Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Association For Independent Living (AFIL)
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: AFIL
Mailing Address: 2826 Storey Lane
City: Dallas
State: Texas
Postal Code: 75220
Main Phone: 214-351-0798
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.afildfw.org
Employer ID Number: 75-1644612
Organization Tax Status: 501c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 2-20-2026
Requested Amount: $5000

Project Title: AFIL Way Program
Project Description:

The AFIL Way Program is an on-going, twenty-four hour educational and residential program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) or learning differences.

The skills taught by the AFIL professional staff are divided into three segments:

(1) Behavioral Skills that include Cooperation, Trust, Attitude, Responsibility, Work Ethic, Time Management and Socialization.
(2) Independent Living Skills that include Time Management, Money Management, Hygiene and Grooming, Order and Organization, Cooking, Kitchen Cleaning, Household Maintenance/Cleaning and Pre-vocational education.
(3) Vocational Education & Maintenance such as Resume’ Development, Obtaining and Submitting Applications, Interview Coaching, Work Attire, Transportation to Interviews, Work Ethic, and Partnership with Job Coaches and Employers. (AFIL staff may assist with employer development, as they open their businesses to our students, who bring so many skills to the table and will enhance their workforce.)

The success of the AFIL program is measured in the ability of each student to meet specific individual goals as documented by the Program staff and evaluated by the student’s performance on a monthly basis. A staff member is on duty 24 hours a day in the dormitory, and several staff members are assigned to work with these students daily.

Total Project Budget: $473,200

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): 2025 Grants Awarded: Theodore and Beula Beasley Foundation AFIL Way Program       $10,000 Junior League of Dallas (Community Assistance Fund) repair leak under foundation $3,500 The Perot Foundation AFIL Way Program $10,000 Hillcrest Foundation Capital Improvements $50,000 Women Of Saint Michael AFIL Way Program (Vocational Training) $,5000 Hoblitzelle Foundation Capital Updates $25,000 Harry E. & Eda L. Montandon Charitable Trust Capital Updates $15,000 Ken W. Davis Foundation       General Operations        $10,000 The Dallas Foundation AFIL Way Program $15,000 James Avery General Operations $10,000 Harold Simmons Foundation Capital Updates $20,000 Rees Jones Foundation AFIL Way Program $40,000 Russell Foundation AFIL Way Program $40,000 Ninnie L. Baird Foundation Capital Updates $12,000

Project Duration: January 1-December 31, 2027
Geographical Area Served: Our students have come from various States and from all areas of Texas. There are only a few programs that meet the need for developing independent living skills, especially for people with IDD in Texas. Group homes are limited in numbers, and the development of new Medicaid Title XIX ICF-IDD homes was severely limited several years ago. Some Day Habilitation programs offer the living skills that we teach, but they do not provide the experience of residential living. Most available resources are for people who need many more intensive physical, social and intellectual supports than do our students. As we know it, we are the only program of this kind in North Texas.
Age Group To Be Served: AFIL students are adults, between the ages of eighteen and fifty, and have a medical diagnosis of an intellectual and developmental disability.

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Sarah
Contact Last Name: Causey
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 214-351-0798
Contact Email: sarah.causey@afildfw.org