Tom Heinz

Tom founded EBI in 1994. As a child of a person with a disability, Tom learned at an early age that your physical limitations do not define your value as a person. This continues to be his personal philosophy, as well as the philosophy of EBI. He will never forget seeing the first people EBI served move into their new homes. Tom is constantly inspired by the people EBI serves, who overcome so many barriers to be able to live on their own or to have a job. Tom has a Master’s in Rehabilitation Administration from University of San Francisco. He was the first Chairperson of the California Supported Living Network 1996-1998, and was a co-founder of the Housing Consortium of the East Bay and of HOUSE, Inc. In 2005 he won The Bill Rosenberg Memorial Award from Cal-TASH and in 2014 he won the Bernie Graf Excellence in Service Award.