Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Altru Health System
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 2501 Demers Avenue
City: Grand Forks, ND
State: North Dakota
Postal Code: 58201
Main Phone: 7017805600
Main Fax:
Organization Website: altru.org
Employer ID Number: 45-0310462
Organization Tax Status: non profit

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/19/2026
Requested Amount: 5,000

Project Title: Helping Little Hands Do Big Things
Project Description:

Altru Health System serves a broad rural and frontier region where distance, workforce shortages, and limited local rehabilitation services create barriers—especially for children with complex needs. Many families travel long distances to reach Altru’s Outpatient Therapy Department (OTD), making each visit especially meaningful.
The OTD provides occupational, speech language, and physical therapy to a rapidly growing pediatric population with conditions such as cerebral palsy, brachial plexus and spinal cord injuries, CVAs, and various neurological or chromosomal disorders. Many of these children experience limited hand function and significant communication challenges, affecting their independence.

In 2025, the department completed 845 new Occupational Therapy evaluations and 195 new Speech-Language Pathology evaluations. Each week, approximately 318 children receive therapy services, many of whom experience limited grasp strength, poor fine motor control, atypical muscle tone, or expressive communication challenges that impact participation and progress.
While our current interventions are effective, they often require substantial hand over hand assistance, limiting opportunities for children to initiate and complete tasks on their own. Integrating adaptive therapy technology would reduce this dependence and create a more self directed experience. This grant seeks support to purchase a Guided Hands device, iPads, Apple Pencils, and evidence based Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)applications.
The Guided Hands device stabilizes the arm to enable smooth, controlled movement—allowing children to write, draw, point, and access AAC tools despite tremors, weakness, or limited range of motion. When paired with digital devices and AAC applications, it opens access to communication and therapeutic activities that would otherwise require significant physical support.
Based on current utilization, an estimated 25–40% of our pediatric patients—especially those with neurological conditions or limited expressive abilities—would directly benefit from this equipment. Integrating adaptive technology tools will ultimately advance our care by giving children the ability to “feel and do” for themselves.

Total Project Budget: 9750

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Potential- Applied for a grant from Innovating Worthy Projects for $5,000- we are awaiting their grant announcements.

Project Duration: We will have the equipment purchased, staff trained, and fully implemented in our therapy for children within 6 months of grant award notice.
Geographical Area Served: Northeast North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota
Age Group To Be Served: youth age 18 and under

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Misty
Contact Last Name: Lundbohm
Contact Title: Senior Philanthropy Specialist
Contact Phone: 2187916547
Contact Email: misty.lundbohm@altru.org