Newsletter Issue 2: December 2025

Community Highlights: A Busy & Joyful Quarter at Fun.Found

This past quarter was full of connection, celebration, and community at Functional Foundations. We were thrilled to welcome more than 30 attendees to our Open House, where families and community members had the opportunity to tour the clinic, meet our team, and learn more about our mission and services. 

Our Annual Fall Party was another highlight, bringing families together for an afternoon of accessible games, laughter, and joy. The gentle pony was a huge hit with kids of all abilities, and the much-loved puppet show returned by popular demand — captivating our audience so completely that it required four separate showings!

We also hosted a fundraising night at Oakshire Brewery in Eugene, where we raised $344 and connected with new supporters by adding 10 new email addresses to our growing mailing list. We are deeply grateful to the local businesses who generously donated raffle items, helping make the event both fun and engaging.

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who volunteered their time, energy, and creativity to make these events possible — and to our community partners who continue to support Fun.Found’s work. Your generosity and presence help us build the welcoming, inclusive community our families deserve.

Finding Community, Support, and Hope: Kayla & Luna’s Journey

When Kayla first learned her daughter Luna might need therapy services, she remembers feeling overwhelmed and scared. “I specifically remember being really concerned about Luna’s head control,” Kayla shares. “Her doctor picked her up and said, ‘I think we’re going to need to refer you to neurology,’ and I was like… okay.” The uncertainty was frightening, and like many parents at the start of this journey, Kayla didn’t know what to expect next.

Walking into Functional Foundations for the first time brought a mix of emotions. Seeing other children with complex needs felt scary — but also eventually, unexpectedly comforting. Over time, the waiting room became a place of connection. Kayla remembers meeting a parent whose child was younger than Luna and just beginning their therapy journey, a mom who was feeling all the same fear and uncertainty Kayla had felt in those early days. Being able to share Luna’s progress and reassure her that her child reminded her so much of Luna at that age — and that things really can get better — felt incredibly meaningful. Being able to interact with other families in the waiting room, either supporting them or feeling supported by them, gave her a lot of comfort. “I always felt welcome. I felt like a friend among these people.”

Kayla especially valued the positive, encouraging approach of the therapists and front office staff. Walking in on the first day and being greeted warmly eased her anxiety right away.  Having previously worked with children with disabilities in college, she came in with some familiarity — but Functional Foundations offered her a new perspective as a parent. “It’s given me a deeper understanding, and honestly, I would love to continue being part of this community even after Luna doesn’t need services anymore.” The physical space itself also made a difference. “The clinic is beautiful and welcoming, and that made therapy feel so much less intimidating,” Kayla explains. “I had heard from other parents that therapy appointments could feel like a chore — but I never felt that way here. I actually looked forward to coming, and I feel a little disappointed when I can’t.”

One of the hardest parts of the journey came early on, when Luna was still very young. Kayla found herself caught between two worlds — parenting groups where children were reaching milestones faster than Luna, and therapy sessions where she saw children with profound needs. “It was hard not knowing where Luna was going to land,” she reflects. “That uncertainty was really heavy.”

What helped most was the steady support of Luna’s therapist and the welcoming environment at Functional Foundations. “Our therapist was so supportive, and the space itself made everything easier to handle,” Kayla says. “It helped me sit with the unknown and feel supported through it.”

As Luna has continued to grow, Kayla has found herself wanting to give back to the community that supported her family so deeply. She now volunteers her time helping with event planning and enjoys being part of Fun.Found’s growth and future. Kayla believes strongly in the mission and vision of Functional Foundations and wants to help ensure its continued success so more families can find the same sense of support and belonging. At the same time, Luna is making great strides in her development, and Kayla is feeling hopeful — grateful for how far they’ve come and optimistic about what lies ahead.

For Kayla, Functional Foundations has become more than a therapy clinic — it is a community. A place of connection, understanding, and hope during a vulnerable season of parenting. And for Luna, it has been a space where growth, care, joy, and a healthy dose of toddler arguing … are part of every visit.

Tips for Talking with People with Disabilities

Everyone deserves to be seen as a whole person, not just a diagnosis. Here are a few simple ways to make sure your communication reflects respect and dignity:

• Speak directly to the person. Even if they have a caregiver, make eye contact and talk to them.

• Use age-appropriate language. Adults with disabilities are adults—speak to them as peers, not children. Like wise, children with disabilities also need to be communicated with using encouragement, playfulness, and clear expectations and boundaries.

• Ask, don’t assume. If you’re unsure what kind of support or help someone needs, politely ask first.

• Focus on the person, not the body. Talk about goals, interests, and dreams—not just medical or physical needs.

• Respect free will. Like everyone else, people with disabilities have preferences. Give space for them to make choices.

• Set the same boundaries you would for anyone else. Expect respect, honesty, and accountability—just as you would in any relationship.

• Set aside your biases. Don’t assume incompetence. Assume capability until shown otherwise, and offer support in ways that honor independence.

* Remember: You’re talking to a whole person with a unique personality, not a diagnosis. *

Message from Founder/Executive Director

Words Can Uplift or Defeat

How we communicate with people can either lift them up or tear them down. I strive every day to uplift every one of my patients. Do I sometimes slip into old habits — focusing on limitations or problems to solve? Yes. But I try to catch those moments, own my mistakes, and redirect my words toward positivity and strength.

I know that for some of my patients, even lifting a single finger can require more effort than I can imagine. I want them to know I see that effort. I see their strengths. I will push them when they’re not giving their all, and I will celebrate with them when they are. My hope for my patients is that every patient I serve feels confident in their personhood - no matter what their body can or cannot do.

My hope for the rest of us is that we can learn to see and appreciate the positive attributes of each person we meet regardless of their physical, mental, or social attributes — we can strive everyday to see the person beyond the physical body and appreciate them. From my experience, if you give someone a chance, they will give you more than you ever thought they could and you will feel as blessed as I do everyday to have such amazing people in my life

Thank you To Sponsors & Volunteers

Functional Foundations is grateful for the generous support of our community and philanthropic partners, whose contributions make our programs and events possible.

🌟 Lead Philanthropic Partners

• Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) — $30,000 (Donor-Advised Funds)

• DLX Family Foundation — $5,000

These funds allowed us to grow our team and take us a step closer to realizing our vision.

🤝 Community Fundraising Hosts

• Oakshire Brewery

• Papas Pizza

These organizations hosted events contributing a portion of their sales for the day to us and allowing us to  build awareness of our program in the broader community. 

🎁 Community Raffle & In-Kind Partners

• Art House

• Bounce

• Falling Sky Brewing

• Izakaya Meiji

• Natural History Museum

• Prince Pückler’s Ice Cream

• Sweet Life Bakery

• Eugene Science Center & Planetarium

• Track Town Pizza

• Wildlife Safari

• Hazelnut Hill

• Market of Choice

• Trader Joes

• Willamalane

• Davis NW smokehouse

• Sweek Cheeks Winery

• Eugene Emeralds

• Longs Meat Market

• Les Schwabs Tires

• Oakshire Brewing

These organizations donated gift cards and items for our raffles for our various fundraising events. 

Thank You to Our Incredible Volunteers

We are deeply grateful to each and every volunteer who gave their time, energy, and heart to support our events this year. Your dedication made every gathering more joyful, welcoming, and meaningful for our families. From helping things run smoothly to creating moments of fun and connection, your support truly made a difference. We couldn’t do this without you — and we’re so excited to continue building community together at even more events in the year ahead.

With Gratitude to Our Staff & Board

We extend our deepest thanks to our dedicated staff and board members, whose commitment, leadership, and care make everything we do possible. Your work behind the scenes and on the front lines ensures that we can continue providing the high-quality, family-centered services our community relies on — and continue moving toward our shared vision. Without you, there truly would be no program to speak of. We are profoundly grateful for all that you do.

Mission	Empowering children, nurturing potential, building belonging. We promote the physical, social, and emotional well-being of children with complex medical and motor needs and their families through tailored, strength-based interventions that promote growth, independence, and community connection
Vision	Fun.Found. is building a community where every child is supported and every family is understood. We are creating a welcoming, community-centered space where children with complex needs and their families can access expert, collaborative care, engage in meaningful play and social connection, and thrive through shared support and innovation.
Support Us	Make a donation! Start a fundraiser! Volunteer! Donate goods and/or services!