About Joey Gay and Joey’s Fund

When the Gay Family wanted to start a fund to honor their daughter, Josephine, who was tragically killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, they came to us. The Gay Family, just as the Flutie Family, knew that they were just one of many families affected by autism and had seen firsthand the difference the right resources can make.

Today, Joey’s Fund serves as a crucial funding bridge for autism families who are advocating, promoting, supporting and seeking out opportunities for their loved ones. Since its inception, 193 families have received over $375,000 in financial support, making their journey just a little bit easier.

About Spectrum for Hope Fund

Meet the Anastasi Family. Mike and Sandra have three children, one typically developing child, Sara, and two with special needs - Jenna and Michael. Jenna is diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, the most physically disabling of the Autism Spectrum disorders. Michael is diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. The impact of their children’s diagnoses were initially devastating to the Anastasis. Raising a family is challenging for anyone, but for a family with multiple children with special needs, challenging is an understatement.

The Anastasi's created a non-profit foundation called Spectrum For Hope (SFH), supporting families of multiple children with special needs. In their work, they realized there were many other families sharing a similar journey. The Foundation has given over $200,000 to families for access to therapy, technology, respite and leisure, and more.

In 2020, the Flutie Foundation and SFH joined forces to expand our programs and positively impact the autism community. Together, we have increased leverage to help families with multiple children with special needs. Our collaborative efforts allow us to create a more profound impact and meet the needs of the autism and special needs community.

How to Apply for our Family Support Grant

Joey's Fund | Hope Fund is a grant application for families that opens annually in February and closes in March. Our flagship grant provides critical financial assistance to families in need, helping to alleviate some of the financial burden associated with caring for individuals with autism. Our mission is rooted in helping families, as both Joey's Fund and Hope Fund were created by families to honor their loved ones with autism and to give back to others.