Orange Effect Foundation Expands with Addition of New Board Members

CLEVELAND - June 25, 2019 - PRLog -- The Orange Effect Foundation is proud to announce that more than $50,000 was awarded to needy children in June. Grants will send children to summer speech camp, purchase speech-generating devices, and pay for almost 500 hours of speech therapy.

As depicted in the map below, the Orange Effect has spread across the United States, assisting children with speech disorders to communicate effectively through therapy and technology resources. To assist the foundation with this mission, the Orange Effect Foundation is proud to announce the election of four new board members to the Board of Directors.

New board members include Tom Leskovec, an applied behavioral therapist and senior clinical research associate overseeing biotech and pharmaceutical trials; Melissa Meehan, a speech-language pathologist with over 30 years of experience working in hospitals, schools, community clinics, and private practice; Kelly O'Connor, a licensed independent social worker and therapist for children and adolescents at Bellefaire JCB; and Jacqueline Columbro, a speech-language pathologist who has provided speech therapy at special needs summer day camps, head start, high school, and in-home health care.

The new board members will serve a three-year term expiring in December 2023. With the goal of spreading the Orange Effect to children in every state, the foundation recognizes the need to expand the Board of Directors and is honored and privileged to welcome these new members.

The Orange Effect Foundation has awarded grants every quarter since December 2015. Since that time, 178 children have benefited from an Orange Effect grant. Grants have purchased 41 speech-generating devices and over 3,900 hours of speech therapy. Orange Effect board member Kelly O'Connor explains that, "there is a critical need for families looking to get their child speech therapy services." The Orange Effect Foundation is committed to addressing that need nationwide.

The Orange Effect Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, or sexual orientation. Although grants are awarded based on financial need, the foundation does consider extenuating circumstances. In all cases, the Orange Effect Foundation prefers to be the funder of last resort, relying on corporate, community, and individual support to raise funds.

The next grant application deadline is August 15, 2019. For more information and to obtain a copy of the grant application visit theorangeeffect.org.

About the Orange Effect Foundation

The Orange Effect Foundation strives to ensure that children have the ability to communicate. The foundation, while officially formed in 2014, began back in 2001 when the founders' son was born with autism. Early intervention helped him to become a heartwarming and independent young man. The Pulizzi family wanted to give back by empowering other children with the therapy and tools they need to communicate effectively.

The Golf for Autism is the Orange Effect Foundation's largest fundraiser. Proceeds from the event have raised more than $300,000, directly delivering services to 178 children in 32 states. The Orange Effect Foundation's 13th Annual Golf for Autism will be held August 5, 2019, at Elyria Country Club. For more information and to register, please visit www.theorangeeffect.org.