Hope Haven Advocacy Program helps special needs children with grant from The Jim Moran Foundation

JACKSONVILLE, FL—Hope Haven’s Center for Educational Advocacy has been awarded a $25,000 grant from The Jim Moran Foundation to help provide education and advocacy services for children with intellectual or developmental differences in Duval County.

The grant funding will be used to provide qualifying families with financial assistance to take advantage of direct advocacy services at Hope Haven, 4600 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207. In addition, more families with special needs will know how to find and utilize an advocate as a result of educational initiatives including community workshops, presentations and social media campaigns. They will also learn to self-advocate for their child with special needs.

"By partnering with Hope Haven, we are equipping parents with the knowledge and know-how to ensure their children have opportunities to learn, grow and fulfill their greatest potential," said Jan Moran, chairman and president of The Jim Moran Foundation.

“Especially with the start of a new school year, we hear that parents dealing with the realities of their child's special needs are sometimes overwhelmed with decisions and rules, are frustrated that a school may not be the right for their child, or they simply don't know where to turn for help,” said Stella Johnson, Hope Haven’s CEO.

Hope Haven’s Center for Educational Advocacy helps parents understand what their child's abilities are and what they need to support their learning experiences, in addition to the resources available within schools that will help their child learn. The Advocacy Program will also work with parents so they are comfortable discussing their child's needs with schools and providers.

"We're confident that these increased advocacy program resources will have a positive impact on many more families and the lives of their children, including progress in communication with provider schools and agencies,” Johnson stated. The organization also expresses gratitude to The Jim Moran Foundation for supporting Hope Haven’s efforts and investment in improving the lives of families in the community.

About Hope Haven

Hope Haven focuses on children with developmental and special needs and is recognized as one of the community’s leading nonprofit providers of specialized services for children and their families, serving more than 5,000 families each year. Its mission is to ensure that children and families realize their full potential through services, programs, evaluations and advocacy along with individualized educational opportunities. For more information, visit hope-haven.org.

About The Jim Moran Foundation

Founded by automotive pioneer Jim Moran, the mission of The Jim Moran Foundation is to improve the quality of life for the youth and families of Florida through the support of innovative programs and opportunities that meet the ever-changing needs of the community. The Foundation has invested more than $120 million in education, elder care, family strengthening, after school and youth transitional living initiatives since its inception in 2000 – with efforts currently focused in Broward, Palm Beach and Duval counties. Through a long-term grant agreement, The Foundation’s significant funders are JM Family Enterprises, Inc., and its subsidiaries, including Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC.