Impact Report 2025: Connection

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the one above is a living history.

Framed in the lens are four generations of women: great-grandmother, Jan Novicki, grandma, Lori Hogan, mother, Lakelyn Eichenberger, and baby, Evelyn Eichenberger. 

A family portrait spanning this many generations is rare, but look closely at this one and you’ll uncover something even more special. 

Some of you may see it for what it is: a snapshot in time of a joyous display of love and affection. Others may see something deeper: a legacy of lives well-lived, memories shared and traditions passed down through the years.

To Mosaic, this photograph is the ultimate representation of connection—four women, connected to God by faith, to each other by blood, and to Mosaic by choice. 

Their story of connection to Mosaic started with Jay.

Jay Lawrence Novicki was born on Nov. 6, 1963, in Germany to Jan and Larry Novicki. Around six months old, Jan and Larry began noticing some cognitive differences in their son, but a developmental disability wasn’t officially confirmed until the family moved to Omaha, Nebraska, two years later.

As Jay grew, he was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which affected his life in a big way. Seeking support, Jan and Larry turned to Bethphage, which is one of Mosaic’s legacy organizations along with Martin Luther Homes. Jay was 20 years old at the time.

“We interviewed with the Bethphage staff and they promised us, no matter what, they would take care of Jay for as long as we needed,” Jan said. “From that day on, they were our lifesavers.”

Jan’s daughter and Jay’s sister, Lori, remembers how quickly Jay formed bonds at the group home. 

“He was good at building relationships with people, which I really admired about him,” Lori shared. “He would walk into any room, extend his hand and confidently say, ‘Hi, my name is Jay.’”

Jay was proud of his own “apartment,” his friendships, and the job he held. 

“One of the places he worked was Oriental Trading Company, and he would always brag that he made more money than me,” Lori said, laughing at the memory. “I always agreed with him.”

He also learned a great deal from his Direct Support Professionals. 

“I saw him thriving with the support of a gentleman, Brian Barratt, who worked at the Martin Luther Home workshop,” Lori noted. “Brian took the time to teach him math. Jay was also really excelling in his speech, and Brian had a lot to do with that.” 

Jay was well-known around the group home for his interest in sports, particularly Husker football, and he maintained extremely close ties with his family while living there. They visited often and, on weekends, they would take him camping, to church (he loved the children’s sermons), and on other outings. 

He especially loved being an uncle. Lakelyn was one of his beloved nieces. 

“I remember him coming up to the hospital and holding Lakelyn as a baby,” Lori said, adding that he greeted her with the same memorable line she remembers so fondly: “Hi, I’m uncle Jay!” 

He affectionately called his nieces and nephews his “little shrimps,” Jan recalled with a smile. 

“Even as we got older, he called us that!” Lakelyn laughed.

Jay passed away on January 30, 2001, at age 37.

About 500 people attended his funeral to celebrate his life, despite it being an icy night. During the service, Charlie, one of his housemates, stood up and spoke three powerful words: “Jay loved Jesus.” The family recalls how true that statement was. 

If Jay were here today, they know he would have been thrilled to be promoted to great uncle to eight “babies,” including Lakelyn’s daughter, Evelyn, and her son, Jude Lawrence Eichenberger, whose middle name is a tribute to both Jay and her grandfather, Larry.

Uncle Jay and baby Lakelyn

After Jay passed, Lori recalls that Brian wrote the family the “most amazing letter,” expressing his love for Jay and his gratitude for the experiences they shared. His gesture deeply touched them all.

Lori highlights the empathy of the staff, noting, “It takes special people to help care—people who are compassionate; people who have patience.” 

The people at Mosaic are a big reason why she and her family are inspired to give. 

“I wanted to continue to give back to the organization for what they did for my brother,” she said. “Without Mosaic (and Bethphage and Martin Luther Homes), his life would have been much different. We are very grateful for organizations like Mosaic.”

Seeing Jay’s positive experiences firsthand, the family is glad to support Mosaic. They hope their gifts will make a positive difference in the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their story will inspire others to give generously to organizations they care about, like Mosaic.

In addition to giving, the family hopes people will remember to show love toward others. This concept, which they say is “written” in their Christian faith—loving your neighbor as yourself—was strengthened by their personal experiences with having a family member with disabilities.

“I think growing up with a brother with disabilities really defined my character and made me more compassionate toward others with differences,” Lori shared.

She watched Jan model this compassion by inviting Jay’s roommates over for dinner and taking the time to listen and talk with people who had disabilities, which reminded her that they, like anyone else, deserve to be loved and included.

Lori carried those same values forward in her parenting, and Lakelyn is an example of her success in passing them down.

Lakelyn has been a long-time friend and mentor to a person with disabilities and in 2024, she joined the Mosaic Board. 

Through her Board service, Lakelyn says she has become even more aware of the breadth and importance of the services Mosaic provides to people with disabilities.

“I am learning how overwhelming it can be for families to navigate finding support, and Mosaic does a really good job of coming alongside families and helping them.”

She has also made meaningful contributions to Mosaic’s strategic direction.

When asked about her hopes for Mosaic’s future, she said, “My hope is that Mosaic can continue to expand in a very intentional, thoughtful way that allows the organization to serve more people, and to do that well.”

She noted that her position on the Board has reinforced that Mosaic is an organization of integrity, and she is proud to give back to the organization that has been so meaningful to her family in this way.