Give a little. Give a latte.

Forego your morning coffee and donate $5 instead – and you’ll be helping fund services and programs for families living with autism through ISAND (Integrated Services for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders). iCapital will match your donation up to $10K!

After last year's very successful #givealatte campaign, small business lender iCapital is excited to continue their support of children with autism.  This year, the #givealatte initiative will support ISAND – a coalition of highly trained and experienced professionals dedicated to offering comprehensive, coordinated, innovative and evidence-based approaches to treating and managing autism spectrum and neurodevelopmental disorders. ISAND's unique approach relieves individuals and families from searching for professionals and programs and facing untenable wait lists and sequential gaps in services over time. 

“We are very excited and grateful to partner with iCapital and the #givealatte campaign” says ISAND's Executive Director David Gray. "The funds raised will go directly to supporting many of ISAND’s programs dedicated to serving and providing an integrated and continuum of care to children, youth, young adults, and their families. Thank you iCapital, for your continued leadership as a remarkable champion in helping to support those living with autism.”

Anthony:

Meet Anthony. This gentle, affectionate, happy 17-year-old needs your help to raise money for kids and young adults with autism, so they can have access to the phenomenal ISAND programs that build social skills, encourage their interests, and help them engage with the world around them.  He loves watching movies and videos, horseback riding and spending time with his family – especially his Zia (aunt) Diane, who lives two blocks away. He’s excited about the the 2nd annual #givealatte campaign.

Anthony’s aunt, Diane Capobianco, is part of the iCapital team. iCapital focuses its annual donation on this cause because it’s close to home, and the homes of thousands of other people across Canada. This year Anthony and his family discovered ISAND and were inspired by the organization’s programming and approach.  Over the past 2 months, Anthony has been working with his support worker to learn how to manage everyday activities such as riding the subway. What seems a simple task, paying a TTC fare, standing behind the yellow line and traveling a longer distance, are learned skills for individuals with autism.

Here’s how it works:

Donate the $5 you would have spent on a coffee today, and iCapital will once again match donations. It’s an easy way to make a difference – one latte at a time. Plus, you’ll receive a charitable receipt for your gift.

Why this cause matters:

In Canada more than a quarter of a million families are touched by autism spectrum disorders. Much more support is needed for the nearly 1% of Canadians with autism, and the family members who support them.

Autism in adulthood:

Once Anthony graduates from high school there are very few programs available for him. But with support and training, Anthony and many people like him, can be an active, contributing member of our community and workforce. It’s up to all of us to help this growing segment of Canadians enjoy fulfilling lives.

Autism in teenagers:

Although Anthony will attend high school until he is 21, the schools programming is focused on meeting the core needs of students with autism rather than adapting to meet the diverse needs. This year, to supplement the work of the school, Anthony and his family discovered ISAND and were inspired by the organization’s programming and approach.

Autism in childhood:

Any family with a child with autism can attest to the difficulties negotiating our fragmented health system for therapy and support. It’s murky. Disjointed. And getting a spot can take years in some cases. Not to mention mom or dad needing to take time off work regularly to get to daytime appointments. But, just as Anthony’s family did, they do it because therapy makes a huge difference in cognitive, language and social skills.

Where your money goes:

The goal of iCapital’s #givealatte campaign is to provide desperately needed funding to ISAND, a non-profit unique in its offering of medical, psycho-social, educational and vocational care all under one roof. This money will enable ISAND to run its excellent evidence- and research-based services, subsidize the fees for families in need, and continue to expand so that more Canadian families can access its integrated services.

Here’s what you get:

The chance to help make a real difference in people’s lives.  Tax receipts available for donations over $50, please input the postal address corresponding to your method of payment.

Other ways you can help

The #givealatte campaign is about raising funds, but it’s also about boosting awareness for autism and ISAND. People’s knowledge about children with autism is great, thanks to the efforts of a number of wonderful organizations. But fewer people know about what life is like for young people leaving the school system and entering adulthood. And rarely do we consider the strain autism puts on families. So work with iCapital to learn more, talk to your friends, and spread the word on social media. Encourage people to #givealatte. You’ll be giving more than you know.