October 2012 – Part 2 of Abbie’s grant awarded! Aidan’s Red Envelope Foundation awarded Part 1 of Abbie’s grant in July and granted her an assessment session with an Assistive Communications expert. Now, AREF is happy to award Part 2 of the grant to Abbie granting a new iPad and assistive communications therapy sessions.

September 2012 – Grant awarded to 20-year old Brooke! Aidan’s Red Envelope Foundation purchased and delivered a new iPad to Brooke. Brooke has a progressive spinocerebellar disease and she now finds it more and more difficult to get out of the house. The one thing that linked her to the outside world and gave her pleasure was her laptop and it recently crashed. Needless to say, Brooke was ecstatic to get a brand new iPad from AREF.

August 2012 – Aidan’s Red Envelope Foundation is proud to support these 7 kids with Family Grants to attend Summer Camp at Camp Escapades. In prior years, these kids received scholarships, no longer available, from government programs or other foundations. Thus, they were thrilled and grateful for AREF’s grant support this year. Camp Escapades is a wonderful 2-week camp tailored for special needs kids put on by Pediatric Therapy Network in Torrance, CA.

July 2012 – Grant awarded to 6 year old Abbie, diagnosed with Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy. Abbie’s mom has been battling with her school district to get speech therapy for Abbie. Abbie is a bright girl but minimally verbal. Mom reports that the school district has done little to help Abbie with communication in the classroom and has given her antiquated modes of communication. Mom applied for a grant for Abbie seeking a communication device and/or augmentative communications therapy. Aidan’s Red Envelope Foundation awarded Abbie the grant and funded the services of an Augmentative and Assistive Communications expert to conduct an assessment and make recommendations for a communications device.

June 2012 – Grant awarded to 6 year old Antoine, diagnosed with Hemophagocutic Lymphohisiocytosis, an immune system disorder. Antoine has cerebral palsy and is minimally verbal. Mom applied for a grant to help Antwon improve his communication skills in the classroom and at home. Aidan’s Red Envelope Foundation awarded the grant and funded 8 therapy sessions with an expert in Augmentative and Assistive Communications. The expert will work with Antoine to utilize his iPad device and develop it into a communication device for Antwon to use in the classroom and at home.

May 2012 – Aidan’s Red Envelope Foundation gives a $1000 grant to the Pediatric Pulmonology department at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Ms. Sheila Kun, a nurse at CHLA for 36 years, applied for a grant requesting gas gift cards for her many ill patients who have difficulty making clinic appointments due to the escalating gas prices. Many of the patients in her clinic have complex lung disease, are in wheelchairs, have tracheostomies, and need ventilators and oxygen. For many of these patients, seeing their doctors and staying healthy became more and more of a challenge due to transportation difficulties and high gas prices. Ms. Kun’s consideration and compassion for her patients is truly immeasurable. AREF granted her application and awarded her with $1000 worth of pre-paid gas gift cards to distribute to her patients.

February 2012 — Aidan’s Red Envelope Foundation awards its first Organizational Grant in the amount of $4,000 to Disabled Sports USA Far West. DSUSAFW leads the way in adaptive sports and recreation for people with disabilities. Their mission is to provide affordable inclusive physical and recreational activities that build health and confidence. The grant award was presented to DSUSAFW President, Doug Pringle, at the Casino Night Gala Fundraiser.

October 2011 – Aidan’s Red Envelope Foundation awards The Camacho Family the first Family Grant. Karla Camacho, 5 years old, suffers from seizures and spastic diplegia. The family reported that Karla’s current wheelchair sits very upright and has no recline feature and makes her very uncomfortable. The family requested a special needs Axiom Stroller from the Foundation. On October 7, Aidan’s Red Envelope Foundation delivered a new Axoim Stroller to the Camacho Family. When Karla sat in her new stroller for the first time, a huge smile and joyful vocalizations came out of her. She was so happy she did not want to get out! Dad took her out immediately for a walk around her neighborhood.