Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2023
CONTACT: Karen Millican
JoyDew CCO
(201) 444-6409
karen@joydew.com
JoyDew’s Autism Employment Model Recognized by Disability Opportunity Fund with 25K Award
Garden City, NJ – JoyDew has won a $25,000 grant from the Disability Opportunity Fund’s (DoF) inaugural pitch competition. The event is designed to support and showcase innovative companies that are focusing on creating opportunities and improving the lives of individuals with disabilities. 22 companies applied, and the 8 finalists competed for a total of $250,000 in non-dilutive grant funds.
“JoyDew is grateful for this generous grant.”, says CEO Moish Tov, “Our day program has expanded so quickly, we have already moved twice and are preparing to open a new location in Livingston. The funds will allow us to buy much needed additional computers.”
JoyDew’s innovative social enterprise was recognized for significantly improving the quality of life for adults with autism by identifying their unique strengths and interests, developing their gifts with job training and academic enrichment, providing communication and other supports, and employing them in high-value jobs in a community of their own.
The event celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Disability Opportunity Fund, a nonprofit, nationally certified community development financial institution (CDFI) focused on providing financing, technical services, and policy advocacy for people with disabilities throughout the United States. Other companies receiving grants at the competition were Valence Vibrations, Guiding Technologies, RightHear, Exokinetics, Inc., Rootines, JelikaLite and Wave Therapeutics.
JoyDew CEO, Moish Tov, pitches at start-up competition
About JoyDew: JoyDew transforms the brutal reality of people with autism from being treated as a commodity, living in isolation and without hope, into flourishing human beings with lifelong friends, who can express themselves and apply their unique talents and skills to succeed in the workplace. Our day program identifies their unique strengths and interests, develops them with job training and academic enrichment, provides communication and other supports, and creates high-level employment for people with autism, without exception, where they can learn and grow in a community of their own, and unleash their hopes and dreams.
About Disability Opportunity Fund: The Disability Opportunity Fund is a nonprofit, nationally certified community development financial institution (CDFI) focused on providing financing, technical services, and policy advocacy for people with disabilities throughout the United States. Their support extends to families, and support organizations serving this market.