It started as a family need, and evolved into a grassroots movement. When their infant son was diagnosed with Autism, Jinxproof, an experienced and awarded geneticist, and his wife, Miss Rose, who co-runs Jinxproof Genetics with him, searched for and found limited resources for children like their beloved boy. To address that need, the family started Northwest Families for Autism (NWFFA), a community foundation established to collect and allocate resources and donations to help low-income families in need with their autism awareness programs and philanthropic efforts.
Partnering with the Seattle Children’s Autism Center (SCAC) and the University of Washington (UW), they have helped countless families for autism and raised more than $125,000 to serve those on the autism spectrum, veterans, and those who are homeless.
When they first started working with SCAC and UW, Jinxproof and Miss Rose met with families for autism who all had very diverse needs. Assessing these needs and starting to distribute resources helped Jinxproof and Miss Rose realize how much needed to be done and, specifically, how others could help. They began deploying volunteers to help build adaptive furniture for special needs classes and to collect donations like wood for other building projects and class materials.
“This is empowering to these individuals as it enables them to easily communicate with the world around them by giving them a means to express their thoughts, feelings, needs and desires,” Miss Rose says. “They gain a voice, something most of us take for granted. This brings us one step closer to inclusion!”
Combining philanthropy and acts of charity as a part of their mission, Jinxproof Genetics designed their compassion programs with a formal structure to better serve those in need. They continued to build their network, growing their team of volunteers and access to resources, as well as becoming a point of contact for autism support groups and families.
“Having a social media platform is an important tool to reach families in need as well as those willing to donate,” Miss Rose says. “This has enabled NWFFA to provide an effective communication system to so many individuals on the autism spectrum, including facilitating autism awareness and support through autism support groups.
Recognizing the need for a more positive outlook on life to succeed as individuals, Jinxproof has also facilitated designing counseling programs centered around daily affirmation and one-on-one counseling as a way to improve the quality of life of those in need. The Young Ladies Positive Affirmation club helps build confidence and develop a healthy self esteem in participants through the practice of writing and sharing daily affirmations. Jinxproof posts daily “Be Positive” messages through social media, which encourage others to be positive in their own lives and to get involved in their community through service.
As their network grew, Jinxproof Genetics also began hosting in-person events and employing creative campaign strategies and programs to help as many families for autism and individuals as possible.
School of Dank, one such endeavor, is an educational seminar series serving medical cannabis patients who want to grow their own medicine. Vendors are able to provide one-on-one consultations in smaller settings, so patients with very little to no experience are successful. The first two School of Dank events raised more than $45,000 combined to support those with autism and their families. The next event is projected for February, 2019 in Denver, Colorado.
Partnering with other event producers, Jinxproof has successfully collected donations through sponsorships of other charitable events in and outside of their community. Frenchie’s Holiday Party in San Francisco, Good Vibes in San Diego, and 22Many (which serves veterans in need) in Lacey, Washington, collectively raised more than $15,000 through collection box revenue and donor-directed gifts auctioned at the events.
Through creative fundraising campaigns and philanthropic endeavors, NWFFA has contributed more than $125,000 to families in need.