HISTORY

The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, established by Robert & Kristen Malfara in honor of their precious son Morgan, who has a very rare form of Leukodystrophy. All officers and board members serve as volunteers, and because we do not use our charitable contributions for salaries, 100% of our proceeds go towards meeting our goals.

Robert & Kristen feel honored to have been chosen to be the loving and caring parents of this very special, heaven-sent child. But most importantly, they also feel that it is their privilege to do so.

AIM

First and foremost, we must recognize that it takes a special person/parent to take on the responsibilities of caring for a special-needs child, whether your own child, a foster child, or adopted child. However, it takes an extremely exceptional person/parent to recognize that it is our privilege, not just our obligation, to be loving caretakers to these very special Heaven-sent angels, and make their lives as rewarding and comfortable as possible.

The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project was established to help these amazing people do just that!

MISSION

“The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project is a national, community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to promote awareness and facilitate support of parents caring for their children with special health care needs, and to enhance the Quality-of-Life for these special families.”

Our Mission is to provide support to parents/caregivers and act as a reference source for information, financial resources, used equipment exchanges, research and clinical studies, support groups, web links, etc. This will be done in the form of creating an interactive website, and monthly newsletters.

To consolidate, and then disseminate, all the available informational tools available to caregivers, from sources such as the internet, newsletters, parenting organizations, support groups, etc. There is a lot of information out there, but it takes so much time to search for it that most caregivers just don’t have the time to spare to look for needed assistance on their own. Our newsletter will be a source of information for parents/caregivers to help them help their children.

To make small individual grants (products & services only) to parents/caregivers of children with disabilities for travel expenses to attend diagnosis-specific parent support group/medical conferences that they would not otherwise be able to afford to attend. No parent/caregiver, or their family for that matter, should have to “bleed” in order to give their child the opportunity to be evaluated by experts, and to seek the support of other families in the same situation.

To make small individual grants (products & services only) to parents/caregivers of children with physical disabilities, for things like adaptive bath and shower chairs not otherwise covered by Medicaid or Insurance, or other non-covered items that would make caring for these children easier on the parent/caregiver and help to improve their quality of life at the same time.

Over the years our goals for this organization have gradually changed, based solely on our own experiences of caring for our own chronically ill child with very involved special needs.  Our original vision has not changed; it has just evolved to accommodate the additional needs and obstacles we have faced as our son has gone from an infant to a grade-schooler to a teenager.  As a result, our Quality-of-Life support programs have been designed around one very simple value: to make their job of caring for their own special-needs child in the family home just a little bit easier.

PROGRAMS:

Disability Resources

Since 2001, our all-volunteer team has responded to thousands of letters and email inquiries from parents of children with special health care needs seeking support.  We have been able to direct many to resources that they were not aware of, resources that we have researched and catalogued over the past 14 years and have now compiled into an extensive database.  These resources are constantly updated, and may be downloaded off of our website.

Equipment Exchange

We have responded to many hundreds of requests for pediatric adaptive and positional equipment through our Gently Used Disability Equipment Exchange Program that was instituted in early 2006.  Through this program we have successfully matched donated items from families that no longer have a use for these items with families that have a demonstrated need.  The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project provides the shipping of donated equipment from the donor and to the recipient at no cost to the families, and provides a tax receipt for the donations.  Typical items processed through this program include bath chairs, gait trainers, walkers, car seats, feeder chairs, lightweight adaptive strollers and various medical supplies.

Small Grants

In late 2007 we began our Small Grants Program, offering families that meet our minimum criteria the opportunity to apply for the “tools” that make their job of caring for their child easier AND enhance quality of life for the child and family at the same time.  These “tools” are for things that are not considered medically necessary by insurance and Medicaid, but that can make a huge impact on the parent’s ability to be the safest caregiver and best advocate for their child that they can be.  This program varies from year to year based on available funding, but has previously included providing bath chairs, car seats, lightweight portable adaptive strollers, positional seating devices, switch activated toys, vestibular stimulation, and similar items to children under the age of 18 with lifetime physical disabilities.  We have also offered a limited number of families with financial assistance to help offset the cost to attend family oriented, disease-specific medical support group conferences for the first time, in order to network with other families in the same situation.

Informational Pamphlets

The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project has identified caregiver support as a high priority.  As a result, we have created “Parenting a Child with Special Needs”, a basic informational pamphlet for parents who have just learned that they will be lifetime caregivers for their child with special health care needs.  This pamphlet is given to parents at no cost, and offers guidance to plan and coordinate care for their child.  It offers our Top 10 tips as to where to start on their new journey, along with some of the most important resources they will need as they begin.

MORGAN’S PLACE:

Opened in 2012, The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project has established a facility named Morgan’s Place, located in Melbourne Beach, Florida.  This unique center is now home to all of our Quality-of-life support programs, as well as offering information on other community disability resources and services.  Additionally, we plan to offer caregiver and advocacy training, seminars on the various issues related to caring for children with special needs, navigating the medical and emotional hurdles, finding financial assistance, caregiver support, legislative issues, etc.

Morgan’s Place is not a drop-off center; it has been designed to provide a safe environment for parents to bring their children with special health care needs and physical disabilities for hands-on therapeutic play, as well as creative and fun activities.  Our goal is to offer an alternative to outdoor inaccessible playgrounds, “McDonald’s” or “Chucky-Cheese” type play areas, “Mommy & Me” toddler playgroups, libraries, and other similar places or support groups that unfortunately are not appropriate for the physically disabled child with special health care needs.

Sensorium

Based on “Snoezelen Multi-Sensory Environment” principles, we have created a one-of-a-kind non-threatening dedicated space designed to promote intellectual activity, heighten awareness, and encourage relaxation.  Designed by the Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation, this room has been engineered to bring together state-of-the-art multi-sensory equipment to stimulate the sensory pathways of touch, taste, sight, sound, smell, and movement without the need for intellectual reasoning.  A demand-free environment where you can select and experience sensory stimulation, it can produce a calming effect on individuals prone to frustration, or stimulate passive individuals who appear withdrawn.  Ideal for those with profound disabilities who have limited access to multi-sensory stimulation on their own, or those who may have sensory processing challenges and need varying stimulation in order to process self-regulation, the desired results are to promote development, improve their capability to communicate, and positively affect their behavior.  Our Sensorium also benefits those without disabilities where multi-sensory stimulation and experiencing the environment can be a basis for relaxation.  This enriched environment encourages learning and improves the participant’s quality of life.

Technology Zone

Designed to enable children with physical and cognitive challenges to access special education software on touch-screen tablets and touch-smart computers with or without the use of adaptive controllers and devices, our technology zone is also equipped with a video game system and oversized HDTV/monitor for both educational and recreational video gaming.  We also offer sporting teams for children with special needs utilizing the Wii bowling, golf and tennis programs.  In addition, our assistive technology computer lab and resource library provides parent caregivers with the tools they need to locate information and services that would benefit their children, as well as the support and services that would benefit their own needs.

CURRENT GOAL

Our primary goal right now is to aggressively seek corporate sponsors, large donors and dedicated volunteers in order to grow our organization, continue to make valuable connections & tap resources in our community, and to continue to raise funds in order to provide and expand the goals of The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project.

Please consider helping us!

OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE

The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project is looking to expand our programs!

The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project, Inc.
EIN # 59-3744749
Incorporated in the State of Florida, August 2001
Federal Tax Exempt 501(c)(3) Organization
      IRS 501(C)(3) Official Letter