A Chance To Grow

Giving children and adults hope so they may reach their highest potential.

Every parent has hopes and dreams for their child. Bob and Kathy, our founders, know the feeling of hope. Thirty years ago, Bob and Kathy were told by their physician that their daughter, Jesse, who was born with a severe brain injury, would never talk, walk or live a normal life. Nothing could be done for her, he said. His advice was to have her institutionalized. 

Ignoring the doctor's dire prediction for young Jesse's future, Bob and Kathy feverishly searched for alternative approaches to provide their daughter with the chance to grow up and live a better life than the one the doctor had prescribed.

They found a physical therapist, named Art Sandler, who incorporated an innovative neuro-physiological approach to treatment, which included structured, physical exercises that stimulated their child's brain activity and development. Bob and Kathy had found hope. Finally, Jesse had a chance to walk, a chance to talk, a chance to learn, and a chance to grow.

For nearly four years, 40 volunteers worked eight hours, six days per week with Jesse, maneuvering her body with these exercises. As a result of these structured, physical activities, today, Jesse is a young woman who is able to walk and talk. In fact, she's leading a normal life.

When Bob and Kathy saw their daughter's miraculous, life-changing improvements, they knew they had to share this therapy with other parents who were desperately seeking hope for their children.  They launched A Chance To Grow in 1983, a Minneapolis-based, non-profit health services and educational training organization founded on the innovative therapies that changed their daughter's life. 

Today, A Chance To Grow provides services to thousands of children, adults, and families  from across the nation and throughout the state who suffer from developmental disabilities, or from brain injury or trauma; the organization also serves more than 7,000 educators throughout Minnesota and the U.S. through an educator-training program called S.M.A.R.T.

Your support through #GiveAtHomeMN will help us continue to bring these life-changing services to children in need, and give them the chance to reach their full potential. 

For nearly four years, 40 volunteers worked eight hours, six days per week with Jesse maneuvering her body with these exercises. As a result of these structured, physical activities, today, Jesse is a young woman who is able to walk and talk. In fact, she's leading a normal life.   Thank you very much for your generosity and support!  

To learn more about supporting our fundraising efforts, contact:
Vicky Stein, ACTG Director of Development
victoria.stein@actg.org
(612) 706-5515