KenCrest is deeply rooted in its Lutheran heritage. Over the course of the agency's more than 100 years of service in southeastern Pennsylvania and the state of Delaware, its two missions were spearheaded by Lutheran deaconesses.

Sister Maria Roeck, a Lutheran deaconess, founded what is now known as KenCrest in the mill district of Philadelphia in 1905 under the name of "Kensington Dispensary." Within five years the organization opened a "River Crest Division" in nearby Mont Clare, Pennsylvania. The original mission of the organization was the treatment of tuberculosis.

In 1955 the agency redirected its mission under the guidance of another Lutheran deaconess, Sister Grace Jones. It was then we began serving people with mental retardation and other disabilities.

Over the years, many of our programs have been housed in Lutheran churches, many of our volunteers comes from Lutheran congregations, and many times we have partnered with other Lutheran organizations to provide different programs to the people we serve.

KenCrest is proud of its Lutheran heritage.