We Began our Foundaion as a result of the many needs that arose after the 2005 storm, Hurricane Katrina. Through our research, we came across the realization that ever since the storm, there was only one chapter outside of the Greater New Orleans in the State of Louisiana dedicated to supporting people with autism. We began as a result of the many needs our neighbors face in the everyday challenges caring with autistic persons. An alarming statistics revealed that the number of children diagnosed with autism has grown from 1 in 10,000 in just 10 short years ago to a ratio to 1 in 166 today. This number is of children alone, not including adults, and families living with autism. Seeing the immediate need and the numbers, it dawned on me that something had to be done, something had to be done no matter how small. The numbers were just jaw dropping to me.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Letter from Our Founder:
Dear World:
One might ask themselves how and why did i want to start this non-profit or this organization to begin with? that is a great question actually. First and foremost, I do not have an autistic child, nor do I have a relative that has autism. my passion for this fight, and this cause not only came from the numbers of reach that i encountered, rather it came from the heart felt documentary that i saw in autism called "Autism is a world"-- where a young 26 year old autistic women is adapting to the challenges of everyday life. I saw this in 2006, when i was only 20 years old. While watching this documentary of this woman, i asked myself, wow this could be me, this could be my friend, this could be my sister, this could be my neighbor, this could be my mother, and this could be anyone. I saw myself in her shoes and felt the need to do something. I felt the need to do anything no matter how small, to be active and try to help as much as i can to draw awareness to this sickness and finding a way to fight it. Being that I was an evacuee of the devastating hurricane Katrina, I saw the need and felt that this city is in need of an awareness center where expecting parents, families, children men, women, young and old adults can be aware of what it is to be autistic and what is this disease that is called autism. A kind felt gesture that came to me assured and made me certain that this is what i wanted to do,. It was a beautiful night in the summer of 2007, where i had met this young gentlemen who was autistic and at the time i didn't know it right away. The first thing that he did was give me a flower a simple gesture that was both surprising and placed a smile on my face, placing it in my hand and then a kiss on the cheek, then he smiled and sat next to me watching his brother play the trumpet on stage and all the while telling of the many instruments that he plays. This young man was so talented, and so alive, and so full of life, that i knew in my heart at that moment that autism doesn't limit a person's ability to live a full life or be in the moment. The next thing i did was, i was writing down in my yellow note pad of ways on how i could to help and draw awareness to Autism. That's How I came up with the idea of starting this non-profit that i call, The Pearla Mutombo Foundation "Autism Where Hope Lives", it has brought me great joy to be able to give back and help as many people as i can. I pray to God that he continues to allow me to do so in a grander scale. With Gratitude and Sincerity
Pearla B. Mutombo
Founder/President
The Pearla Mutombo Foundation "Autism Where Hope Lives"
