Fluor Corporation Instrumental in Building Local Autism Nonprofit

Every dream starts with inspiration, a little bit of hope, and most times, someone that steps up to help.

Hope For Three, a Fort Bend county nonprofit focusing exclusively on autism spectrum disorder, was inspired by a family of six, with identical triplets on the autism spectrum. The mother, Hope, and her husband Eric endured the heartbreaking process of discovering this disorder at an early age. The signs became concerning when at two and half, Lakin, the little leader of the group, could no longer recite her ABC’s, did not want to play with her siblings and quit making eye contact. Within six months of this happening the other two girls began showing the same characteristics.

The search for the right doctors, insurance, schooling and support, cost the family mentally, physically, emotionally and financially. Family friend, Darla Farmer, was one of the first to recognize the family needed support. She founded Hope For Three, Hope for the mother’s name, and the three girls, in 2011 to provide resources, referrals and support in the form of financial aid, for this family and the nearly 5,000 children diagnosed with ASD enrolled in the Fort Bend County public school systems.

Orchestrated solely by volunteers and working from a personal business office, the nonprofit needed funding to expand. In a plea for assistance, and the next milestone in getting help, Farmer applied to, and was awarded, one of two event beneficiaries of Flour’s Golf for Greater Houston Charity Tournament. At the conclusion of the event, and on March 25, 2012, the triplet’s sixth birthday, and less than a year of establishing the nonprofit, the organization received $50,000. This funding propelled Hope For Three’s mission to serve families in need. With this money they were able to give financial support to several families to access a higher quality of care at the earliest stage of their children’s lives.

Thanks to the generosity of the Fluor Cares volunteers, Hope For Three was awarded event beneficiary for a second year in 2013 earning $71,250. The assistance from Fluor in these first two years positioned Hope For Three as the leading autism advocacy group in Fort Bend County helping thousands of families over the years.

Since then Fluor Corporation, headquartered in Sugar Land, and one of the world’s largest engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction and maintenance companies, has grown its Golf for Greater Houston Charity Tournament to benefit 11 charities, including Hope For Three. The 2019 event takes place Monday, September 30 at Shadow Hawk and Black Hawk Country Clubs. Visit golfforgreaterhouston.org for more information on how to support local nonprofits. To assist families sustaining a life within the autism spectrum, visit hopeforthree.org or call 281-245-0640.

Photo Credit: Fluor Corporation. Left to right: Megan DaGata, Mary Ann Manthei,  Julie Noel, Corey McShannon, Kelly Schoenherr, Dylan Burke, Paul Byrnes, Tendai Mushambi, Joe Cunneff, Rebecca Schoenherr, Rafael Alvarez, Nicklaus Jeffreys, Darla Farmer, April Nemec (behind Darla) Nick Mumme, and Matt Torres. Not Pictured: Barbara Jones, Frank Dishongh, Kurt Wendt, and Victor Vann.

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