In 1997, Holly and Rodney formed the HollyRod Foundation, inspired by her father’s courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease, with the mission to help improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s. Then in 2005, motivated by their eldest son RJ’s autism diagnosis, HollyRod’s mission expanded to provide support and resources to those affected by an autism diagnosis.
With the help of friends and sponsors, HollyRod provides grants to autism centers and children’s hospitals throughout the U.S. and Canada providing support for services ranging from early intervention to speech therapy and family support.
The scope of HollyRod’s mission has grown along with RJ. As RJ entered his teens, the Peete family and the HollyRod Foundation discovered firsthand the dire lack of resources for young people on the autism spectrum to complete their education, obtain vocational training, and to find gainful employment. As a result, we are working with Goodwill Industries to open our first RJ’s Place Vocational Training Center later this year in Los Angeles to provide this critical training, job counseling and placement to teens and young adults on the autism spectrum.
Autism Facts
1 in 68 children is diagnosed with autism.
1 in 42 boys is diagnosed each year.
Early diagnosis and intervention is critical otherwise a child may never learn to speak or communicate with the world.
Diagnostic resources lag behind the growing rate of children on the spectrum and what resources exist are often out of reach for low income families.
Educational and behavioral support can cost more than 60k per child per year – that is out of reach for many families.
Vocational training and job placement services for those living with autism are scarce leaving 90% of the teen and adult autism community unemployed and dependent on family members.
With autism one of the fastest growing developmental disorders in the world, HollyRod needs your help!
- Support HollyRod Foundation by shopping at Amazon! Just click here shop and support! #AmazonSmile: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/95-4642588
- For more about the HollyRod Foundation and what you can do, please visit www.HollyRod.org.