity shines and every artistβs unique perspective is celebrated. We canβt wait to show you whatβs coming next!
…#PromisingFuturesInc #AllInclusiveArt #lifeatpfi #growingwithpromisingfutures #communitythroughart
π€ π½οΈ Todayβs the day!
Join us today at Texas Roadhouse in El Cajon from 3:00β9:00 PM for our Dine to Donate Fundraiser benefiting Promising Futures, Inc.!
Itβs easy to make a differenceβjust show your fundraiser flyer to your server, and 10% of your food purchase …will be donated to support the meaningful programs, opportunities, and experiences we provide for our members.
Bring your family, invite your friends, and enjoy a great meal for an even greater cause. We canβt wait to see you there! Thank you for supporting Promising Futures! π
#PromisingFuturesInc #TexasRoadhouse #DineToDonate #Fundraiser #CommunitySupport #PersonCentered #ElCajon #SupportLocal
π€ Itβs fundraiser day!
Todayβs the day to dine for a cause! Join us at Texas Roadhouse El Cajon from 3β9 PM. Show your fundraiser flyer to your server, and 10% of your food purchase will be donated to Promising Futures, Inc. π
Come enjoy great food, bring your friends …and family, and help support opportunities for our members. We hope to see you there!
#PromisingFuturesInc #TexasRoadhouse #DineToDonate #SupportLocal #ElCajon π
πβ¨ Fun at the local library!
Our members enjoyed another wonderful outing to the library, where they explored books, participated in engaging activities, and spent time together in a welcoming community space. Every visit is an opportunity to learn something new, build connections, …and create lasting memories.
A special thank you to the library staff for always making us feel so welcome. We canβt wait for our next visit! ππ
#PromisingFuturesInc #PersonCentered #LocalLibrary #CommunityConnections #LearningTogether #SanDiego #MakingMemories #growingwithpromisingfutures
Library days are some of our favorites! ππ
From exploring new books to enjoying fun activities together, every visit is filled with learning, laughter, and community. Thank you to our local library for always welcoming our members with open arms!
#PromisingFuturesInc …#PersonCentered #lifeatpfi #growingwithpromisingfutures #sandiego