UCI Giving Day 2023

If you missed the opportunity to participate in Giving Day, it’s not too late to donate! You may make a gift in honor of Dr. Donnelly anytime on the Zotfunder page: https://zotfunder.give.uci.edu/project/24214. Thank you for your support!

April is Autism Awareness month! Nationally, autism affects one out of 44 children. As the numbers in our community continues to grow, we at The Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CAND) provide hope and help to children, teens, young adults, adolescents, and their families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders through excellent clinical care, valuable research, quality education and training, and community engagement.

After a 43-year career in pediatric neurology, including the last 18 years serving the autism and neurodevelopmental disorders communities in Orange County, Dr. Joseph H. Donnelly made the bittersweet decision to retire from The Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders. As a life-long advocate for expanding and improving services for families impacted by autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, Donnelly spent his career providing exceptional clinical services and focused on creating support and education efforts for families and professionals, such as the CAND Education and Training Program.

Our education and training team provides the support families and educators need to help every person reach their greatest potential. Your gift today will help support resources to the autism community through classes, in both English and Spanish, such as Financial Planning, Autism 101, Parent-To-Parent, Success in Special Education, Sibling Support series, and many more! These are available to everyone. For more information on classes, please visit: https://www.thecenter4autism.org/educationandtraining/ 

In honor of his retirement, we are raising funds for the Joseph H. Donnelly, M.D. Endowment,* which will support the CAND Education and Training Program in perpetuity. We recently passed the 75% mark of our $50,000 goal. Please join us by donating this Giving Day and help us leave a legacy that will benefit many more in the autism communities!

This Giving Day our friends at the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County (FACCOC), have generously provided a challenge gift. The first 10 gifts, regardless of amount, made in support the Joseph H. Donnelly, M.D. Endowment will unlock their $2,500 gift. In addition, an anonymous donor will generously match each donation made today, dollar for dollar, up to $5,000.

With your help, we will be able to make available these important resources to the 2,700+ families we serve and the larger community. We need your support to change the many lives affected by autism. Every dollar makes an impact! 

Join us in celebrating Autism Awareness Month by making a gift today! Your contribution will be make a difference by honoring and continuing Donnelly's efforts in caring for children and families.

*In the unlikely event that the minimum for establishing a named endowed fund ($50,000) is not reached by June 30, 2023, then all funds raised in this campaign will be used for current-use support for the same purpose.