The French Family Foundation’s Mission to Destigmatize Disabilities
Helping Individuals and Families Thrive by Promoting Understanding and Acceptance
Meet the French Family
Horizon West residents Kelly and Jason French were high school sweethearts when they grew up in a small town in northeast Ohio. They married in 1999 and moved to Florida in 2010. Their daughter Addison arrived in 2011, and just fourteen and a half months later, they welcomed their son Greyson.
Greyson was born with a birth diagnosis of Down syndrome. Kelly was initially fearful of what it would take to raise a child with Down syndrome, and this led her to seek involvement with support groups. The guidance and support she experienced in her newfound community gently guided her into the acceptance of Greyson’s diagnosis.
The experience with Greyson’s diagnosis drove Kelly and Jason to explore the possibility of adopting another child with a disability and growing their family. In October 2019, they were matched with their son AJ, whom they formally adopted in 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic helped the French family bond faster through unprecedented circumstances. That year, AJ was diagnosed with autism, ADHD and apraxia. Kelly and Jason leaned again on various support groups to be connected to other families of children with disabilities.
During this time, A GoFundMe from a concerned parent who could not afford a communication device for their non-verbal child sparked an idea.
The French Family Foundation was Born
Through online support groups, Kelly saw countless families share their frustration over being denied the equipment and therapies their children needed to thrive. Moved by their stories, she set out to make the path a little smoother for families like theirs.
It wasn't long before The French Family Foundation was officially established on AJ’s birthday in 2021 with a mission to support local families of children with disabilities as well as those seeking to adopt children with disabilities.
The French Family Foundation fulfills annual scholarship requests to provide financial assistance for local children with disabilities. They also provide local resources and support, host inclusive events and offer local adoption grants. Funding for all of these primarily comes from the Foundation’s annual Run for Inclusion 5K + Fun Run. The third annual event is coming up, right here in Horizon West, on November 15, 2025.
The Run for Inclusion gives each member of our community the opportunity to be welcomed and supported with an inclusive and nurturing environment at the event. All levels and abilities are invited to be part of this meaningful cause.
The event starts at Hamlin staple, Home State Brewing Co., at 8 a.m. For more details on the event and to sign-up, you can visit here.
Expanding Their Impact
The French family believe that every individual with a disability deserves the opportunity to flourish in a nurturing and inclusive environment — one that is supported by families and communities equipped to champion their unique strengths and potential. They are committed to fostering inclusion, shifting perceptions and ensuring that every life is valued and recognized.
That commitment is reflected in their latest initiative: a capital campaign launched in 2024 to raise $200,000 over the next two and a half years to bring Bitty & Beau’s Coffee to Central Florida.
The idea was inspired during a family trip to Savannah, Georgia, where they discovered Bitty & Beau’s, a coffee shop that employs a majority of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The experience left a lasting impression on the whole family. Bitty & Beau’s now proudly employs more than 450 people with disabilities nationwide, redefining what inclusive employment can look like.
Through their foundation, the Frenches are working to make that same impact locally, creating meaningful job opportunities and transforming perspectives within our own community. They are currently seeking individuals, families or businesses willing to make a recurring or one-time donations to support the campaign to bring Bitty & Beau’s to Central Florida.
Through education and engagement, the French family continues to take intentional steps toward a more compassionate and vibrant place to live.
Support Locals Making a Difference
In every stride at the Run for Inclusion and every smile shared through the French Family Foundation’s programs, the message is clear: every life has meaning, and every story deserves to shine.
With scholarships, adoption grants and a growing movement to bring inclusive employment like Bitty & Beau’s Coffee to Central Florida, the foundation is inspiring all of us to see ability in a new light.
If you’re moved by their mission, whether you’re looking to donate, volunteer or simply spread the word, you’re invited to join this effort and help build a future in Horizon West where differences are celebrated and everyone belongs.
Because when one family opens its heart, the ripple becomes a wave of good stuff for the whole community.
Learn how to get involved or support their work at FrenchFamilyFoundation.com.
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