Franklin Foundation
 

    The Franklin Foundation is a non-profit organization aimed to raise awareness and provide helpful information and support to Chinese American families with children on the autism spectrum. Franklin Foundation is achieving these goals through publishing periodicals, organize social activities for autistic children and their families, train autistic children on basic living skills, and hold annual large-scale events to raise awareness for autism in the local community. 

    Since its founding in 2008, here are a list of activities Franklin Foundation has been conducting: 

1. Since 2010, Franklin Foundation has bi-weekly social events for autistic children and families called “Happy Saturday Children’s Party”.  These activities took place every other Saturday. They focused on creating friendly and comfortable environment for Chinese American autistic children to develop friendships with other kids, learn useful life skills, make crafts, play sports, and practice social skills.  Family members affected by autism also use this opportunity to meet in person and share their experiences and find support from other participants.  The events are regularly attended by 20-30 people. During the summer, the activities included overnight trips to locations near Los Angeles.  

2. Since 2009, Franklin Foundation has organized concerts each year on or around World Autism Awareness Day that included more than 200 attendees who are children on the spectrum or their families at each concert. Some of the performers at the concerts were also children and adults on the spectrum and their families. Below are details of each year’s concert.

a. On April 2nd of 2009, Franklin Foundation together with Los Angeles Parents of Disabled Children Association organized a concert titled “Share Life, Fulfill Lives” to call the community’s attention to autistic children and their families.

b. On April10th, 2010, Franklin Foundation held a concert titled, “Hope and Love”. The concert featured well-known violinist Mr.Suli Xue, Cellist and mother of an autistic child, Mrs.Yan Ling. The event also included testimony from a Master of Psychology student at Pepperdine University who was once an autistic child.

c. On April 3rd, the Franklin Foundation held a concert featuring Hollywood music producer, Kevin Kent and oboe player Price Kent, who created a piece titled the “Zodiac Series Variations” specifically to help children interact at the event through simulating animal sounds and teaching children on the spectrum to express with music.  

d. On March 30th, 2014, Franklin Foundation, Int’l Youth Culture Art Association USA, and Int’l Culture Art Education Association, co-hosted the annual concert in San Gabriel Church of Our Saviour. The concert featured famous American organist Phillips Smith. Donations from the

concert were used to support the travel and living expenses of a special education expert to work with autistic training centers in Shanghai, China.

e. On April 11th, 2015, Franklin Foundation held its annual concert, featuring Hollywood composer, producer, and Emmy winner Nathan Wang, performers Geno E., Ann Lousie Christensen, Frank Spano, Leo Valenzuela, and genius autistic teenagers. f. On April 10th, 2016, Franklin Foundation, with Int’l Youth Culture Art Association USA and Int’l Culture Art Education Association held the annual concert. Half of the performers at the concert are children and adults diagnosed with autism.   Currently, Franklin Foundation and the American International Int’l Culture Art Training Association are working on preparing for the 2017 concert, which is scheduled to be held on April 2nd this year.  More than 30 performers at this year’s actors will be autistic children.

3. Since 2009, Franklin Foundation has traveled to China several times to hold exchanges with Chinese autism centers, particularly the Shaanxi Lily Autism Rehabilitation Center in Xi’an to learn more about the current autism trends in China, care and services available there, and needs of the local teachers and families. Franklin Foundation staff shared with the centers latest U.S. studies about autism and therapies and care services available in the United States. Franklin Foundation is currently planning its next visit to China to hold exchanges Fall of this year.

4. Since 2009, Franklin Foundation has published annual publication title “Hope and Love”, a periodical written in Chinese focused in providing Chinese American families with up-to-date resources and information about autism studies and care. The publication’s contents include reports and articles from experts, stories from parents, insights shared by adults who suffered from autism, new methods of treatment, and contacts for organizations that offer training and treatment programs. This year, Franklin Foundation will transition the publication to an electronic monthly newsletter to better connect and inform the community.  

5. As part of an effort to reach out to bigger groups of Chinese American families and establish better communication channels, Franklin Foundation initiated its presence on WeChat in 2016 and has been maintaining companies profile page, chat groups, and communication with individuals affected by autism via this channel to answer their questions and help connect them to relevant resources and facilitate discussion and exchange among Chinese American autistic families.

6. To strengthen the Franklin Foundation family community, in 2016, the Foundation started a  Special Christmas event that included parties for Chinese American autistic children and their  Families and delivering gift to more that 50 Chinese American autistic children.

7. In 2017, the Foundation invited well-known autism experts to launch a special education training program for parents. In the same year, the Franklin Foundation also established a college scholarship for children with autism, granting scholarships to children who can enter college, and encouraging children to contribute to society Make a bigger contribution.

8. In 2018 and 2019, the Foundation raised funds to donate art education for children with autism, helping children in autistic families in Los Angeles learn painting and music. We also hold Mother’s Day events to reward autistic mothers to support and encourage these special mothers. In 2019, the Franklin Foundation held a painting exhibition and charity sale for children with autism, which received a great response from the community.

9. In 2020, when the pandemic is rampant, autistic children are not far behind. Under the leadership of the foundation, donated a number of anti-epidemic materials to hospitals, police stations, and community centers in the Los Angeles area.

10. Due to the impact of the pandemic, the activities organized by the Franklin Foundation in 2020-2021 have also changed from offline to online. The foundation and co-organizers jointly held an exhibition and auction for autistic teenagers. During Mother’s Day, online Mother’s Day sharing is held, and online family consultation is also conducted to provide consultation services for autistic families who have newly joined our group. In the second half of 2021, online education lectures will be given by Kong Xuejun, a well-known autism treatment expert. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the foundation organizes visits to experience the Van Gogh art exhibition. Hold the Moon Festival Garden Party, draw with autistic children, and other activities.

11. In 2022, the work of the foundation has leaped to a great level, and great achievements have been made in all aspects. The first documentary film “Music Calling ” showing the family life of autistic children was completed, which aroused great repercussions in the community. A World Autism Awareness Day performance and art exhibition was held in April of the same year. At the same time, the series of small videos of “Jane’s Forum” has also started to go online. It has created a strong cohesion among autistic parents and let more people understand the work of the foundation. In 2022, the Franklin Foundation signed a cooperation agreement with JUST GO, an Irvine fresh food delivery company, making the company a long-term charity sponsor of the Franklin Foundation.

If you know more information, please logo on the website: www.franklinfoundations.org