About Us
Our MISSION is to connect individuals with autism to available services through financial support, advocacy, and education in the larger Fayetteville area.
Our VISION is for every individual with autism-spectrum disorders in the larger Fayetteville area to have access to quality service programs to ensure community, inclusivity, and opportunity for all.
Nikki Giovanni Creecy
Executive Director and Founder
Starting The Connect Foundation is important to Nikki because she is a firm believer in community and that we all deserve equal opportunities. Through her 20+ years of experience at ShineLight, Inc., assisting children, youth, and adults with autism to lead better lives, she has witnessed firsthand how there are not enough Medicaid funds for everyone who qualifies for services.
"I have encountered too many times when adults with autism simply cannot receive the support they need to live their best lives. I believe that helping one family at a time is the most powerful way to build community, and so the best way to improve the Fayetteville community is to grant funding to families who need it the most.”
Board Members
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Mr. Steve King
Exit Realty – Preferred Fayetteville
Licensed Agent, Real EstateSteve worked with the Autism Society of North Carolina.
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Mrs. Christine Blue
Wells Fargo Bank
Small Business BankerChristine as an autistic nephew.
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Aisha January
Laboratory Compliance
Parent of a Teen with AutismAisha has an autistic son.
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Lacey Symkowiak
Lacy works as an IDD advocate and consultant.
FAQs
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The Connect Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides funding for people with ASD that either lack insurance or are under insured. We aim to make sure people have access to the specialized services necessary to support them to accomplish their definition of a quality life.
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Our headquarters is located in the downtown Fayetteville area. Our mailing address is the Connect Foundation – PO Box 53324, Fayetteville, NC 28305-3324.
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Cumberland County
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Please first complete and submit our application so we can document what you need and see if our services are the right fit. We are applying for multiple grants for a variety of service areas. Once we have funding for the service area your loved one needs, we will be ready with your contact information.
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The Connect Foundation provides funding for select services and partners with local and national programs to implement those services. Services we fund include:
Residential Options
Community Inclusion
Employment
Opportunities
Social Skills Training
Rights Training
Music/Art Therapy
Join Our Board
Nikki encourages individuals with a passion for building the Fayetteville community and/or whose lives have been touched in some way by autism to apply to become a board member. Experience in real estate, law, or banking is preferred. If you would like to apply or would like to nominate another individual, please submit a board member application.