How to Support A Place To Be

Ryan's Fundraiser for A Place to Be Partnerships

Supporting Organizations that are changing lives

Hi, my name is Ryan Lowry. I love creating, performing, and singing. I am also Autistic. In March of this year, I posted a letter to Linked-in that changed my life. That letter created a viral following and opened doors for me. It also opened the minds and hearts of millions who may not have thought about employing those of us with intellectual differences. Many of you are following my journey. THANK YOU. You gave me encouragement, support and love. I have decided I need to help all of my fellow young adults out there that are also Neuro-diverse.

There are two Organizational Partnerships I believe in greatly.

A Place To Be changed my life and gave me a voice.

Exceptional Minds is now giving me a chance to pursue my dream to be an animator.

Here's my story:
https://youtu.be/p-ZNImtZO7g

Here is my first animation! With the help of A Place To Be, I created an animated short story about my letter going viral on Linked -in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkMGbm7btt0

PARTNERSHIP #1

A Place To Be is the Music Therapy center where I learned to communicate. I have been working with them for the last 11 years. Their mission is to foster inclusive communities for clients and their families that promote independence, belonging, and hope through performance and music therapy. They have a vision to see a world where everyone is accepted for their humanity, not defined by their challenge.

They are partnering with another organization called Legacy Farms – This is a place where young adults with Neuro-Diversity can be mentored, trained, and taught life and work skills. They also supply these hard workers with paid jobs called apprenticeships to help them get started in the work force. I would like to raise $40k for the partnership between A PLACE TO BE and Legacy Farms to support their training programs and apprenticeships.

I am so excited to share that I have received a $20k matching gift, so I just need help now to raise $20k more in order to create the match!!!!!

Mission of Legacy Farms:
To offer apprenticeship-style learning and job opportunities in a neurodiverse community of individuals preparing for college, learning a trade, or seeking internships to further their education.
Legacy Farms is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, established in 2012. We offer targeted, custom-designed apprenticeships to neurodiverse individuals who perform essential organizational tasks in our garden, in the community, and for organizational management.

In 2019, Legacy Farms introduced Growing Together, our mentor / apprentice program. We began training and hiring neurodiverse apprentices for ten-week, volunteer or paid positions during which mentors coach job skills, social awareness, and self-advocacy. Apprentices work in the garden or on special projects that further their talents and benefit the organization’s objectives, including such projects as videography for social media, distributor relationship development, and event/project coordination.

https://www.legacyfarmsvirginia.org/

PARTNERSHIP #2

I want to raise an additional $10k to create an animation with the group, “Exceptional Minds," based in LA. This project will be in partnership with A Place To Be to create a one-of -a kind animation that explains the power of music and music therapy in the lives of those with disabilities.

Exceptional Minds works with Neuro-Diverse individuals, trains them and then employs them in animation jobs. I am so grateful to share that they offered me a full scholarship to their training program this summer after seeing my letter!

About Exceptional Minds:
Exceptional Minds, a California non-profit of the year, is an academy and studio preparing young adults on the autism spectrum for careers in animation, visual effects, 3D gaming, and other related fields in the entertainment industry. Exceptional Minds provides critical technical and work readiness training customized to help its students achieve their full artistic and professional potential, creating a new pipeline of talented artists, and fostering inclusive hiring practices. Exceptional Minds and its partners are building a future where neurodiverse perspectives are vital to the advancement of a more empowered and inclusive society.

https://exceptional-minds.org/