Big Sky Autism Project Awarded $15,000 Grant
Author: Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation
Big Sky Autism Project Awarded $15,000 Grant
Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation
Krystal Nelson, Chief Correspondence Office
Press Release - November 5, 2023 -Townsend, MT
Big Sky Autism Project (BSAP) is pleased to announce the receipt of a $15,000.00 grant endowed by the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation. The grant will be used toward the Adaptive Fitness Coach Training & Certification Program that BSAP has spearheaded in the nonprofit's pursuit to make individualized adaptive fitness programs more accessible to the special needs community throughout Montana.
BSAP was founded out of Townsend, Montana in 2019 by Monique Prevel, the current Executive Director and Lead Coach of the organization, after her son was officially diagnosed as nonverbal autistic at just 2 years old.
Seeing the need for a healthy outlet for the excessive energy that many on the spectrum have, Monique researched the availability of movement-based adaptive fitness programs in Montana and found no options. Continuing her research efforts, she discovered Autism Fitness out of New York - a movement-based adaptive fitness program that trained and certified parents/caregivers and professionals in the art of one-on-one and group adaptive fitness programs for individuals on the autism spectrum.
After flying to New York in 2018 for the certification seminar, Monique became the first Level 1 Autism Fitness Professional in Montana. Since then, she has gone on to receive her Level 2 Certification and will soon begin the Master Level Certification program - a vital step for BSAP to be able to certify Level 1 Autism Fitness Professionals here in Montana.
BSAP's main mission is to provide access to adaptive fitness programs to individuals with autism, and other special needs and their families. This grant will help fulfill that mission and provide a much-needed service to the special needs community of Montana while raising awareness and promoting education and inclusion within the state.
When asked what this grant meant to the organization, Monique stated "This grant means the world to BSAP and to me personally. By awarding BSAP this grant, The Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation is saying we see you, we see what you are trying to do and we want to support and help you achieve this goal. 'That is very validating and uplifting for our organization. We are all volunteers, none of us are paid for the work we do through BSAP. It has been a long, hard five years to build this organization up from a mere ambition to one that is finally being recognized for the great work that we are doing. Thank you is all we can really say to the [Dennis & Phyllis Washington] Foundation but those words fall short of the gratitude and appreciation we have for them. Thank you will never be enough."
The Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation is a philanthropic organization based out of Missoula, Montana. Founded in 1988, the Foundation awards grants in the areas of education, health & human services, arts & culture, and community service.
To learn more, please visit https://www.dpwfoundation.org. For more information on Big Sky Autism Project please visit https://www.Big SkyAutismProiect.org or find us on Facebook and Instagram with handle @BigSkyAutismProject.
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