Tampa, Florida – In an inspiring new partnership, the Focus Forward adult day program and the Little St. Nick Foundation are joining forces to bring joy and comfort to children in hospitals. This collaborative effort allows young adults ages 22-30 with developmental disabilities to engage in a heartwarming project: creating get-well cards for young hospital patients.

Focus Forward, known for its comprehensive life skill development programs for young adults with developmental disabilities in Tampa Bay, is excited to partner with the Little St. Nick Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to easing the anxiety and fears of children in hospitals. Together, the aim to foster a sense of community and empathy among young adults, while providing hope and kindness to children facing health challenges.

Ray Molher Jr., founder of the Little St. Nick Foundation, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership stating, “This collaboration not only helps bring smiles to the faces of children in need, but also empowers young adults with developmental disabilities to make a meaningful impact in their community.”

Through this partnership, Focus Forward participants will harness their creativity to craft personalized get-well cards. These cards will be included in the Little St. Nick Foundation’s gift bags, distributed to pediatric patients across hospitals in the Tampa Bay area and beyond.

“Our clients are natural born artists and love giving back, so this partnership was the perfect combination of creative art and helping those in need,” said Miranda Horr, Supervisor of Focus Forward.

This initiative not only supports children in hospitals but also provides young adults with developmental disabilities a platform to develop their social skills, express their creativity, and participate in giving back to the community.

For more information on how to support these organizations or to get involved, please visit https://www.focusforwardtampa.com and https://littlestnick.org.

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About Focus Forward:
Focus Forward was launched in 2021 to provide life skills development to young adults with developmental disabilities. Focus Forward allows clients the opportunity to develop meaningful life experiences that fosters integration into the community, personal independence, and social relationships.

About Little St. Nick Foundation:
The Little Saint Nick Foundation was founded in 2004 by Raymond Mohler Jr. at age six. Ray was in the hospital and felt fortunate that he was able to leave after eight hours. He decided he wanted to give back to the kids in the hospital who couldn’t leave. That was the start of the Little Saint Nick Foundation. This organization helps kids in hospitals deal with their fear and anxiety, while also granting wishes to kids in the community. They do this by their emergency department gift bag program, toy drives, hospital parties, granting wishes, and having local chapters run by kids, for kids with the goal of “Kids Inspiring and Helping Kids”.

About the Project Focus Foundation:
The Foundation was formed in 2019 to originally supplement the needs of Focus Academy Public Charter School, and later the programs of Focus Forward and the Focus Café. The foundation is working on elevating the current programs, expanding services, and bringing the future campus to realization.