Shaping a Future of Hope for Art and Autism

Joseph Geraghty is organizing this fundraiser.

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INTRODUCTION

Evan is an aspiring artist with autism, who desperately seeks your help to complete the renovation of his family home in Toronto, so he can finally secure his residential and professional future.

BACKGROUND

Evan, 26, has been non-verbal all of his life. He has battled with extreme autism challenges and OCD tendencies – but has always found a way to inspire the people around him by expressing himself through his amazing art.

From his detailed streetscape drawings to his expressive abstract acrylics, Evan has found great relief and joy in communicating his eye for color, shape, and texture through his work. Having been recognized as a promising young artist, Evan’s work has been exhibited as a part of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection . Evan’s future looked even more exciting as he would finally be able to realize his unique purpose.

A STAGGERING SETBACK

Shortly after this promising news, Evan sustained a catastrophic injury to his right arm that dramatically hindered his ability to pursue his art career. This setback proved very difficult for Evan, as he faced additional frustrations that compounded his many other daily challenges. However, through the miraculous work of a team of nine gifted surgeons and staff, his arm was successfully reconstructed, and he eventually gained full function after years of physiotherapy.

Evan loves to draw and paint portraits of his support workers to show his gratitude.

SHAPING A WAY FORWARD

Evan’s family worked relentlessly to re-establish the dreams of his future, facing many hurdles to find the right support, programs, and care for his exceptional needs. Through limited living conditions, it was difficult to accommodate Evan’s need for art studio space, as well as suitable living quarters for such a unique young man transitioning into an independent adult life. Facing decade-long waiting lists for suitable supportive housing for Evan – even finding respite care for him on occasion, was proving extremely difficult, as the many-hours journey to reach available homes made it impractical to accommodate Evan’s needs. Despite these many challenges, his family pushed through the conventional boundaries restricting autistic adults living full, balanced, independent lives.

CRAFTING A LEGACY - BUILDING A FUTURE

Their tenacity finally paid off, as Evan’s family was successful in championing a severance of their family home, allowing them to construct an annex property that would finally meet all of Evan’s needs – including accommodations for live-in help providing full time care. Having already secured building permits and having paid up-front all development fees, the family are now reaching the completion of construction on the second-floor level of the home.

OUR CALL TO ACTION

However, we desperately need your help to complete this project now before time runs out, as we can no longer carry the costs of financing this project with our limited resources.