Great News! Puzzle Pieces has Won $25,000 Grant for Owen Autism Center in Owensboro
This is exciting news to share! Out of 2,000 non-profit submissions from all of the country, Puzzle Pieces was selected by State Farm to win a $25,000 grant for their Owen Autism Center.
In August we shared how important it was to get your votes in to celebrate the amazing contribution that Puzzle Pieces does for the community. At that time, Puzzle Pieces had been selected as a State Farm Neighborhood Assist® Top 200 Finalist. They were one of four causes in Kentucky that made the finals and that could win the $25,000 grant.
Well, today was a beautiful day for the team at Puzzle Pieces in Owensboro. Local State Farm agents Shane Satterfield and Seth Lawson as well as Agency Sales Leader Tommy Rowland were on hand to present Puzzle Pieces Executive Director Amanda Owen with a $25,000 check. We are beyond proud!
“We couldn’t be more excited about this grant,” Owen said. “We worked hard to get the word out about the voting and are proud that we remained in the top 10 throughout the voting period. Although this process secured Puzzle Pieces $25,000, it also spread our mission and the purpose of our nonprofit to a very large audience.”
Funding from this grant will go toward the Owen Autism Center, a division of Puzzle Pieces that serves school-aged clients on the autism spectrum from age 5 until they graduate. The Owen Autism Center is the region’s only targeted autism programming. Through early intervention and structured classes, the Owen Autism Center prepares children with autism for the most successful future possible. The program sets them on the path to higher education after graduation or the workforce, whichever they desire.
“This money is extremely important to our clients and we would not have won this grant without our dedicated staff and the friends and family of Puzzle Pieces who voted daily and encouraged others to vote as well,” Owen said. “We have also been incredibly lucky to have the support and encouragement of local State Farm agents who value our nonprofit and the services we provide the community.”