Welcome to Fantastic Friends of
San Fernando Valley
Vision: Our vision is to create awareness and partnership for individuals with special needs with the intention that they feel supported and included in their community.
What we do
The Mission
Fantastic Friends SFV is on a mission of inclusion and social opportunities for teens with special needs through event activities with typically developing peer volunteers and support with adult volunteers. We are sustained through a mixture of fundraising, sponsorships, and supplemented with community support.
Fantastic Friends SFV is a not for profit organization that hosts fun monthly events for celebrating uniqueness and creating friendships for people with special needs and peer volunteers. Participants are given the opportunity to pair with typically developing peer volunteers at events, who help them interact with other Fantastic Friends and participate in the event’s activities. Events are always fun and creative, and provide a variety of social and learning experiences for our special needs participants.
Inspired by the former organization Founder for Fantastic Friends, Marissa Hacker, I started a chapter of Fantastic Friends here in the San Fernando Valley area. The inspiration to start a chapter here is my son Emileo, who has Autism.
Although the original organization has since closed, I hope to continue the work we started here to continue the same mission.
~Lisa
Inclusion : Social Skills
Fun Events : Peers
How are we different?
By blending our special needs kids with typically developing peer at events, it promotes inclusion and breaks the social boundaries that can occur. Our peer volunteers gain leadership skills and learn how others are different as well as gaining a better understanding of special needs individuals.
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