Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

---

Organization Name: The Gentry Foundation
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 7600 N 16th Street
City: Phoenix
State: AZ
Postal Code: 85020
Main Phone: 602-368-3282
Main Fax:
Organization Website: thegentryfoundation.org
Employer ID Number: 81-2734352
Organization Tax Status: 501c3 Non-Profit

Proposal Information

---

Today’s Date: 3/29/24
Requested Amount: $5,000

Project Title: Early Autism Identification – It Matters
Project Description:

The Gentry Foundation works to improve access to diagnoses, intervention, and support for children with autism and their families, regardless of race, culture, religion, or economic status.

Autism is a form of neurodivergence that comes with a unique set of challenges for young children, such as sensory processing, speech, and social-emotional delays. Early intervention services help children with autism adapt to these challenges, enabling them to navigate the demands of school and other structured environments and meet appropriate developmental milestones. However, access to these services is barred without an official diagnosis from a specialist.

Early diagnosis is key to successful outcomes and improved quality of life for autistic children, but families in Arizona without financial means or adequate health insurance are subject to waitlists and delays extending 18+ months, resulting in their children missing the opportunity to benefit from hundreds of hours of intervention services. The Gentry Foundation’s own research suggests that children diagnosed at age 3 could receive as many as 1,500 hours of early intervention that they would not have received had they had to wait for services until the state’s average age of diagnosis, 4.7 years.

The Gentry Foundation awards no-cost autism evaluations to children and families in Arizona who have no health insurance or have benefits through the state’s Medicaid program. Eligible families can select any highly-qualified provider within the Gentry Network who performs the diagnostic evaluation. Post-diagnosis, families are also offered 1:1 coaching support from a Family Liaison who has extensive experience navigating the critical healthcare, educational, and financial resources children diagnosed with autism may require.

Total Project Budget: $795,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Committed: Brown Plastic Surgery, Legacy Wealth Management, John & Karey Stevenson, Carly & Ryan Levine, Dreiseszun Family Foundation. Potential: Gila River Indian Community, The Nora Roberts Foundation.

Project Duration: Ongoing
Geographical Area Served: Phoenix, AZ municipal area
Age Group To Be Served: Ages 2-6 years old

Contact Information

---

Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Sarah
Contact Last Name: Gentry
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 602-368-3282
Contact Email: sarah@gentrypbs.com