Three New Grants Awarded to Durand - February 5, 2008
Durand has been awarded three new grants. One will help Durand begin an afternoon life-skills program for teenagers with high functioning autism and Asperger's Syndrome (AS), while the other two will help to continue the training of first responder's about Autism.
Durand Academy & Community Services, Inc. has been awarded a $10,000 grant from The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation to implement a therapeutic after-school program for students ages 16-21 with high functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger's Syndrome (AS). The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation was established to provide grants to programs that enrich the lives of adolescents and adults with autism.
Autism is a neurological life span disorder that is manifested by a wide spectrum of attributes that may affect an individual's social, behavioral or cognitive functioning. Through The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation's grant giving endeavors, it is their goal to honor the individuality of every person with autism so that each may participate throughout their lifetime in vocational, recreational, educational and residential opportunities that are suitable, stimulating and sustainable and allow for maximum integration in the community. Understanding that the life span issues associated with autism present unique challenges to the families and caregivers, The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation also provides grants to programs that address these challenges as they relate to adolescents and adults with autism. An integral part of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation's mission is to provide community outreach and education regarding the life span issues associated with autism and this is accomplished through the Foundation's involvement in community-based events. For more information on The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, please visit their website: http://www.djfiddlefoundation.org/
The First Responder's Autism Training Services was first made possible with ten thousand dollar grant given to us from The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation in January 2007. The ongoing mission of this autism education program is to train municipal emergency personnel such as police, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) on how to cope with emergency situations where people with autism are involved. The following grants have been awarded to help us continue to provide training for First Responder's Autism Training Services:
- The first is another gracious endowment of $20,000 from The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation.
- The second generous donation is $15,000 from a brand new sponsor, the Jamie McMurray Foundation.
It is because of the ongoing support of grants such as these that allows Durand to continue to meet the needs of the individuals we serve, as well as their families.