Fundraising for an Accessible Van
Ellis Bautista is a 14-year-old boy living in Compton, California with his mother Herminia and brother Victor. Ellis is diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disorder that causes a loss of motor, pulmonary, and cardiac function. Herminia and Victor care for Ellis full time in between work and school.
The severity of a Duchenne diagnosis has brought many challenges to the Bautista Family. They struggle to get Ellis to school and medical appointments, and public transportation is unreliable for timely travels.
Herminia says, “We sometimes do not get picked up from appointments by public transportation for hours as we wait for a ride, and that can become very uncomfortable for Ellis. He is sensitive to inclement weather which can be especially difficult in his power chair.”
As participants in Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund branch of the Jett Giving Fund, the Bautista Family will aim to raise half the funds needed or more for their accessible vehicle before Jett Foundation steps in to cover the remaining costs and purchase the vehicle outright.
When not in school, Ellis enjoys video games, playing with toys and figurines, and drawing. “I am looking forward to getting a new van so that we can go to school and appointments much quicker,” says Ellis.
The Bautista family has met their fundraising goal and received accessible transportation thanks to supporters like you! You can still support our program and future program participants with a gift to Jett Foundation today:
Donate Today
All donations to Jett Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed under applicable law and is an unrestricted contribution to the Jett Giving Fund. The family is working to raise half the funds needed for their van or more; when they reach their goal, Jett Foundation will cover the remaining costs and coordinate purchase and delivery of the vehicle. Please note that your contribution will be combined with other Jett Giving Fund donations to ensure that each of the children in the Jett Giving Fund initiative benefit from your generosity.
