Charlie's Gift was established by 4 individuals each personally touched by Autism. Gene M., who has 2 grandchildren diagnosed with Autism, wrote a short book called ‘What's Autism' about a little boy diagnosed with Autism named Charlie. Gene didn't know exactly why he wrote the book, except that he felt he needed to do something to help children and families facing Autism.

Johanna and Mitch V. met Gene and were touched by his book and his desire to help. They too were determined to help families facing Autism to find supports and services more easily than they. Their son, now 14, is diagnosed with Autism and Johanna and Mitch struggled for years to ‘piece together' supports and programs to help them and their son.

Together they, along with Gene's daughter Dr. Debra Mandarino, developed a dream and a plan for a center where children diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum and their families could find information, support, education, and services.  This type of 'all-inclusive' center is very hard to find, but very needed.