Giant Steps of St. Louis, a Growing Success Story
YouthBridge Community Foundation of Greater St. Louis has a heart for nonprofits that successfully serve youth in the Metro Area. When YouthBridge can aid these organizations in becoming and remaining sustainable, many goals have been accomplished. The delivery of low-cost, high-quality investment services through a YouthBridge Endowment Fund is an effective way to assist nonprofits with long-term fiscal stability.
Organizations with endowment funds at YouthBridge are called Agency Fundholders. The newest Agency Fundholder to join the YouthBridge community is Giant Steps of St. Louis, a therapeutic day school dedicated to educating youth ages 4 to 21 with autism spectrum disorders. Giant Steps began in St. Louis in 1994 after a group of parents of children with autism researched far and wide for schools or programs to meet their needs. They were impressed with the philosophy of Giant Steps of Montreal, Canada and invited the founder to Missouri to discuss the concept. Ultimately, the parent group lobbied the Missouri legislature for funding, and Giant Steps of St. Louis opened six months later with 12 students.
According to Dani Vescolani, Giant Steps Executive Director, the school’s philosophy of providing individualized, evidence-based education, grounded in a holistic approach to the child, sets them apart. She agrees with the saying, “When you have seen one child with autism, you have seen one child with autism.“ At Giant Steps each child is assessed, and a specific program is created based on their individual needs. The school addresses academic, social, vocational, and behavioral needs, all the while coordinating with each student’s home school and family. “We want to see each child flourish and reach their full potential,” said Dani. In some cases, this involves transitioning back to their home school when ready, while in others, the student’s education at Giant Steps continues through graduation.
The success of Giant Steps is illustrated, in part, by the marking of its 30th anniversary last month. The school’s longevity is a source of pride, especially considering the myriad of changes in the field of autism education over the last couple of decades. With some funding provided by the students’ home school districts, Giant Steps also receives donations and grants that help provide the special programming required to meet the unique needs of students. The school’s leaders became aware of YouthBridge Agency Funds a few years ago but wanted to proceed cautiously. Due to the recent availability of extra resources, they decided it was time to move forward.
When asked, “Why an endowment, and why YouthBridge?” Dani explained that Giant Steps’ leaders understand that financial resources in excess of annual operational costs are a blessing and must be used wisely. They acknowledge that the future holds many uncertainties, and that long-term planning is crucial for achieving financial stability. In addition, an endowment fund demonstrates to potential donors that Giant Steps is a wise steward and plans to be around for many years to come.
Giant Steps chose YouthBridge to partner on starting its endowment fund for several reasons. YouthBridge’s stellar reputation within the community was a key feature. Giant Steps’ leaders were adamant that they must have a partner they could completely trust. YouthBridge’s ability to spark meaningful connections was another factor in Giant Steps’ decision. Dani and Giant Steps’ leaders are aware of the passion for autism within the philanthropic community, and they look forward to the introductions to new partners that YouthBridge may be able to facilitate. Finally, the fact that YouthBridge provides matching grants each year to child-serving nonprofits that start or expand their endowments was the icing on the cake.
YouthBridge applauds the thoughtful approach that Giant Steps of St. Louis uses to provide individualized education, as well as its efforts to sustain financial stability. This conscientiousness creates a strong foundation for the school’s overall success, and for its growth as it prepares to impact many more youth in the decades to come!
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