LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kosair for Kids (KFK) has honored their mission to help children by donating $12 million to organizations who will provide life-changing assistance to children within the nine counties they serve.
On Tuesday, the nonprofit gave more than $10,000 to the Jefferson County Search Dog Association (JCSDA).
The purpose is for them to purchase equipment to help search for missing kids with a medical condition that makes them vulnerable to wandering away. KFK hopes this grant can prevent another tragedy where a child diagnosed with autism waders away from home and loses their life.
It's a story Louisville mother Magdalena Lawson knows too well.
Her 8-year-old son Shalome was diagnosed with autism, and in July of 2017 he was visiting family near Indianapolis when he wandered away and drowned in a Brownsburg pond.
"Thank you all so much who make this happen today," Lawson said on Tuesday. "It's been seven years after my son passed away. It's not easy to have a child with autism."
As Shalome's mom reflects on her son years later, she said she's glad to hear about this new technology.
"I was here to encourage the families to come and join the program," Lawson said.
Amber Devine-Stinson was Shalome's speech therapist. She's excited Kosair for Kids is able to partner with JCSDA to potentially prevent another child from losing their life.
"The two extra receivers that this grant is paying for today is putting those trackers in more people's hands to get to that location faster," Devine-Stinson said.
The tracker and honing device, designed by Project Lifesaver, will be able to locate anyone after they've been reported missing.
"These bands are put on and when we have to take them off we have to cut them off," Darrell Roy, training officer for JCSDA, said. "They can't decide to take off."
The trackers will be provided to 15 children with autism across Jefferson County. If they stray away from home first responders can use their search dogs and locator to quickly find them.
"Nearly half of children with autism have elopement tendencies," said Barry Dunn, president & CEO of Kosair for Kids. "The tendency to wander away into the woods, wander into the night, wander away into different places."
It's an extra tool alongside search dogs to help families find their missing loved one and potentially save their lives. The nonprofit said the grant can help up to 25 families in total.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.