Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association

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history

CHASA, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is currently operated on a part-time basis by five mothers of children who have hemiplegia. These women give countless hours of volunteer time to this organization. We are a small organization and operate without a paid staff. You can read more about our history below.

Fall 1996 - Five mothers of children with hemiplegia joined together for support, via the Internet

Summer 1997 - Initial website called "Pediatric Hemiplegia Support"

August 1997 - Hemi-Kids e-mail support group found a permanent home at St. John's University, New York. List grew to 35 members. Website renamed "Hemi-Kids"

May 1999 - Added question and answer forums to the Hemi-Kids website.

July 1999 - Articles of Incorporation filed in the State of Texas for Hemi-Kids Foundation

July 1999 - Local chapters of Hemi-Kids formed to provide "in person" support for families.

August 1999 - Hemi-Kids reached an all time high list membership of 270 members

January 2000 - Hemi-Kids Foundation is currently waiting for tax-exemption status to be granted by the IRS.

February 2000 - A new record high for membership in the Hemi-Kids parent email list. 353 parents are finding support and information on the list.

March 2000 - IRS granted tax-exemption status to the Hemi-Kids Foundation. The foundation is officially a 501 (c)(3) organization.

May 2000 - First major fundraiser event, Hemi-Kids Walk-a-thon

July 2000 - First Hemi-Kids Family Retreat

July 2000 - Awarded $1900 in scholarships to children with hemiplegia

Fall 2000 - Name change to Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association, CHASA. Name reflects respect for "people first" language

Winter 2000 - Anonymous grant to CHASA in the amount of $5000

Winter 2000 - Dr. John Lynch, pediatric stroke researcher at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, joins CHASA as a medical advisor

Spring 2001 - Launched "Helping Hands" newsletter to reach parents without internet access; Editor: Andrea Fuentes; Printing donated by Henry Serrano of VistaColor, Inc.

May 2001 - Second Annual CHASA Walk-a-thon

July 2001 - Awarded $4600 in family scholarships

July 2001 - Second Annual Family Retreat and Conference; Added speakers, including physicians and therapists

August 2001 - Donation given to CHASA to cover newsletter costs in the amount of $10,000

October 2001 - E-mail family support list reached 600 members

Fall 2001 - Second issue of the "Helping Hands" newsletter mailed out.

December 2001 - E-mail family support list reached 642 members

May 4, 2002 - National Childhood Stroke Awareness Day proclaimed in 20 states. A grassroots effort by our list members and others interested in raising awareness.

May 2002 - Third Annual CHASA Walk-a-thon

June 2002 - Florida Family Fun Day organized by Andrew Horowitz and family.

July 2002 - Third Annual retreat with 75 families in Hershey, PA. Scholarships awarded to 13 families in need.

July 2002 - Two College Scholarships awarded to students who have hemiplegia.

Fall 2002 - Third issue of the "Helping Hands" newsletter

November 2002 - E-mail family support list reached 750 members

December 2002 - Online eNewsletter launched, courtesy of Andrew Sherwin of Sentient Inc.

May 3, 2003 - National Childhood Stroke Awareness Day, with proclamations in a number of states.

May 2003 - Fourth Annual CHASA Walk-a-thon

July 2003 - Fourth Annual retreat with forty families in Arlington, TX.

October 2003 - Special Support Group gathering in Boston

January 2004 - E-mail family support group reaches 826 members

May 1, 2004 - National Childhood Stroke Awareness Day, with proclamations in a number of states. Family Fun Days held in several states.

May 2004 - Fifth Annual CHASA Walk-a-thon

May 2, 2004 - North Texas Family Fun Day organized by Heidi Leedy and Nancy Atwood.

June 2004 - Fall 2004 Awarded $1500 in CHASA College Scholarships. Recipients are Derek A. of MO, Brandon A. of MD, and Bridget W. of CA. Congratulations to these hard working young people. We wish them a successful year!

June 2004 - Dawn Perkins designs and makes purple and gold Childhood Stroke Awareness ribbon lapel pins to increase awareness

July 2004 - Fifty-eight families of children who have hemiplegia met in Wisconsin for the 5th CHASA Retreat and Medical Conference.

September 2004 - E-mail family support group reaches 900 members

October 2004 - North Texas Family Fun Day

October 2004 - Assisted a student at the Florida State University School of Nursing with a childhood stroke awareness program for middle and high school students. Donated Kids Have Strokes ribbons, made by Dawn Perkins.

November 2004 - Kids Have Strokes website designed to increase awareness of strokes in children and infants

December 2004 - CHASA website splits into three websites to help create more user friendly websites for families. www.chasa.org www.hemikids.org and www.pediatricstroke.org

January 2005 - CHASA declares May 7, 2005 Childhood Stroke Awareness Day

January 2005 - CHASA board announces locations for 2005 and 2006 family retreats

January 2005 - Maryland/Pennsylvania Family Fun Weekend organized by Mary Ellen and Sue

February 2005 - Teamed with the Alexandra Beale Foundation to work on 2005 Childhood Stroke Awareness campaign

March 2005 - Participant in University of Kansas project to study paralysis data collection (funded by the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation)

May 2005 - National Childhood Stroke Awareness, with proclamations in a number of states. Mini-thons and fundraisers held across the nation.

Spring 2005 - Sponsor Kids Have Strokes awareness wristbands

July 2005 - Annual CHASA family retreat held in St Simons Island, Georgia.

July 2005 - CHASA awards $2930 Retreat Scholarships to families attending the Georgia retreat.

July 2005 - Awarded $3000 in CHASA Scholarships. A total of $3,000 has been offered to eight college students, three technical school students, and one Paralympic athlete. Approximately 50 students applied for scholarships this year. Scholarship recipients live in VA, MN (2), IA, IN, SC, WI, WA, CO, MN, FL, and IL. Congratulations to these hard working young people. We wish these students a successful year!

March 2006 Deadline for CHASA Secondary Education Scholarships

February 2006 Transfer Childhood Stroke Awareness Program to volunteer Dawn Perkins of Boston

Spring 2006 Sponsor KidsHaveStrokes.org new design for wristbands

July 2006 - Annual CHASA family retreat held in Estes Park, Colorado

October 2006 - Awarded $2400 in CHASA College Scholarships to two young adults with hemiplegia.

November 2006 Provided Honorariums for Professional Speaker Program. Funded six speakers in Pennsylvania.

January 2007 E-mail family support group reaches over 1000 members

May 2007 Creation of the Megan Chesney Scholarship Fund

Summer 2007 Facilitated a number of family gatherings across the nation

November 2007 E-mail family support group reaches 1170 members

November 2007 Awarded four Megan Chesney Scholarship Fund scholarships to young adults with hemiplegia

March 2008 E-mail family support group reaches1260 member families

The information contained in this Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA) Web site is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment, and CHASA recommends consultation with your doctor or health care professional.