Dennis W. Felty President, KHS
Dennis Felty has been in a leadership role of the community mental health and mental retardation movement since 1968. He was a co-founder of Keystone Human Services in 1972 and has served as its President since then. Dennis' vision and leadership has been instrumental in developing Keystone into a family of non-profit organizations that is committed to helping people with disabilities become valued and contributing members of the community.
Dennis has also served as President of the Commonwealth Institute, the Pennsylvania Association of Community Residential Programs, the Pennsylvania CASSP Institute and is the Past President of the Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities as well as Past President and co founder of the Open Stage of Harrisburg.
Dennis serves, or has served, on many boards, and task forces within government including: the Planning Advisory Council of the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Retardation. Dennis also serves as Chairman of the Board of PAR, which is the major professional association addressing services in the area of intellectual disabilities and autism. Dennis is the immediate Past President of the Susquehanna Art Museum and as a Board Member of Wachovia Bank's Regional Advisory Board.
Dennis is a graduate of Elizabethtown College.
Dennis has co-authored with Dr. Marshal B. Jones "Human Services At Risk" published in the Social Service Review (June 1998) University of Chicago, an article that explores the important role community non profits play in our society.
Dennis has served as an Officer and pilot with the US Air Force and Pennsylvania Air National Guard for thirteen years and has over 2000 flight hours in multi-engine and jet aircraft.
Dennis has been an active participant in Dr. Wolfensberger's work in Normalization and Social Role Valorization including serving as a PASSING Team Leader since 1970.
Dennis is a fine art photographer and frequently exhibits his work in one-man shows. He has carried out several photographic projects for the Office of Mental Retardation photographing people living in State Centers as well as the Office of Children and Youth. This work has included assisting in the production of Every Day Lives a documentary on the history of Mental Retardation in Pennsylvania.
Dennis has also been instrumental in helping to found a seminary in Kursk Russia. In 1999 he produced a photographic essay on children living in orphanages and psychiatric hospitals of Russia, Romania and Moldova. This work includes images and interviews of children living in the underground of Bucharest, Romania. These images may be viewed by clicking the children of Eastern Europe below. Dennis has also had the opportunity to visit psychiatric hospitals in the People's Republic of China.
Dennis serves on the Federal Council (Board) of FICE International a federation of over thirty countries concerned about the status of children world wide. Dennis also serves as President of FICE-USA and has been a Member of the Clinton Global Initiative since 2007.
Dennis has been recognized nationally and internationally for his work, including:
- 2002 Humanitarian Award presented by Genesis Asset Protection, Harrisburg, PA
- 2002, along with his wife Barbara, recipient of the Edna Silberman Humanitarian Service Award presented by Keystone Human Services, Harrisburg, PA
- 2006 The Frank R. Grady Outstanding Professional Award presented by the United Way, Washington D.C.
- 2010 Annual Leadership Award presented by the Pennsylvania Association of Resources for Individuals with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities
- 2011 Legacy Leadership Circle Award presented by American Network of Community Options and Resources, Washington, D.C.
- 2011 The Gunnar Dybward Humanitarian Award presented by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Minneapolis, MN
- 2012 The First Annual I Am the Evidence Award, presented by the Mental Health Association of the Capital Region
Dennis and his wife Barbara have two children, Adam and Laura and reside in Middletown, Pennsylvania.
Contact Information
A Word from the President
Speeches, Presentations and Articles
Archives of speeches, presentations and articles by Dennis Felty
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