Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Reading Is Fundamental
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 750 First Street, NE, Suite 920
City: Washington
State: DC
Postal Code: 20002
Main Phone: (202) 536-3489
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.rif.org/
Employer ID Number: 52-0976257
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/27/2025
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Middle School Family Literacy Initiative – Expanding Access to Books and Building a Culture of Reading
Project Description:

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) seeks funding from the Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation to support the Middle School Family Literacy Initiative (MSFLI) — a research-backed program designed to increase middle school students’ access to books, reading motivation, and literacy engagement. Building on RIF’s Books for Ownership model, MSFLI provides students with the opportunity to select diverse books to own, increasing reading motivation and strengthening connections between home and school literacy environments.

MSFLI targets middle school students from culturally and linguistically diverse communities who face significant barriers to literacy achievement. Research shows that reading motivation and engagement decline during middle school, particularly in urban schools with persistent reading achievement gaps. RIF’s recent three-year study of 140,000 middle school students in 78 schools across 10 cities demonstrated that book ownership, culturally responsive literature, and peer engagement positively impact students’ self-concept as readers and their perceived value of reading. Key findings include:

– Significant improvements in students’ reading motivation and self-concept, with eighth graders showing the highest gains
– Students self-initiated book clubs and social reading activities, reinforcing the program’s emphasis on peer-support literacy
– Students expanded their reading choices, accessing books that reflect diverse identities and experiences

With your support, RIF will expand book access and choice for students in the six middle school programs participating in the DC area. This targeted boost will enable schools to select modern, compelling, and culturally relevant titles that are often more expensive and previously out of reach, addressing a challenge identified in earlier years of the program. Additional support from the PwC Foundation will provide program materials for educators and families, professional development, and ongoing student-led literacy engagement activities throughout the year. Together, these investments will help bridge persistent learning gaps and nurture a lasting love of reading during a pivotal stage in students’ development.

Total Project Budget: $1,010,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): PwC Foundation: $1,000,000 Proposed (final decision April 2025)

Project Duration: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026
Geographical Area Served: United States/Washington DC
Age Group To Be Served: Middle school students (ages 11-14)

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Rachel
Contact Last Name: Madewell
Contact Title: Senior Vice President of Development
Contact Phone: (202) 536-3403
Contact Email: rmadewell@rif.org

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Reading Is Fundamental
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 750 First Street, NE, Suite 920
City: Washington
State: DC
Postal Code: 20002
Main Phone: (202) 536-3489
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.rif.org/
Employer ID Number: 52-0976257
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/27/2025
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Middle School Family Literacy Initiative – Expanding Access to Books and Building a Culture of Reading
Project Description:

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) seeks funding from the Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation to support the Middle School Family Literacy Initiative (MSFLI) — a research-backed program designed to increase middle school students’ access to books, reading motivation, and literacy engagement. Building on RIF’s Books for Ownership model, MSFLI provides students with the opportunity to select diverse books to own, increasing reading motivation and strengthening connections between home and school literacy environments.

MSFLI targets middle school students from culturally and linguistically diverse communities who face significant barriers to literacy achievement. Research shows that reading motivation and engagement decline during middle school, particularly in urban schools with persistent reading achievement gaps. RIF’s recent three-year study of 140,000 middle school students in 78 schools across 10 cities demonstrated that book ownership, culturally responsive literature, and peer engagement positively impact students’ self-concept as readers and their perceived value of reading. Key findings include:

– Significant improvements in students’ reading motivation and self-concept, with eighth graders showing the highest gains
– Students self-initiated book clubs and social reading activities, reinforcing the program’s emphasis on peer-support literacy
– Students expanded their reading choices, accessing books that reflect diverse identities and experiences

With your support, RIF will expand book access and choice for students in the six middle school programs participating in the DC area. This targeted boost will enable schools to select modern, compelling, and culturally relevant titles that are often more expensive and previously out of reach, addressing a challenge identified in earlier years of the program. Additional support from the PwC Foundation will provide program materials for educators and families, professional development, and ongoing student-led literacy engagement activities throughout the year. Together, these investments will help bridge persistent learning gaps and nurture a lasting love of reading during a pivotal stage in students’ development.

Total Project Budget: $1,010,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): PwC Foundation: $1,000,000 Proposed (final decision April 2025)

Project Duration: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026
Geographical Area Served: United States/Washington DC
Age Group To Be Served: Middle school students (ages 11-14)

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Rachel
Contact Last Name: Madewell
Contact Title: Senior Vice President of Development
Contact Phone: (202) 536-3403
Contact Email: rmadewell@rif.org

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Get Focused Stay Focused Inc.
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: GFSF
Mailing Address: 115 North K Street
City: Oxnard
State: California
Postal Code: 93030
Main Phone: 805-250-9900
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.getfocusedstayfocused.org
Employer ID Number: 47-2688736
Organization Tax Status: 501 (c) (3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/27/2025
Requested Amount: $3,000

Project Title: Teacher Training and Support in Career Guidance
Project Description:

The Get Focused, Stay Focused nonprofit equips teachers with training and support to empower students to envision and achieve meaningful career and life goals, fostering success for themselves, their families, and their communities. Our mission is to help educators and school representatives provide equitable and inclusive career guidance to students from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds with a wide range of talents and skills. This project offers professional development for teachers implementing the Get Focused, Stay Focused curriculum through a Labor Market Webinar and a Career Mentor Workshop. These resources are designed to enhance teachers’ understanding of the local labor market and strengthen their role as effective career mentors.

Total Project Budget: $3,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): We do not have any committed sources of funding at this time. Other potential funders include the Imperial Valley Community Foundation, and the Howard P. Meyer Foundation.

Project Duration: Five months
Geographical Area Served: Imperial County, California
Age Group To Be Served: High school teachers and counselors will be served, who will in turn serve up to 330 high school freshmen.

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Dr.
Contact First Name: Karen
Contact Last Name: Miles
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: (805) 250-9900
Contact Email: karen@getfocusedstayfocused.org

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Essentials First
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 919 124th Ave. NE, Suite 103
City: Bellevue
State: WA
Postal Code: 98005
Main Phone: (425)-502-7768
Main Fax: N/A
Organization Website: https://www.essentialsfirst.org/contact-us
Employer ID Number: 83-3737538
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/27/2025
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Distribution of Essential Hygiene Supplies
Project Description:

Essentials First creates and distributes hygiene supplies to address a critical access gap. A 2017 needs assessment found that nearly 1/4 of Washington State residents lack sufficient access to hygiene supplies including soap, shampoo, household cleaning products, detergent, oral hygiene supplies, and menstrual hygiene supplies. To address this gap, Essentials First creates and distributes essentials hygiene kits to support people living homeless and low-income in the greater King County, WA area.

We distribute two types of kits 1) Street Kits – designed for use with unhoused communities, includes one week of personal supplies, 2) Essential Hygiene Kits – designed for a households of up to 5 members, includes one month of supplies. We distribute Street Kits at boots-on-the-ground outreach events and through our expansive network of partner organizations. We distribute Essential Hygiene Kits by delivering them directly to the homes of eligible, housed clients.

Total Project Budget: $250,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Private donors

Project Duration: 1 year
Geographical Area Served: King County, WA
Age Group To Be Served: All ages

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: Jarred
Contact Last Name: Rimby
Contact Title: Fundraising Lead
Contact Phone: 5039262790
Contact Email: jarred@essentialsfirst.org

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Casa Esperanza
Legal Name (if Different): Casa Esperanza Transitional Home for Women
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 13104
City: Bakersfield
State: CA
Postal Code: 93389
Main Phone: 661-343-5787
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://esperanzabakersfield.org/
Employer ID Number: 47-4019231
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3-27-2025
Requested Amount: 5000

Project Title: Children’s Programming
Project Description:

Casa Esperanza aims to provide homeless women and children in Kern County with an innovative and holistic program in a sustainable model that supports their transition to permanent housing and stable employment. We aim to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty one family at a time through a targeted approach to intergenerational change. Therefore, we provide extensive support services to not just the women housed, but also our children.
In addition to housing and basic necessities, Casa Esperanza Children are supported by robust childhood development curricula that work holistically to advance age-appropriate milestones. Our child development program includes Character Strong Social Skills, a social-emotional learning program for parents and children to establish a strong skills foundation through social awareness, empathy building, and conflict resolution; Eat Health, Be Active, which teaches children nutritional eating and small-scale gardening; Second Step, another social-emotional program that focuses on bullying and peer relationships for those in grades K-5 (responds to social isolation for our homeless children in schools); Music Literacy, which introduces rhythm, tempo, melody, and words with an emphasis on creative and critical thinking; and finally, Academic Support, which offers ECE activities for those below kindergarten and enrichment or homework support for children in grades K-8. Child development activities are offered during educational workshops for our women, which also provides much-needed childcare/supervision.
Ensuring our children have the same access to resources, social-emotional learning, and academic support as other children in our community is crucial in enacting generational change. Academic achievement and employable soft skills are key elements in facilitating long-term success, socially, emotionally, and economically. Success in our program is measured by children’s ability to demonstrate age-appropriate developmental milestones in assessments (social-emotional, cognitive, etc.), school-based outcomes (grades, engagement, social inclusion), behavioral indicators (positive vs. negative behaviors), and family-level indicators (i.e., positive bonding).

Total Project Budget: 23,731.86

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Pacific Youth Foundation (potential), Kern County Community Foundation (potential)

Project Duration: 12 months
Geographical Area Served: Kern County, California; Bakersfield City (centered from)
Age Group To Be Served: 0-13

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Marilyn
Contact Last Name: Chamberlin
Contact Title: Grant Writer
Contact Phone: 828-399-1445
Contact Email: m.chamberlain@esperanzabakersfield.org

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: The Caring Link
Legal Name (if Different): Caring Link Inc
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 12864 D Hwy 231 431 N
City: Hazel Green
State: Alabama
Postal Code: 35750
Main Phone: 256-603-7981
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://thecaringlink.org
Employer ID Number: 92-0696434
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3) Organization – Tax Exempt

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: March 27, 2025
Requested Amount: $5,000

Project Title: New Beginnings School Readiness Program
Project Description:

New Beginnings is a school readiness program focused on preparing 500+ students to return to the classroom with the tools they need to succeed and then supporting those students throughout the year with additional supplies. By providing children in poverty with new clothing, toiletries, school supplies, haircuts, vision/hearing/wellness/dental screenings, family meal boxes, and more, New Beginnings allows students to walk through the doors on the first day of school with confidence, knowing that their educations will not be derailed by unmet basic needs.

During our New Beginnings program, students are not merely handed a bag of items without any choice or say so. Instead, they "shop" for the items they want, which is a luxury many have not experienced before. This ability to choose is fundamental to students as they develop a sense of self and personal pride, affording them a level of autonomy that is rare when living in hardship. In addition, they gain experience with weighing choices and making decisions, much like they would in a store environment. Building adequate consumer skills is difficult among children who normally have no money to spend. However, these are important life practices that they will have access to through their participation in New Beginnings.

As a highly collaborative program, New Beginnings combines the impact of at least 10 local nonprofits–from food pantries to literacy services to mental health assistance and more–all working together to solve a shared problem: how do we uplift a child in poverty so that they can be an adult in abundance? With research showing that the most consistent way to break generational poverty is through education, our goal is to equip students with self-assurance so that they can start that upward journey on the first day of school and keep climbing each day thereafter.

Total Project Budget: $75,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Mazda Toyota Manufacturing: $5,000 (committed), Phoenix Vocational Services: $5,000 (committed); BAE Systems: $5,000 (committed); The Caring Link Fundraising: $5,000 (committed); The Caring Link Fundraising: $4,000 (potential); Redstone Federal Credit Union: $50,000 (potential); Aerie Foundation: $8,000 (potential), Huntsville Rotary Club: $5,000 (potential), Avion Solutions: $5,000 (potential)

Project Duration: July 18, 2025 – May 20, 2026
Geographical Area Served: Madison County, Alabama
Age Group To Be Served: 4 years to 18 years old

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Kate
Contact Last Name: O’Neal
Contact Title: President
Contact Phone: 256-603-7981
Contact Email: thecaringlink@gmail.com

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Casa Esperanza
Legal Name (if Different): Casa Esperanza Transitional Home for Women
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 13104
City: Bakersfield
State: CA
Postal Code: 93389
Main Phone: 661-343-5787
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://esperanzabakersfield.org/
Employer ID Number: 47-4019231
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3-27-2025
Requested Amount: 5000

Project Title: Children’s Programming
Project Description:

Total Project Budget: 23,731.86

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Pacific Youth Foundation (potential), Kern County Community Foundation (potential)

Project Duration: 12 months
Geographical Area Served: Kern County, California; Bakersfield City (centered from)
Age Group To Be Served: 0-1

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.):
Contact First Name:
Contact Last Name:
Contact Title:
Contact Phone:
Contact Email:

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: 18 Reasons
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 3674 18th St
City: San Francisco
State: CA
Postal Code: 94110
Main Phone: 4159942164
Main Fax:
Organization Website:
Employer ID Number:
Organization Tax Status:

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 03/27/2025
Requested Amount: 10000

Project Title: Cooking Matters for Teens
Project Description:

This grant will support the “Cooking Matters for Teens” program, which provides free, six-week cooking and nutrition classes for 400 low-income youth annually in the San Francisco Bay Area. Classes are held in person, in partnership with schools and youth-serving organizations. Outcomes include increased fruit and vegetable consumption, increased cooking confidence, and increased food security.

Our program is proven to improve food security and health outcomes among our participants, not just today or next week, but for months and years after they have graduated from a Cooking Matters series. With low-income families disproportionately impacted by diet-related diseases, it is imperative that we invest in the health and wellbeing of these families as early as possible.

Program Design:

Hands-on Cooking Classes: Each class session meets for 90 minutes on a weekly basis, and includes both hands-on cooking and interactive nutrition education. 18 Reasons staff members bring all cooking equipment, groceries, curricula, and instructors to each Cooking Matters class. Each class focuses on basic cooking techniques, kitchen safety, and how to create meals that are both healthy and appealing to kids and teens.

Nutrition Education: Participants will learn about food groups, portion control, label reading, and the benefits of whole foods. This will help families make healthier choices when grocery shopping or planning meals.

Access to Resources: 18 Reasons provides a fresh meal (made by participants in class) and a free bag of groceries to every Cooking Matters participant in every class.

Our Cooking Matters for Teens program is designed to empower children and their families with the skills and knowledge to improve their health through food and nutrition. We teach kids and their families how to prepare affordable, healthy meals, make informed nutritional choices, and build lifelong habits that support well-being.

Total Project Budget: $230,900

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): City of Richmond ($100/year for two years, committed), California Department of Food and Agriculture ($50000/year for two years committed), Contra Costa Health Services ($53,000/year for two years, committed), donations from individuals (committed)

Project Duration: January – December 2026
Geographical Area Served: San Francisco Bay Area
Age Group To Be Served: 10-18 year old teenagers

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Sarah
Contact Last Name: Nelson
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 415-994-2164
Contact Email: grants@18reasons.org

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
Legal Name (if Different): The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp Fund, Inc
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 555 Long Wharf Drive
City: New Haven
State: CT
Postal Code: 06511
Main Phone: 203-772-0522
Main Fax: 203-782-1725
Organization Website: http://www.holeinthewallgang.org
Employer ID Number: 06-1157655
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/27/25
Requested Amount: 10000.00

Project Title: General Operating Support for Summer "Camperships"
Project Description:

Founded in 1988 by Paul Newman, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp offers a unique healing experience for children with serious illnesses and their families, providing free residential summer camps and year-round programs. Campers face conditions such as cancer, blood disorders, immunodeficiencies, metabolic diseases, and rare illnesses. Our mission is aligned with the Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation’s goal to improve and transform the lives of children and young adults, helping them reach their full potential.

The original and core program, Summer Camp, offers children facing chronic illness the opportunity to enjoy a typical camp experience with a supportive medical presence. At Hole in the Wall, children build peer connections, which are especially meaningful for those with rare conditions who may be the only one they know with their diagnosis. This creates a safe, inclusive space where children realize they aren’t alone in their struggles and can achieve more than they imagined.

Beyond summer camp, we offer a range of programs year-round at our 300-acre Ashford, CT facility, including Family Weekends and Hospital Outreach Programs across more than 40 hospitals in the Northeast and throughout the Mid-Atlantic. These initiatives, along with services provided in local communities, are all offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of our donors.

Camp is committed to expanding its impact each year while maintaining our core values of safety, inclusion, friendship, possibility, and gratitude. Post-pandemic, we have steadily increased our reach to serve more children and families. In 2025, operating costs are projected at $22 million, with less than one percent of funding coming from The Newman’s Own Foundation. Camp relies heavily on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to continue providing free services.

Total Project Budget: One six-day session of Camp costs approximately $250,000. A “Campership” for one child is approximately $2,500.

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Operating costs for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp are projected to total $22,052,260 for 2025. We accomplish our funding goals through specific action steps related to event fundraising, individual gifts, capital campaigns, a corporate sponsorship program, event auction income, foundation grants, external events sponsored by organizations, and planned giving. Less than one percent of our operating support is derived from Newman’s Own Foundation. While Newman’s Own provided a significant portion of the Camp’s initial funding, we rely entirely on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to sustain our free-of-charge programming to children and families. Top 5 funders (so far) for fiscal year 2025: The Travelers Companies • Private Estate Gift • Ken’s Foods, Inc. • CVS Health • SeriousFun Children’s Network

Project Duration: June 2026 – August 2026
Geographical Area Served: Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, USA
Age Group To Be Served: Ages 7-18

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Nancy
Contact Last Name: Barlow
Contact Title: Manager, Foundations
Contact Phone: 203-745-2729
Contact Email: nancy.barlow@holeinthewallgang.org

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Children’s Health Foundation (CHF)
Legal Name (if Different): Children’s Medical Research, Inc.
Also Known As: Children’s Health Foundation
Mailing Address: 1001 NW 63rd St., Ste. 210
City: Oklahoma City
State: OK
Postal Code: 73116
Main Phone: 4054374437
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.chfkids.com/
Employer ID Number: 73-1200262
Organization Tax Status: 501c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/27/25
Requested Amount: 5000

Project Title: Sooner SUCCESS; Empowering Children with Disabilities and their Families in Oklahoma
Project Description:

According to the 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health, 29.4% of Oklahoma children ages 3 – 17 have one or more mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral problems, in a state with a severe shortage of providers and programs (Health Minds Policy Initiative, 2025). Sooner SUCCESS is a Child Study Center program in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma supporting children and youth with special needs and their families by coordinating health, social, and educational services in the communities in which they live. Staff identify resources, provide referrals, and implement programs, collaborating with community organizations to identify gaps in essential services and creating or modifying existing programs to fill them.

Sooner SUCCESS serves all Oklahoma children and youth with disabilities and their families by:

• Identifying services, determining eligibility, and explaining available programs
• Assisting with referrals to providers of care
• Exploring respite options for caregivers
• Connecting them to community activities for individuals with special needs and their families
• Assisting with transition of care services
• Operating programs that benefit the entire family of a person with disabilities
• Helping families navigate educational services
• Advocating for children and youth with disabilities

“One of the biggest impacts to our whole family was seeing that he will be able to do other activities without having his parents to look after him. It gave us great hope and assurance that there are people out there that will love on your children, treat them just as their own, and that have the patience and empathy for families going through these situations raising children with special needs.”

“This is the 1st time I have been able to get respite. I hope this continues for my child’s sake."

"Please continue these camps and respite. There is a huge need in our community!”

-Parents of children with special needs attending a Sooner SUCCESS program

Total Project Budget: 2,251,806

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): OK Dept. of Human Services, Maternal & Child Health Bureau Title V; University Hospitals Authority & Trust; OK State Dept. of Education; OK Dept. of Human Services Aging Services; Developmental Disability Council of OK

Project Duration: Ongoing
Geographical Area Served: Oklahoma
Age Group To Be Served: Birth to 21

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Mary
Contact Last Name: Noelker
Contact Title: Grants Specialist
Contact Phone: 405-437-4437
Contact Email: mary-noelker@chfkids.com