New Martin Luther School Campus is Open!

Our new Martin Luther School – Whitemarsh campus is officially open! The halls were buzzing with energy this week as faculty and staff welcomed students to the new campus at 5200 Butler Pike to kick off the school year.

Students were excited to see the renovated building with its modern and bright design and ample spaces for learning and collaboration inside and outside of the classrooms. Construction continues on the addition that will house a large gymnasium, a theater, and additional electives classrooms. 

We can’t wait to see all the amazing things ahead for our students this year! We are grateful to all who are supporting our capital campaign to bring this new campus to life! To learn more about Martin Luther School, click here.

To read about the campaign and support the new campus, please click here.

Click here to see progress on the new campus since construction began!

Autism-Centered School Launches in Plymouth

We are pleased to share that Martin Luther School's new autism-centered school program has opened on our Plymouth Meeting campus!

Martin Luther School – Plymouth is dedicated to students with autism in grades K-5, with an intentionally designed program that builds on each child’s individual strengths and interests to nurture their growth. Grounded in a developmental, relationship-based framework, our dedicated faculty and staff meet students where they are, academically and emotionally, in an educational setting where they feel both challenged and understood.

To learn more about Martin Luther School – Plymouth, our autism-centered school, please click here.

Fun Activities in the Residential Program

Children in residence at Gemma enjoyed a variety of activities as summer wound down in August, making the most of their time before the start of the school year.

They loved participating in a basketball clinic led by a local coach, sipping refreshing drinks from a smoothie truck, learning the science of cooking and engineering their own habitats during STEAM field days, and celebrating each other's successes during the annual awards ceremony.

Enriching and therapeutic recreational activities are a key component of the Residential Treatment Program, providing great opportunities for youth to practice skills they are building, have fun, and create lifelong memories, too! 

To learn more about enriching activities for children in residence and to donate to support these activities, please visit www.gemmaservices.org/. 

Announcing Our Newest Prevention Program

We are pleased to announce the opening of the Rapid Service Response (RSR) Program, a prevention service that provides immediate, intensive, short-term support to stabilize and strengthen families in Philadelphia with children birth to age 18, and help children remain safely at home whenever possible.

The RSR team provides individualized, in-home support tailored to each family's unique strengths, needs, and goals, focusing on skill building and case management to build families' confidence and help them create a path forward.

Grab Your Seat at the Table!

Head over to the Chefs for Gemma 2027 website to read all about our 19^th annual signature benefit and grab your seat at the table for what is sure to be a sold-out, delicious, and mission-filled evening! Early bird tickets are available at a discounted price until December 31^st. 

Chefs 2027 will feature the talented Evan Snyder, chef-partner at Philadelphia’s acclaimed Emmett! Since opening in 2025, Emmett has garnered significant acclaim, earning a spot on Esquire’s “Best New Restaurants in America” list. In 2026, it was ranked #6 on Philadelphia Magazine’s “50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia” and named a finalist for the James Beard Foundation Award for Best New Restaurant in America. 

Plan to join us on Friday, April 2, 2027 for an evening of great fun, food, and friends with a delicious meal designed and presented by Chef Snyder, exciting auctions, and an inspiring program about the youth and families Gemma is honored to accompany through challenging times.

We hope to see you at Chefs!

Help Families Have a Great Thanksgiving

Calling all friends! We are again collecting “Everything but the Turkey” gift bags to help hundreds of families enjoy a special Thanksgiving meal this year.

Here are ways you can help!

• Assemble and donate a reusable shopping bag with items from the flyer.
• Hold a collection with friends, family, or a community group.
• Shop from our Amazon Wish List. Items will ship directly to Gemma.
• Make a financial donation to support this effort. You can donate by credit card online here. Please indicate “Thanksgiving” in the notes section. Donations can also be made by check payable to Gemma Services and mailed to: Gemma Services, Development Office, 512 W. Township Line Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462.

Please deliver all items by Monday, November 9^th. Please contact us at volunteer@gemmaservices.org with questions OR to schedule your delivery. Thank you for joining Gemma to create a world where every person knows they matter!

Support Athletics at Martin Luther School

Planning is underway for an outdoor sports facility at the new Martin Luther School campus that will include a multi-sport turf field, track, and ample spectator seating.

Along with the gymnasium currently under construction, the sports facility will fuel our school community's sense of "Panther Pride" and create even more opportunities for students to compete, grow, and excel!

Thank you to all who are supporting our Capital Campaign so generously. You are helping to bring the vision of an exceptional new school campus to life!

To learn more about the campus and how to support it, please click here or on the button below, or contact us.

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Gemma Services is a 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID #23-2310084; corporate name as of January 1, 2024 is Gemma Services. Please note: the organization’s former corporate name prior to this date was Silver Springs-Martin Luther School.