Hollis Adams Foundation provides an array of programs designed to give adults with disabilities opportunities to foster friendships with their peers, connect with their community, and enrich their lives. HAFriends is a group of 20-30 adults with disabilities who gather at our facility 4 days a week. Our participants might have an instructor lead them through an exercise class, complete and art project, learn a new dance, watch a ballet recital, or participate in a drum circle. Each day, we go on an outing. We go to places like: Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis Zoo, Meals on Wheels, Military Park, and Broad Ripple Art Center. We also cook a nutricous lunch for everyone who attends HAFriends.

Hollis Adams Foundation is proud of the statistics of the work we do, but it’s the impact on individual lives that drives us to serve adults with developmental disabilities in central Indiana. Jim is a 30-year-old man with autism. While Jim was in high school, he had friends in his special education classes that he would see each day. Jim is likeable and friendly, but he never pushed himself to develop a friendship outside of school.

Once he graduated, he continued living with his parents. After a few years, his parents signed Jim up for HAFriends. After a year of being involved with Hollis Adams Foundation, Jim came home and told his mom, “I have a friend, Jesse!” Jesse and Jim developed their friendship by going into the community together. Since their friendship has blossomed, they schedule activities and plans together independent of Hollis Adams Foundation. Now, Jim is using his new-found confidence and support to move out on his own and make lots of new friends.

Suggested Donations

• Pay for a week's worth of lunch! ($300.00)
• Outings for a week! ($500.00)
• Help us buy a new bus! ($1,000.00)

Funding Needs

Personnel expenses are the largest part of our operating budget. Hollis Adams Foundation staff are the life blood of what we do. Many of the adults with developmental disabilities that we serve have significant medical, cognitive, and behavioral needs. Our staff are here to provide whatever assistance a participant needs to succeed. On any given day, this might include: helping with medication, assisting someone who has had an “accident”, helping someone call their ride, taking someone home, or providing CPR and First Aid. That is in addition to all the things that happen every day like: preparing a nutritious lunch, running an art activity, scheduling contractors to teach a class, buying tickets to a special event, and making sure everyone is safe on the outing and on their trip home. Without our dedicated staff, none of the great work of Hollis Adams Foundation would happen.

A new accessible vehicle will cost Hollis Adams Foundation between $20,000-$30,000.