Canton's FOCUS Center for Autism Seeks Community Support

From a Canton Patch Facebook reader:

Friends and neighbors, I was recently appointed to the board of directors for The FOCUS Center For Autism.

FOCUS is a wonderful, but small nonprofit organization who's mission is to help children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders achieve their full potential.

FOCUS's base of operations is in that big green house on Dowd Road in Canton.

In addition to the Day – Clinical Educational Support Program, FOCUS runs an After School Program, a Summer Program and a Mentorship Program.

More recently, FOCUS has opened a residential program for adolescents and a transitional supportive housing program for young adults.

Since 2000, FOCUS has served over 750 children and families.
The most well known non-profit "Autism Speaks" directs almost all the money it raises toward research, the search for a cure and raising awareness.

Surprisingly, at least to me, it directs almost none of the millions of dollars it raises every year toward actually helping children and families coping with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

In the last year, changes in the way the federal government reimburses the state government that partially pays for many of the children who attend, has had a significant impact on the financial viability of FOCUS.
Everyone at FOCUS is doing their best to operate under these new economic challenges, but FOCUS needs the help of people in the community that care.

How can you help?

Please consider utilizing the Amazon Smile program. You can designate FOCUS as the organization to which you would like Amazon to donate a percentage of the cost of your purchases.

In addition for those who are able and would like to contribute directly to FOCUS, here is the link to the Gofundme page set up by some of the dedicated parents of FOCUS.

If you have time to give and you would perhaps like to get more involved in helping FOCUS, please message me.
Thank you!