A Touch of Understanding, Inc.

Reviewed by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation
Fundraise

4 donors

4% complete

$10,000 Goal

A Touch of Understanding (ATOU) was started in the early 1990's by father-daughter team Edward Ennis and Leslie DeDora with the desire to relieve the discrimination and social isolation experienced by children with disabilities. Leslie DeDora started the program after seeing bullying firsthand and hearing hurtful language kids used in class and on the playground. Believing in the power of education and the ultimate worth of all human beings, they designed an educational program to dispel the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding people who are perceived by their peers to be different, especially when that perception arises as the result of a disability. This vision developed into a successful pilot program and was incorporated in 1996 into A Touch of Understanding, Inc. a nonprofit organization. Since then, ATOU has taken the program's message to more than 100,000 students, in public and private schools, juvenile correctional facilities, teacher trainings, colleges and fraternal organizations throughout the Sacramento region and surrounding counties.

Giving Activity

Mission

A Touch of Understanding's mission is to encourage acceptance and respect for all individuals and to minimize the discrimination, bullying, and misunderstanding experienced by children and adults who are perceived as different for any reason, but especially for those with disabilities.

Needs

Schools are only able to pay about half of what it cost for a school workshop. We rely on donations, fundraising, and grants to make up for the other half. $600 pays the portion the school cannot pay, and provides one workshop for 40 students.

Funding for capacity building to increase staff, space, and vehicles in order to meet the growing need for our program locally and beyond.

8-10 volunteers are needed to successfully staff each workshop. Each workshop consists of three to four volunteers with disabilities, as speakers, and then an additional four to six volunteers to assist with activity stations. We also utilize volunteers in our office for a variety of tasks including but not limited to: IT help, filing and office projects, fundraisers, etc.

Office supplies, raffle and auction items, gift cards, food for events and meetings.

IT support and help.

Equity Statement

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

A Touch of Understanding, Inc.

other names

ATOU

Year Established

1996

Tax id (EIN)

68-0389777

Mission Category

Education

Operating Budget

$250,001-$500,000

Organization Need

Funding: Program, Funding: Unrestricted, Volunteers, In-Kind Donations, Technology

Demographics Served

Individuals with disabilities, Youth & Children, General population

Local Counties Served

El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo

Address

5280 Stirling St. Suite 102
Granite Bay, CA 95746

Service areas

Placer, CA, US

Sacramento, CA, US

El Dorado, CA, US

Yolo, CA, US

Marin, CA, US

Phone

916-791-4146

Email

meghan@touchofunderstanding.org

Website

http://www.touchofunderstanding.org

Social Media