Jacobs Named President of Advancing Opportunities' Board of Directors

Advancing Opportunities is pleased to announce attorney Matthew Jacobs has been named president of its Board of Directors.

"Our agency is very fortunate to have Matt on the board and we are grateful that he is willing to offer his insight, leadership and experience to help us grow as an organization," said Advancing Opportunities Chief Executive Officer Jack Mudge. "I look forward to working with Matt to advance the independence of people with all types of disabilities," said Mudge.

Jacobs has served on the agency’s board for the past three years. "I was born with cerebral palsy, but I really don’t see myself as a person with a disability," said Jacobs. "I’ve always been interested in issues related to disabilities and think I it is important to break down the barriers people have in their minds when it comes to disabilities,"he said.

"My goal is to help the agency grow and expand its programs," said Jacobs. Advancing Opportunities is currently increasing its residential services capacity and helping individuals who are moving from the state’s developmental centers into homes of their own. "The residential program goes right to the core concept that people with disabilities don’t belong in institutions, they belong in the community," he said.

Jacobs is an attorney with Stark & Stark in Lawrenceville, NJ. He is a graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law and Villanova University. Jacobs resides with his wife, Jennifer, in Ewing, NJ.

The board also elected Warren Kelemen to serve as its vice president, Elizabeth Faircloth of Augur Inc., to serve as secretary, and Jim Bartolomei, CPA of Bartolomei Pucciarelli as treasurer.