The $3 million that Bill and Virginia Leffen of Joplin, Missouri, donated to rebuild a center for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the area is doing more than giving the facility the funds to construct the building, The Joplin Globe reports.
"This donation gives us hope," Amanda Dillard, mother to two children with ASD, told the news source. "I can't say enough about that."
Dillard explained how the center had helped her daughters, Reagan and Savannah, progress to unbelievable milestones, allowing them to use
playgrounds with other children and enjoy the outdoors, engaging in
natural play.
The center's former location was destroyed in the May 22 tornado that swept across the region. When it is rebuilt, it will be located at 2808 S. Picher Avenue in Joplin and will be named the Bill and Virginia Leffen Center for Autism.
"The impact of this gift can never be measured," said Paula Baker, Freeman Health System president and chief executive officer-elect. "It is impossible to measure the impact of changing a child's life."
Specialized therapies for children with ASD can help them develop into
healthy kids and enjoy
inclusive play with others.