OUR MISSION
The Jake Cassell Fund for Special Needs
The Jake Cassell Fund for Special Needs, a Maryland 501(c)3 non-profit organization, serves special needs children and young adults in marginalized and underserved communities by directing capital and making connections with existing grass-roots organizations. The Fund was established to honor the life and legacy of Jacob Brian Cassell.
WHO WE SUPPORT
Our Current Grantees
Children’s Therapy Clinic (Charleston, WV), a 90-year old organization, will utilize a $15,000 grant to provide therapeutic speech, occupational, physical and music therapies to twelve special-needs children in Kanawha, Putnam and surrounding counties for families who have insufficient insurance or income to afford services for their children.
Down Syndrome Association of Maryland (Baltimore, MD) was awarded a $7,500 grant to implement the "Healthy and Well Series" initiative which will provide essential support and education to families in the Down’s community, focusing on building self-advocacy skills, wellness, and movement activities to build community, self-confidence, strength, and skills that will drive meaningful change in each individual’s life.
Variety DC (Washington, DC). In 2024, a $10,000 grant from The Jake Cassell Fund provided 3 adaptive bikes for children with special needs. In 2025, a $5,000 continuing grant will be utilized to provide $400 Emergency Grants to 10+ special needs families encountering medical and therapeutic bills that Insurance and Medicare don’t cover. Alternatively, up to 100 sensory bags can be provided to children and organizations that work with this target population in DC, MD and VA.