“I work in the area of fund raising, as well as in the development, implementation and communication of projects and events aimed at improving the quality of life of young people with DMS and their families.
I left a multinational organisation and started working at FLK because I was so impressed with its innovative and avant-garde project, supervised housing and leisure adapted for people of great dependence. As a 22-year-old mother of Ignacio, with DMS, I decided that it was worthwhile to become 100% involved helping families in our situation to benefit from everything we do here with so much dedication, love and love for our children.”
Patrons
LKF Team
María Del Palacio
Director
Candela López-Peña
Social worker
Katerina Maragkos
Communication
Carlos Navarro
Accounting and administration
Carmen Escribano
Reception
Nieves Barbera
Reception
House-Home
Jose Carmona
House-Home Coordinator – Occupational Therapy
Marina Cerezo
Social integrator and caragiver
Laura Ruíz
Caregiver
Ainhoa Tomás
Caregiver
Tania García
Caregiver
Mayte Ramos
Caregiver
Ángela Gil
Caregiver
Therapies Center
Paula Valdés
Therapeutic coordinator and physiotherapist
Lorena Sáez
Occupational Therapist
Elena Abellán
Pediatric physiotherapist
Cristina Moreno
Psychologist
María Moñino
Speech Therapist
Estela Martínez
Occupational Therapist
María Pilar Llorca
Psychologist
Other programs
Andrea Furió
Temporary stay Caragiver
Helena Montesinos
Temporary stay Caragiver
Maria Verdú
Family Respite Caragiver
General services
Josefina Montoya
Cleaning and cooking – FLK Center
Alfredo Vicente
Maintenance – FLK Center
Natalia Román
Cleaning – Therapies Center
Counselors
Bárbara Rojahn
Strategic and economics
Dr. Ricardo Martino Alba
Doctor
Dra. Mercedes Juste
Doctor
Joaquín Gómez
Communications
José Carlos Bermejo
Social Affairs
Arma Kleinepier
Adapted bicycles
Pedro Horcajada Fernández
Lawyers
Julio Ybern
Lawyers
Donal O’Driscoll
Fundraising
Elena Guembe
Councilor for adapted parks and integration
Ton y Linda Van der Veer
International
“Being part of the Lukas Foundation’s team, to me, is enriching both personally and professionally. As a paediatric physiotherapist, I accompany families and their children, helping them achieve greater functionality, autonomy and participation in the community through movement. I have the great fortune of being able to work with a great team of colleagues. It is a team with deep experience, professionalism and empathy. Plus, the facilities we have are wonderful. I also want to put the spotlight on our children and their families who, with their joy, effort and passion for life, are those who motivate us and give meaning to this wonderful profession.
“I have extensive experience working in third-sector entities, always accompanying personal improvement and growth processes. I have a great vocation for the continuous development of each person. I believe in the healing potential of love and how honest and respectful contact with oneself and others are necessary to make this world a better place. Working with passion, courage and commitment are the way to achieve a better society. That’s why, when I learned about the great work done by the Lukas Foundation, I knew that I wanted to be a part of this project, led by great women who show day in and day out that our work has an impact on the lives of the young people with SMD with whom we work and their families. It is a luxury to work hand in hand withthe great team of professionals who are part of the foundation.”
“When I joined the foundation I never knew it would be like this, working with this group is so gratifying and moving; every day is different. I always say that I don’t support anyone…they help me with small things… a smile, a kiss or laughter from ear to ear… creating this big family that we are.“
“My duties are the maintenance of the pool, continuous review of the adapted bicycles and maintenance of the center. I am very happy that with my daily work I can help the young people of the House-Home and children of the Therapy Center and Family Respites to enjoy all the facilities of the LKF Center in a safe way.”
“My duties are the maintenance of the pool, continuous review of the adapted bicycles and maintenance of the center. I am very happy that with my daily work I can help the young people of the House-Home and children of the Therapy Center and Family Respites to enjoy all the facilities of the LKF Center in a safe way.”
“I’m Carmen and I’m in the reception center and I take care of the therapies and our users . I have been working with people for many years and this experience is something I can contribute to the foundation and to the relationship with both parents and children.
I am delighted to be working for this project and see all that it offers to the children both in the therapies and in the home. Their smiles make it all very worthwhile!”
“I am an administrator and I have held various positions throughout my career, but being able to participate in this beautiful project, contributing my grain of sand in tackling disability and helping children, users and their families, giving support in whatever they may need, is what I feel most proud of. Seeing these children every day, and feeling that we collaborate in making their lives a little more pleasant makes me very happy.”
“I got to the foundation almost by chance, and without meaning to it has become one of the most important parts of my life. LKF is more than the work we do with the users of the center; it is the affection and great contribution that we offer the community and the friendships we have formed within the team.
“I got to know this profession through a personal experience, where I realised it was my vocation. At the Lukas Foundation, I try to transfer that spirit to improve people’s quality of life.
As a speech therapist, I am in charge of assessing, treating and accompanying users and their families in the processes of communication, language, voice and oral skills, such as swallowing and breathing. The field of action in speech therapy is wide and over the years, I have specialized in
children and accompanying their families. Every stage of development is beautiful and I am particularly passionate about the early years, where we can lay the foundations to enhance children’s skills, empower families and keep moving forward.
At the same time, because I was born in the U.S. into a Spanish family, I have shared two languages and two cultures my entire life, and this experience gives me a special awareness and ability to understand and assist families seeking bilingual services.
As a speech therapist and a mom, I empathize with all the families who come through the foundation, and I try to do my bit to help everyone achieve the goals they set for themselves.”
“My purpose as a social worker at the Lukas Foundation is to accompany families throughout the entire process, from the very beginning, building a connection based on trust and closeness. This is because they play a key role in identifying needs, planning resources and services, and evaluating chosen objectives, always respecting their priorities and decisions. I believe that vocation is essential for a social worker to be able to properly do their work with empathy and gratitude. Without these, it would be impossible to carry out our mission for an extended period of time. For me, it is vital to create a space of quality, in which every person involved in the foundation feels prioritised and with whom we can build a path hand in hand, together..”
“As carer of the VT at LKF, the phrase “chose a job you like and you won’t have to work a day in your life” takes on meaning. The deep understanding we have with the young people we care for makes me feel like I’m in the right place.
Taking care of people with disabilities has always been my life’s purpose.”
“I am in charge of maintaining the cleanliness of the Center and the Home, and I am in charge of the kitchen. I am very happy when I see the children happy, enjoying their new home.”
“You know you’re in the right place when a simple smile touches you and fills you with satisfaction. Joining the foundation has been an inflection point in my life, both personally and professionally, because I learn so many things with the children every day and it makes me grow. It is a gift to be a part of this family.“
“Being part of the Foundation for me is something very special. From the first time I entered the center I knew that I wanted to be part of this project. Of course, the facilities are incredible, and as a professional this is highly valued. But the real luxury of working here is the human team, which gives off an energy, enthusiasm and professionalism that is spread. And, of course, the boys and their families who are the ones who give meaning to our work and inspire and teach us so much every day.”
“Rowing in the same direction” means bringing all our efforts together, sharing objectives and working as a team to achieve a common goal, and that is exactly what I felt when I arrived at the Lukas Foundation, a ray of light.
This also means having open communication, sharing in the goals of each patient and supporting each other in the face of any challenges that may arise. As a result, the foundation offers a very healthy environment for me, as well as for the children. Adding to this the beneficial environment
and facilities, you are creating the brilliant family that is the Lukas Foundation.
As an occupational therapist, my job is to provide our users with the greatest level of independence and welfare, adapting daily activities to their needs and promoting autonomy in boys and girls, developing their interests through play. This gives families the crucial role of driving
and deepening the learning of boys and girls in their daily lives.
My admiration and concern for childhood has always been my focus, and thanks to occupational therapy I can give the best of me and enjoy it every day.”
“I feel delighted to have joined Fundación Lukas’ project, and to be able to contribute professionally to improving the quality of life of the Foundation’s users, as part of an interdisciplinary team of committed and warm people. I feel really privileged for becoming part of this team.
From the field of Psychology, my job is to give orientation, counsel and support to the families, as well as intervening directly with the kids who experience difficulties in their psycho-emotional development, disorders in their neurological development or specific pathologies that require psychological intervention.
I also bring to the table my background and experience in Music Therapy, using music and its elements as an alternative communication and expression channel; contributing to facilitate the therapeutic link, the emotional connection and the achievement of therapeutic objectives in the intervention.”
“My encounter with the foundation was love at first sight. It is a fantastic place to work, the possibility of carrying out therapies in the garden, pool and living room gives us endless possibilities when developing therapies. The team is very welcoming and supportive, I am very grateful to them. On a professional level, what moves me is the satisfaction of feeling that I help
these children to evolve in their cognitive, emotional and social development. maximize their potential and help their families by giving them the necessary support. Growing with them and the incredible life lessons that these kids give me is the strength I need to keep working every day.”
“One of the many moments that I like the most in the house, is when we make trips with bicycles, this is really my vocation, my passion; it is incredible to feel the happiness that they transmit. To work here, for me, is to renew continuously, to look for a thousand ways to make them smile during the day, and another thousand to feel safe and calm during the night. Always doing it from the heart, with love and respect (that’s what makes you grow as a person), and always contributing the best of me.”
“Starting this adventure in the House-Home has been a gift. You see your work bear fruit when you see a smile, receive a hug or a kiss in any given situation. My work is part of a big family and this gives me great personal and professional comfort.”
“What I like the most about my work are the laughter and being together with the children, the feeling that we are a family, the good times and the support we give each other.”
“I am very happy to be part of this great family, every day is a challenge, but also a reward. What I like to see the most is the children learn and grow, every day they teach me something new, it is incredible to see how they overcome their challenges and achieve their goals. I am very grateful to have the great opportunity to work at the Lukas Foundation, it is a job that fulfills me emotionally and makes me feel like a better person.”
Working at the Lukas Foundation as a caregiver for people with disabilities, especially those who have been affected by humanitarian emergencies like the flash floods, is a job that requires commitment and sensitivity. I provide both physical and emotional support to people who have faced emergency situations or uprooting due to the floods. The foundation has taught me to value empathy and resilience. It has also allowed me to grow professionally in the field of caregiving, adapt to the specific needs of each person and work as a team with other professionals in the sector. It is very rewarding to know that my work contributes to the wellbeing and recovery of those who need it most. Being a caregiver in this context is undoubtedly a responsibility, but also a deeply human and enriching experience.
“Participating as a caregiver at the Dana Homes is a huge responsibility and reward. Being able to offer the children this weekend of enjoyment, to get to know our center, our activities, and to keep their smiles on their faces. All of this comforts me both professionally and personally, hence the huge responsibility of making them feel at home. And above all, and very importantly, being able to give the families a much needed breath of fresh air, after everything that has happened, and to make them feel like FLK is a home they can return to whenever they want. Thank you for counting on me, and for filling my heart with even more love, if possible.”
“As coordinator of the Therapy Center, I am responsible for the cooperation between the different members of the Therapists team to cover the global needs of our patients. On the other hand, I am passionate about my work, and as a Physiotherapist, I advise, treat and take care of patients with a general delay in their development, mainly due to movement disorders. Working at the Foundation where facilities and settings are excellent (pool, gardens, treatment room and housing) makes our work excellent.”
“My purpose as coordinator of the House-Home is to continue providing a good quality of life, both to the users who live here and to the colleagues who work here every day. I do this by putting into practice my experience as an occupational therapist in various fields and my experience as a caregiver here in the home for 4 years. It’s like coming back home, but with the opportunity to introduce new ideas to keep improving our project, our housing or, as we like to call it, our LKF family.”

























