About Laradon
Students at The Laradon School
Teenagers at Calabrese Youth Center
Adults in Adult Day Programs
Workers in Employment Programs
Individuals in Community Living
Individuals served FY 2022
Laradon's Mission
Laradon empowers children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Laradon’s Vision
The premier provider serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Laradon’s Core Values
Laradon’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
Laradon respects, embraces, and celebrates the individuality every person brings to our workplace and community.
Our Campus
Take a virtual tour of Laradon’s 10-acre campus located in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood. It serves as the home for 5 unique programs and roughly 200 full and part-time employees all serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Other affiliates who utilize the Laradon campus include the following:
- Sewall
- Habitat for Humanity
- Mental Health Centers
Our History
Within a short time, Laradon gained national recognition as an innovator of education and training services for people with special needs. As referrals dramatically increased, the need for a larger facility, additional staff, and financial support became apparent. In 1950, Laradon moved to its current facility at 5100 Lincoln Street in northwest Denver, where services continue to expand and enrollments continue to rise.
In partnership with parents, professionals, philanthropic organizations and generous community members, Joseph and Elizabeth Calabrese created a training center for people seeking the opportunity to expand their work skills, a school for children with special needs and housing for people in need of a home.The Calabrese’s knew that when provided with the proper education, training and support, people with disabilities could realize their full potential, contribute to the community and become valued members of society.
That vision still exists today. It is manifested in Laradon’s culture and operating philosophy; it is embodied in its mission statement and is seen on the faces of the children and adults who are experiencing a life of inclusion, independence and success.
Laradon Hall Society Board of Directors
Larry Burgess, President
L&M Capital Investment
Littleton, CO
Jacque Montgomery, Vice Chair
Director of Advancement and External Affairs, CO Academy
Centennial, CO
Jo-Ann Scharmann, Treasurer
Retired, United Way CFO
Centennial, CO
Alice Hilzer, Secretary
Physical Therapy Assistant; Colorado Elks Member
Ft. Morgan, CO
Shyanne Ching
CFO, Jewish Family Service CO
Denver, CO
Joyce Joransen
Principal, J. Joransen Consulting LLC.
Denver, CO
Jean Lawhead
Retired Healthcare Executive
Denver, CO
Queenie Liu
Manager, Management Consulting, Plante Moran
Denver, CO
Geff McDaniel
Tax Examiner, Colorado Department of Revenue
Westminster, CO
Manny Mendez
CFO, Showingly
Denver, CO
Brent Pick
Retired, Elks Member
Brighton, CO
Julie Radulovich
Plante Moran- Principal
Denver, CO
Wayne Rogers
Retired, Elks Member
Golden, CO
Karen Safran
Attorney, Goodspeed Merrill
Arvada, CO
Val Saiz, LCSW
Val Saiz Counseling
Denver, CO
Jim Wolf
Attorney, Stokes & Wolf, P.C.
Denver, C