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Mother Keeps Son's Legacy Alive Through Special Needs Day Care Organization Jeffrey Foundation

Jeffrey Foundation has helped more than 10,000 children with special needs and disabilities.

Alyce Morris-Winston, at 85, shows up to work every day running the multi-million dollar non-profit center and shows no signs of slowing down.

Morris-Winston, who founded the Jeffrey Foundation in honor of her own son, knows what it's like to raise a child with disabilities. When she and her husband were unable to have children, they adopted Jeffrey.

"When Jeffrey was two the doctor told us he had muscular dystrophy," Morris-Winston said. "I was devastated."

The stress of having a sick child took a toll on Morris-Winston's marriage and before long she was divorced and struggling to balance work and find child care for her son. Morris-Winston said she had 36 babysitters in one year.

"I tried little nursery schools but children were afraid to play with him because he'd fall down easily and they'd sometimes throw rocks at him," she said. "It was pretty horrible."

Morris-Winston decided to take matters into her own hands. With the help of donations, she started LA's first center for children with multiple disabilities.

When Jeffrey died at age 16, Morris-Winston made it her life's mission to carry on his legacy by continuing to provide day care and after school programs for special needs children from low income families.

"I know what it means to have to quit your job because you don't have child care," Morris-Winston said.

Karen Griffith, whose two children both attend the Jeffrey Foundation, said that without it, she would have had to quit her job.

"A lot of moms can't go back to work because we have to jump from one facility to another facility," Griffith said.

Griffith's two children — 12-year-old Star, who has down syndrome, and Justice, who suffers from leukemia — both attend the Jeffrey Foundation. Star has been at the foundation since she was two years old.

The Jeffrey Foundation, operating on state and federal grants as well as private donations, has helped more than 10,000 children in LA.

If you would like to help, visit the Jeffrey Foundation's website. 

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