If you’re not familiar with our process here at The Orange Effect Foundation, we review applications four times a year. A deadline falls on the first of the month. For example, this quarter it’s August 1, and during the next 30 days, our Program Manager and Application Review Committee work vigorously to allocate the $25,000 that’s available for grants for that quarter.
Since we began doing this in 2016, we’ve not only increased the amount we can allocate every quarter but we’ve significantly increased the number of applications we receive, often upwards of 70 applications per quarter.
Some don’t meet our criteria for funding, but most do. And it’s a very difficult and tedious process to figure out who has demonstrated the greatest need.
On several occasions, when the decisions were really difficult, board members have offered to get out their checkbook to cover the difference for what is needed.
This past quarter was no exception. We received an application for a child we have funded previously. Along with that, however, was an application for their sibling. We remember the family well because they lost their dad two years ago and along with that the insurance from his employment. They are on a waitlist for Medicaid and Mom is working hard at her job, as well as raising the five children.
The sibling requesting the renewal has a severe speech sound disorder. Can you imagine being six years old, trying to go to school, and people not being able to understand you? It has to have a profound impact.
Now to learn that the four-year-old brother also has a severe speech disorder and possible apraxia, there was no question that we wanted to support their communication journey.
It’s due to the support of our board, our sponsors, and the participants in our events like 100 Holes of Golf and Night at the Races that we are able to do what we are for the siblings in this family. In reaching out to Mom to confirm this post about her kids she said, “Absolutely, we are so grateful for your help.”
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