KenCrest (Ken-Crest Services): Ownership, Violations, and Lawsuits
Michael Hill and the team at Michael Hill Trial Law investigate abuse, neglect, and wrongful-death cases involving group homes and intermediate care facilities (ICF/IIDs), and we represent families nationwide. The firm focuses on neglect and abuse in group homes, ICF/IIDs, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. KenCrest is a nonprofit that operates group homes and other services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut. It faces a wrongful-death lawsuit over a resident's 2022 choking death at a Philadelphia group home.
If someone you love was injured or died in a group home or ICF operated by KenCrest or one of its brands, you may have legal options, and time limits can be short. Case reviews are free and confidential. Start your case or call (800) 659-2712.
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Ownership and financial figures are drawn from public filings, state and federal records, and news reporting; regulatory and lawsuit items are from government records and court filings, each cited at the end of this page. Lawsuits and criminal charges are allegations unless a court has ruled; state findings may be appealed.
Group Home & ICF/IID Case Types We Handle
The injuries and neglect we investigate in group homes and intermediate care facilities.
KenCrest at a Glance
- Legal name: Ken-Crest Services (affiliate: KenCrest Centers)
- Headquarters: Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
- Founded: 1905 (as the Kensington Dispensary); IDD provider since 1968
- Ownership: Nonprofit (501(c)(3))
- Scale: 100-plus group homes; the organization reports more than 400 total sites
- Revenue: $150.1M (FY2025, Ken-Crest Services) plus $5.9M (KenCrest Centers)
- Brands: Ken-Crest Services; KenCrest Centers
- Headline issues: Wrongful-death lawsuit over a 2022 resident choking death; Delaware negligence case over a resident's assault of a child; past employee RICO and contract suits
Group homes and ICF/IIDs are licensed and inspected mainly by the states and, for ICF/IIDs, by federal CMS — there is no federal five-star rating like the one for nursing homes. Counts below are from public records and are not a complete litigation history; they do not by themselves indicate the quality of any individual home.
What Group Homes and ICF/IIDs Are — and Why Harm Happens
A group home is a residential setting where a small number of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) live together with staff support. An intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IID) is a federally certified, Medicaid-funded facility that must meet federal standards for active treatment, health care, and client protections. Many residents cannot fully protect themselves or reliably report what happens to them, which is exactly why staffing, supervision, and training decide whether people are safe.
The injuries that recur in these settings are rarely mysterious. They include falls and fractures; bedsores and pressure injuries; choking on the wrong diet texture; dehydration, malnutrition, and bowel obstruction and fecal impaction; medication errors; wandering and elopement; physical or sexual assault by staff or other residents; and, in the worst cases, wrongful death. The common thread is understaffing — a home that accepts residents it is not staffed or trained to care for makes the harm foreseeable.
Who Owns KenCrest?
KenCrest operates through two nonprofit entities: Ken-Crest Services, the residential and services organization, and KenCrest Centers, which runs early-learning and educational programs. Ken-Crest Services reported FY2025 revenue of $150.07M, a net surplus of $2.59M, and net assets of $22.5M. KenCrest traces its roots to the Kensington Dispensary (1905) and incorporated as Ken-Crest Centers for Exceptional Persons in 1968.
Aurora Kripa became CEO in December 2025, succeeding Marian Baldini, who led the organization from about 2016. CEO compensation reported on the Centers return was $517,716 plus $15,172 in FY2025.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1905 | Roots as the Kensington Dispensary (Philadelphia) |
| 1968 | Incorporated as Ken-Crest Centers for Exceptional Persons |
| 2017 | Assumes operation of some Blossom Philadelphia homes after Pennsylvania revokes Blossom's license |
| 2025 | Aurora Kripa becomes CEO (December) |
Revenue, Public Funding, and Finances
Ken-Crest Services reported $150.07M in revenue and a $2.59M surplus in FY2025 (after a $1.16M loss in FY2023). KenCrest Centers reported $5.93M in revenue. No public bond ratings were identified.
KenCrest Leadership
Aurora Kripa became CEO in December 2025. Other leaders include CFO Arthur Anderson (from January 2026) and COO Patricia Hillis-Clark (promoted October 2025). Marian Baldini was CEO from about 2016 to 2025.
KenCrest Brand Names and the Entity on the License
The name on a state license, inspection report, or court filing is often a subsidiary or brand. Families searching state records should look for these names:
| Family | Names you may see |
|---|---|
| KenCrest family | Ken-Crest Services; KenCrest Centers |
Where KenCrest Operates
KenCrest concentrates in the greater Philadelphia region and operates in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut. Its Connecticut provider profile lists towns including Bridgeport, New Haven, and Waterbury.
KenCrest Lawsuits, Government Findings, and Regulatory Record
KenCrest's most serious active matter is the Freid wrongful-death lawsuit over a resident's 2022 choking death, which remains an unproven allegation. Older litigation includes a Delaware negligence case arising from a resident's assault of a child neighbor and an employee's dismissed RICO suit. A Pennsylvania DHS investigation into the Freid death was reported open in 2023; no outcome was located. No state license revocation or civil verdict against KenCrest was identified.
This is not a complete litigation history, and the existence of a lawsuit or complaint is not proof of wrongdoing. A settlement is not an admission of liability. Findings by state agencies may be appealed.
Notable matters
- 2023 — Allegation (lawsuit filed): Wrongful-death lawsuit over a resident's choking death. Randy Freid sued Ken-Crest Services, staffing agency U.S. Medical Staffing Inc., and three caregivers over the April 2022 choking death of his sister Paula Freid, 63, at a Northeast Philadelphia group home. The suit alleges caregivers served her a waffle in pieces larger than her care plan allowed for her swallowing disorder and that a temporary aide was untrained. The allegations have not been adjudicated. Source
- 2001 — Litigated (summary judgment denied): Negligence suit over a resident's assault of a child neighbor. In Shively v. Ken Crest (Delaware Superior Court), the court denied KenCrest summary judgment, holding that a duty to protect and warn could exist, after a resident of a KenCrest semi-independent apartment in Bear, Delaware sexually assaulted an 8-year-old neighbor in 1994; the resident was later criminally convicted. The Delaware Supreme Court declined interlocutory appeal in 2001. The final outcome was not located. Source
- 2001 — Dismissed (allegations only): Civil RICO suit by a former employee. In Burton v. Ken-Crest Services (E.D. Pa.), a former employee alleged civil RICO claims involving a commission scheme and a below-market property sale. The court dismissed the case without prejudice; the claims were allegations only. Source
Complaint and Harm Types in the KenCrest Record
Across the public records reviewed, these are the kinds of harm that recur — the same kinds our firm investigates in group homes and ICF/IIDs. If your loved one experienced any of these, it may support a claim:
Who May Be Legally Responsible
Because KenCrest operates through separate state entities and brands — and because the parent company, the licensed operator, the employer of the staff, and in some cases the property owner may be different companies — a lawsuit may need to name more than one defendant. Names that have appeared in records involving these homes include:
- Ken-Crest Services
- KenCrest Centers
What to Do If You Suspect Neglect or Abuse in a Group Home or ICF
- Get medical care. Call 911 or go to the hospital for any serious injury, sudden decline, or unexplained bruising, fracture, or weight loss.
- Report it. Notify the home’s administrator in writing, the state or county developmental disabilities agency that receives incident reports, adult protective services, and law enforcement for any suspected crime.
- Find the licensed entity. Ask for the license or check your state’s provider lookup; the company on the license is often a state subsidiary or brand name rather than the parent company.
- Document everything. Take photos, write down dates, times, and names, and save texts and emails.
- Request records. Ask for incident reports, the individual service or program plan, medication administration records, and staffing schedules. Guardians and authorized representatives usually have access rights.
- Be careful with statements and documents. Do not give recorded statements to insurers or sign releases or arbitration agreements before talking to a lawyer. Deadlines can be short.
Why Families Bring Group Home and ICF Cases to Michael Hill Trial Law
These cases are won by lawyers who try them. Michael Hill and the team at Michael Hill Trial Law focus on neglect and abuse in group homes, ICF/IIDs, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities, and the firm has obtained record results, including $26 million, the highest recorded verdict against a nursing home in Ohio history. The firm’s main office is in Cleveland, Ohio; it practices nationwide, its attorneys are licensed in numerous states, and it works with affiliate firms across the country. The review is free, and you owe nothing unless we recover for you.
Start your free, confidential case review | Call (800) 659-2712
Frequently Asked Questions About KenCrest
Is KenCrest for-profit or nonprofit?
KenCrest is a nonprofit, operating through Ken-Crest Services and KenCrest Centers. Ken-Crest Services reported about $150M in revenue in FY2025.
What is the KenCrest choking-death lawsuit?
The family of Paula Freid, 63, sued Ken-Crest Services, a staffing agency, and three caregivers after she choked to death on a waffle at a Philadelphia group home in April 2022. The suit alleges her food was not prepared as her care plan required. The allegations have not been adjudicated.
Where does KenCrest operate?
KenCrest operates group homes and services in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut, concentrated in the greater Philadelphia region, with more than 400 reported sites.
Has KenCrest lost its license in any state?
No state license revocation of KenCrest was identified. In 2017 KenCrest took over some Blossom Philadelphia homes after Pennsylvania revoked Blossom's license.
Can I sue a group home or ICF operator for neglect or abuse?
Generally, families may bring civil claims against a group home or ICF operator when neglect or abuse causes injury or death, and the parent company and the licensed entity may both be proper defendants. Deadlines, damage rules, and required pre-suit steps vary by state, and arbitration clauses and Medicaid liens can matter. A lawyer licensed in your state can explain your options. Michael Hill Trial Law offers free, confidential case reviews for families nationwide.
Who is legally responsible when someone is harmed in a group home?
Often more than one company. These operators frequently run each home through a separate local entity that holds the license, while the building may be owned by another company and staff employed by a third; for-profit owners and investors can sit above all of them. The right defendants depend on who held the license, who employed the staff, who managed care, and who owned the property at the time of the harm.
What if we signed an arbitration agreement?
Courts do not always enforce these arbitration clauses. Whether one applies depends on who signed it, the authority that person had, and the state's law. Keep a copy of everything you signed and have a lawyer review it before assuming you cannot bring a claim.
How do I check a group home or ICF's inspection and complaint record?
Group homes are licensed and inspected mainly by state developmental-disabilities and health agencies; ICF/IIDs are also certified and inspected under federal CMS rules. Use the state agency's provider lookup for the state where the home is located, and ask the agency for inspection reports and substantiated complaints.
About Michael Hill Trial Law
Michael Hill Trial Law represents families in group home, ICF/IID, nursing home, and assisted living abuse and neglect cases. The firm’s main office is in Cleveland, Ohio; it practices across the country, its attorneys are licensed in numerous states, and it works with affiliate firms throughout the United States. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients, including a $26 million jury verdict for wrongful death, the highest nursing home verdict in Ohio history. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Learn more about group home and ICF/IID neglect cases, wrongful death, and physical and sexual assault, or meet our team.
Sources
Information on this page comes from government records, court filings, regulatory reports, company statements, and news reports, linked below. Lawsuits and criminal charges are allegations unless a court has ruled. Findings by state agencies may be subject to appeal.
- Ken-Crest Services Form 990 (ProPublica)
- KenCrest Centers Form 990 (ProPublica)
- Philadelphia Inquirer - KenCrest choking death
- Shively v. Ken Crest (Delaware Superior Court)
- Shively v. Ken Crest (Delaware Supreme Court, 2001)
- Burton v. Ken-Crest Services (E.D. Pa.)
- KenCrest - About/History
- Chestnut Hill Local - Blossom homes acquired
This page provides general information about a company that operates group homes and intermediate care facilities. It is not legal advice and does not mean that any particular home or employee did anything wrong. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Last reviewed November 12, 2026.
