The HDS Foundation was founded in 2008 by HDS Companies Founder and CEO, Cristina Miranda Gilson and her daughter Meagan inspired by Cristina’s younger daughter Kate, who is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The organization’s primary focus is to help facilitate the success of teens and young adults with Autism and other unique abilities. The HDSF provides programs and services that help students achieve their full potential and guide them on their journey from high school to post-secondary life and careers. With this sizeable donation and matching funds, HDS Companies will help expand the bandwidth of HDSF programming in Miami-Dade County.

If there was ever a time to stand up for our community, it has been over the last two years. We have all felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The HDS Foundation has incurred increased costs to continue to meet the pillars and mission of its program. We digitized our approaches to re-create the best experience through live virtual learning and social sharing. We modified Grant requirements, facilitated additional staff and funding to meet our goals, and provided life learning events and educational opportunities for our students. Our Program Managers and teachers put together bags and boxes with materials that were needed for each lesson. These were delivered to the students through school drive-by pick-ups to ensure that all students had the supplies they needed for their virtual Community-Based Instruction (CBIs). This transformation made it possible to scale learning efforts and permitted greater personalization for learners and in turn, greater effectiveness.

Through Give Miami Day, The Miami Foundation and partners will also maximize the community’s generosity by making a bonus gift for every donation between $25 and $10,000 received. Early giving will take place from Monday, November 15th, through Wednesday, November 17th, and Give Miami Day will ignite at midnight on Thursday, November 18, 2021, with a special Education and Youth Power Hour that will maximize donation from 11:00 am to noon. Together, we are creating a thriving and stronger Miami for all.

To make a gift today in support of the HDS Foundation, please visit https://www.givemiamiday.org/hdsfoundation.