AAA Wins a $10,000 Grant from "100 Dentonites Who Give a Damn"

AAA/A3 Awarded $10,000 Grant from 100 Dentonites Who Give a Damn

Austen's Autistic Adventures and A3 Resale+Gallery+Classes is proud to announce it has been selected to receive a $10,000 grant from 100 Dentonites Who Give a Damn. This quarterly award provides funding to local nonprofits through a competitive application and voting process.

When AAA/A3 first opened the A3 store and gallery two years ago, we purposefully chose a location within Denton county limits to be eligible for opportunities like this grant. We have been eagerly awaiting our chance to pitch our mission to the 100 Dentonites panel.

This quarter, AAA/A3 was honored to be a finalist alongside two other very deserving nonprofits—The Bach Society, which has brought choral and instrumental music to Denton for over 45 years, and Interfaith Ministries, an organization helping families maintain stability through short-term aid.

After presenting our program highlights at Denton County Brewing Company, we are thrilled the 100 Dentonites voters selected AAA/A3 to receive this significant funding boost. The $10,000 grant will be directly applied to expanding our social and vocational skills classes that empower autistic adults to reach their full potential.

A key goal is utilizing these new resources to locate and include more low-income families and families of color within our programs. We are grateful for this community support that advances our mission of creating fulfilling, self-sustaining lives for autistic individuals.

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A3 Resale + Gallery + Classes

We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of our new store, “A3 Resale + Gallery + Classroom” on Saturday, 6/25, from 10 to 5pm.

Now in our sixth year, AAA has seen incredible growth in social skills among our members. Sadly, even with improved communication, job prospects are still lacking.

We decided to solve this problem, or at least try, by opening our own storefront. All members will be trained in every aspect of our retail space; the goal is to radically improve their job skills so that they can move on in the world and be successful. Some members may stay with us indefinitely; either way, they will have a job.

Please come help support the “kids” and get some great deals too! We only accept GENTLY used clothing and household wares.

Check out our gallery too! Each month, the space will feature one of our members’ art (they have been taking lessons for many years) or will feature a supporting artist.

We are also delighted to have our very own classroom space, where we conduct continuing ed classes, like Spanish and etiquette!

AAA Gives Back to First Responders

AAA is so excited to have found another way to give back before the holidays. Thanks to friends of the program, we are donating 25 hand made scarves to first responders in Wylie. AAA members are also baking cookies and writing notes of thanks to include in the gift bags. Today, I found a woman in our neighborhood who makes these wrapped candy bars. So in they go too!

This effort in our part is not a huge deal, but I personally have three friends in the medical field whose struggles I read about often. We hope these little gifts might brighten their day a bit.

We anticipate delivering packages on December 18th.

Autism Society of Texas Awards AAA $500 Sensory Room Grant

AAA is pleased to find out that we have been awarded a $500 communities programs grant from the Autism Society of Texas!

The funds will be used to create a "sensory room." The plan is to create YouTube videos where the group will "review" items purchased from TFH Special Needs Toys.

Families often spend excessive amounts of money for sensory items which may or may not benefit their child (no matter what their age). With our members' input, we may be able to help some families learn what is and is not useful, from the intended audience of their product.

We think this will be extremely helpful, as most parents of adults on the spectrum have spent hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars, on products that look good in theory but in reality sit in a closet...forever.

One of the (sometimes) benefits of autism is that they are typically very honest in their responses.

We hope the videos will be both enlightening and entertaining. I, personally, cannot wait to film the "body socks." THANK YOU, Autism Society of Texas, for making this possible and helping us help families spend their money more efficiently.