My husband and I started Samantha’s Purpose after our second child, Samantha, was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.   I always like to clarify that Samantha does not receive any financial benefit from this organization....she is our inspiration. 












I will never forget the day I heard Samantha’s neurologist confirm my fear, "Your daughter has Cerebral Palsy."  Although I knew the possibility of this diagnosis was probable, I was not prepared to hear those words.  It felt like the earth opened up and swallowed me.  It wasn't possible, I spent 8 weeks lying in a hospital bed trying to save my daughter's life after going into pre-term labor at 20 weeks.  Then she spent 3 months in the NICU.  Now, she had Cerebral Palsy.  

When I was alone I cried and asked "WHY"?  I knew I had to figure out exactly what the reason was.  Why was my beautiful daughter destined to spend her life in a wheelchair, unable to speak or care for herself.

Samantha’s diagnosis opened our eyes to a whole different World.  A World full of doctors, specialists, therapists, social workers, insurance companies, etc.  We learned all too quickly that not ALL children with different abilities are entitled to assistance from the Government.  To make matters even more difficult, most children (like Samantha) that have private insurance still do not receive all the services and/or equipment they need due to policy limits and restrictions.  

The exorbitant costs that come with having a child with Special Needs were not an issue for us.  However, we met too many families that were not as blessed as we were.  It broke our hearts to find out that parents were forced to stop providing their children with services, necessary equipment, access to special summer programs or alternative therapies because they just simply could not afford it.   

There were so many families placed in our path that would share stories with us of how they would pay for whatever their child needed by emptying their savings, cashing in their retirement, using credit cards until they reached their limit and taking out equity lines on their homes.  Many of them would end up bankrupt doing whatever was necessary for their child.

These stories would break my heart.  I wanted to take care of everyone, but couldn’t.  I knew that I had to be very careful because we also were spending money like water to help Samantha.  

I came to my husband one day and told him I had figured it out.  I now knew why we were chosen to be parents of a child with Special Needs.  We had always been fighters and problem solvers.  I shared my idea of starting an organization that would financially assist families of children with Special Needs with the cost of therapy, equipment, tuition for private schools and summer camp.  My husband was in total agreement…which doesn’t happen very often.  

In November, 2007, we invited our family and close friends to our house one evening and ask them to help us start this organization.  There was no turning back and we were finally giving our daughter’s disability a “purpose”!!!!

Since the organization was founded the main goal has always remained the same, financially help families of children with Special Needs by:

  • providing Grants for therapy services (i.e. physical, occupational, speech, aquatic, hippotherapy, etc.);
  • providing Grants for special needs equipment; and
  • providing Scholarships to help with the cost of private school and summer camp tuition in programs specifically designed for children with Special Needs.

The dedication of our Corporate Sponsors, volunteers, friends and family is what keeps  the dream of Samantha's Purpose a reality.

Michelle Coffey-Garcia
Co-Founder/Board Member  


(Please note……Samantha’s Purpose was INSPIRED by Samantha Garcia.  Although, her parents are actively involved in promoting and raising money for Samantha's Purpose, their daughter, Samantha, DOES NOT receive any financial assistance from the monies that are raised, in accordance with the guidelines of the Internal Revenue Service.)


ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION 
Samantha is our living miracle.  She was born 12 weeks premature and spent 3 months in the NICU at Baptist Hospital in Miami, Florida.  Due to complications of her premature birth, she suffered a Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) and Intraventricular hemorrhage that resulted in her having Cerebral Palsy.

When the doctors in the NICU explained Samantha's brain injury to us they made it very clear that only time would tell us how this brain injury would effect Samantha.
Samantha in the NICU at 2 months old.
Samantha with her two brothers
June 2010
Samantha with her Dad at the March of Dimes Walk 2011.  She has been an Ambassador Child for the 
March of Dimes since 2007.