Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism Awards Five Florida Grants to Several Brevard Organizations
By Space Coast Daily // December 20, 2018
Provides Vital Support in Autism Community
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism has just wrapped up another Signature grant cycle and will be providing almost $50,000 in essential support to five Central Florida organizations that deliver programs for those on the autism spectrum.
This marks the largest investment the Foundation has made into Florida since Doug and Laurie Flutie relocated from Massachusetts.
A grant will be given to Space Coast Early Intervention Center based in Melbourne to help fund a Behavior Intervention Program; Spring Forward for Autism, Inc., also based in Melbourne to provide funding for direct family support; Promise, Inc., of West Melbourne to provide assistance for job coaching for their social enterprise which includes a thrift shop and bakery.
The fourth grant awarded will go to Nemours Children’s Hospital based in Orlando to help provide funding for a sensory-friendly Pre and Post-op rooms.
The goal is to reduce the number of patients on the autism spectrum requiring pre-medication by at least 10 percent from a baseline of 90.9 percent. Both rooms will be equipped with appropriate calming and engaging resources for a wide age-range and skill levels.
ABOVE VIDEO: Doug Flutie won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award in college, won Pro Bowl and NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors and was voted the best CFL player of all time.
Room resources are appropriate for either preop or post-anesthesia and can include a bubble column, gravity wall, sound light dome, relaxer positioning chair or other items.
The fifth and final grant will support SHARP Musical Experiences, an Orlando-area organization that hosts sensory and family-friendly professional music concerts.
“There are some well-respected organizations doing tremendous work in the state of Florida for those on the autism spectrum and we are proud to play a role in their offerings,” says Nick Savarese, executive director of The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. “Programs that help people on the autism spectrum get healthy, increase access to necessary services and provide assistance in a transition to adult life are the needs we are addressing in this grant cycle.”
In this Signature Grant cycle alone, 36 organizations from New England to Florida will receive vital funding for a wide range of programs and services that support people with autism and their families.
Those include social inclusion programs, sporting and exercise initiatives, job coaching and vocational, sensory-friendly programs as well as family support. In total, over half a million in grants have been awarded to worthy organizations in the autism community in 2018 from the Flutie Foundation this year.
The Flutie Foundation plans to continue its expansion into Florida and will host its first annual Golf Classic on Monday, March 11, 2019, at the Disney Magnolia Golf Course in Orland, FL.
This event, hosted by Doug Flutie, will bring together business and community leaders committed to helping Florida families get the support and services they need.
CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FLUTIE FAMILY GOLF CLASSIC
CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS
