Judi Gerding, the woman behind 18 group homes scattered across Boone County neighborhoods, turns 86 on Aug. 6.

The founder and president of The Point/Arc of Northern Kentucky has spent more than five decades building a network of residential homes, social enterprises and programs that now serve more than 1,400 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities each year. The organization is marking the occasion with the tagline "8-6 on 8-6."

Gerding's work started with her late son.

Steve Gerding was diagnosed with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome at a young age, and in 1972, three parent groups united to form an advocacy organization. That group became The Point/Arc, headquartered at 104 Pike St. in Covington since 1979.

Deep roots in Boone County

The nonprofit's residential footprint in Boone County is substantial. Its history page lists homes in Florence (the VonLehman home, opened in 1991; the Remke, R.J. Miller and Hammond Respite homes, all opened in 2019), Union (the Yeager home, 2019) and Burlington (the Ruschman home, the organization's first, opened in 1995). State licensing records confirm group homes at 2992 Collier Lane in Burlington and 8266 Meadowview Drive in Florence.

Across Campbell, Kenton and Boone counties, The Point/Arc's 18 homes house nearly 70 residents. The 18th, the Grome Home, opened in 2022 and was named for Gerding's late daughter, Linda Grome.

"We pride ourselves in building Point families," Gerding said in the organization's Aug. 4 press release.

Social enterprises

Over the decades, The Point/Arc has launched several social enterprises providing vocational training and employment for people with disabilities. The Point Restaurant opened in 1982, followed by The Point Commercial Cleaning Company in 1985, The Point Commercial Laundry in 1996, The Point Apparel in 2012 and The Point Perk Coffee Shop in 2015. In 2023, the organization purchased ZELS Pretzels.

The organization strives to ensure at least one-third of its employees are individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to Kentucky Health Innovation.

Expansion ahead

In June 2025, Gerding broke ground on a 19th group home at 6125 First Financial Drive in Burlington. The nearly 6,000-square-foot Advanced Care Home will feature wider doorways, overhead lifts and six bedrooms plus a seventh for visiting family members. It is described as the first residential advanced care home in Kentucky.

"We will not surrender to nursing homes; we want to keep the family unit intact," Gerding said at the June 2025 groundbreaking, according to the NKY Tribune.

That groundbreaking launched The Point/Arc's "Love, Leadership, & Life" capital campaign, with additional residential expansion planned.