our vision

our founder

Erin Jester, Executive Director

"I want to help foster accessibility for recreational programming in the Cleveland area to neurodiverse students, regardless of their family's financial status. Every neurodiverse student deserves the opportunity to participate in quality of life programming, but families typically spend all of their financial resources on therapies needed for functional daily living. My goal is to give back to autistics, as they teach me something new everyday about the world we live in."

HISTORY OF the foundation

May 31, 2014 - Our first fundraiser fueled the passion for the creation of our non-profit organization.
July 1, 2014 - Beyond Words Foundation for Autism was created as a 501(c)(3) organization.
August 2014 - Fall scholarships were awarded to 7 families, totaling $1500, for services between September-December.
December 2014 - Winter/Spring scholarships were awarded to 10 families, totaling $6100, for services between January-May.
May 2015 - Summer scholarships were awarded to 34 families, totaling $10,108, for services between June-August.
August 2015 - Fall scholarships were awarded to 12 families, totaling $2,029, for services between September-December.
December 2015 - Winter/Spring scholarships were awarded to 10 families, totaling $2,100, for services between January-May.
February 2016 - The Foundation's Board Members decided to focus the fundraising efforts in the Northeast Ohio region; therefore determining that the scholarships awarded should also focus on families in Cuyahoga, Summit and Medina counties.
May 2016 - Summer scholarships were awarded to 14 families, totaling $3,672, for services between June-August 2016.
September 2016 - The Foundation decided to focus awarding scholarships for the services in the summer due to the increased need for funding for families, as well as increase in summer services available.
May 2017 - Summer scholarships were awarded to 7 families, totaling $2,900, for services between June-August 2017.
May 2018 - Summer scholarships were awarded to 2 families, totaling $850, for services between June-August 2018.
May 2020 - Summer scholarships were awarded to 6 families, totaling $2,225 for services between June-August 2020.
May 2021 - Summer scholarships were awarded to 8 families, totaling $2,500 for services between June-August 2021.
May 2022 - Summer scholarships were awarded to 8 families, totaling $2,000 for services between June-August 2022.
May 2023 - Summer scholarships were awarded to 6 families, totaling $2,000 for services between June-August 2023.
May 2024 - Summer scholarships were awarded to 37 families, totaling $16,630 for services between June-August 2024.
May 2025 - Summer scholarships were awarded to 44 families, totaling $15,000 for services between June-August 2025.

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