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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
© Copyright
CHASA, All Rights Reserved
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.
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