Laura Mahoney Autism & Epilepsy Foundation

The idea to create the Laura Foundation for Autism and Epilepsy came with the passing of Laura (Hoyt) Mahoney in April of 2008. Our family wished to keep her memory alive through a charitable organization. It had to be a cause that Laura would believe in whole-heartedly, one that would make a difference in someone’s life.

Her greatest loves were her grandchildren, and one of them suffers from both epilepsy and autism. As a result, she knew first-hand how devastating these two disorders were on the afflicted individuals and the families caring for them; thus, the Laura Foundation was formed. The mission is to provide funding to develop and support therapeutic recreation and educational programs that enrich the quality of lives of individuals with autism and/or seizure disorders.

Construction for an adaptive recreation facility began in 2009. The Laura Center has been constructed in three phases, and as projects were completed, programs increased at the Laura Center. Today, there's therapeutic horseback riding, indoor rock climbing, adaptive bike riding, social skills training, and life skills training at the Madison, NH Laura Center. Programs are year-round, and thanks to donations, event fundraisers, and grants all activities are cost free to participants. Laura Center attendees are of varying ages with autism, epilepsy, as well as other physical and cognitive challenges.