Communication is a human right

All people should be empowered with the fundamental human right to engage and connect. The CSHA Foundation (CSHAF) supports the fulfillment of this vision through its important work.

Funding the Future Campaign Logo

Building a sustainable future

Our Funding the Future campaign is focused on building a sustainable financial foundation upon which we can continue – and expand – our community’s important work. We hope you’ll join us in creating the future we all envision!

The CSHA Foundation is a qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions to the foundation may be tax deductible based on current Internal Revenue Service regulations. Donors are encouraged to discuss the deductibility of contributions with their tax advisor.

The challenge faced by CSHAF

During the Covid-19 pandemic, CSHA Foundation pivoted to serve the California community in different ways. As we emerged from a hibernation period, the 2024-2025 board was formed with a mission and a purpose to benefit the field. Our current and most immediate priorities support students. But we have bigger plans.  The need for our Funding the Future campaign is real. And you can make all the difference!

Without CSHAF’s organizationally empowered activity, fewer SLPs and AuDs will enter and stay in the field, negatively impacting those with the least access to services.

CSHA Foundation’s community and the thousands of other professionals in California can make a positive impact in our state.

Be a part of the solution

So many in California benefit from CSHA Foundation’s impact – young children with autism or language delays, people with hearing loss, stutterers or adults recovering from injuries or strokes. Moreover, thousands of professionals, the schools, hospitals and regional centers where our professionals work, and the universities who train them benefit from a strong CSHA Foundation.

CSHAF is taking bold steps and seeking to grow in impact. We’re launching a $100,000 fundraising initiative to support CSHAF’s important work.

Charitable contributions are the answer. Through the 501c3 CSHA Foundation, your tax-deductible gift today will help sustain CSHAF and its important work as we seek to amplify our impact.

  • For students and those just entering the field: give so that CSHAF will be there for you with scholarships, networking and workshops as you complete your degree and enter the job market.
  • For mid-career professionals: give so that you can support those coming after you, as you advance professionally and continue to grow.
  • For seasoned professionals: give so that CSHAF can continue to educate and inform across California on key issues of importance to the profession and those you serve.
  • For community members: support CSHAF so that you or your loved one can access needed services, and everyone who needs it will have that access in the future.
  • For corporate partners: your contributions to CSHAF will ensure the environment in which you do business continues to be supported and grown by a statewide professional nonprofit organization.

CSHAF is a movement ensuring that all Californians can exercise their fundamental right to engage and connect.

Support our movement by making a gift to CSHA Foundation today!

Changing lives every day

CSHAF raises public awareness of communication disorders and the services available to address them, and offers support to students through programs and scholarships scholarships to those pursing an education in communication disorders or related programs.

California’s 30,000 speech language pathologists (SLPs), audiologists (AuDs) and related professionals provide life-altering support to those with speech, hearing, swallowing and cognitive challenges. From speech challenges and hearing issues, to brain injuries and swallowing conditions, these caring professionals lift lives every day.

Unfortunately, the demand outstrips capacity: Nationally, only 55% of children with voice, speech, language or swallowing disorders receive services each year. At the same time, SLP and audiology services are the No. 1 educational service provided to PK-12 students.

The CSHA Foundation collaborates with other organizations to strengthen and grow the SLP and AuD professions so every child and adult gets the support they need to exercise their basic right to communicate.

Serving a diverse population

CSHA Foundation serves the community with full attention to California’s increasing diversity, including along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, education, training, experience, religious beliefs, political beliefs or other ideologies.

As California’s population has grown and become increasingly diverse, there are simply not enough speech, language and hearing professionals to meet the need. California needs more SLPs and AuDs graduating in our state each year – and there’s work to be done to ensure that those who do graduate reflect California’s population. Meanwhile, thousands of our neighbors go without the professional support they need to communicate.

It’s a complex challenge, but one that’s critically important to all Californians. CSHAF is dedicated to fostering greater understanding and awareness of these challenges, and to building a larger, more diverse and more empowered workforce in our state. An important part of that work is expanding the pipeline for increasingly diverse cohorts of students to enter the field.

A movement for change

CSHAF is building the diverse workforce of the future. We do this in two key ways:

  • Fostering the recruitment of college students to pursue careers in the field and offering them scholarships, leadership opportunities and more.
  • Addressing systemic barriers to entering and staying in the profession.

CSHAF is supporting the profession in California, making a difference in the lives of all those who need these services.

Thank you to our generous donors!

Thank you to all who have donated to CSHAF. Your generous support is helping ensure all Californians can exercise their right to engage, connect … and thrive!

Diamond

$25,000 and above

Platinum

$10,000-$24,999

  • Amy Haught

Gold

$5,000-$9,999

  • Linda Pippert

Silver

$2,500-$4,999

  • Michele Linares
  • Deb Swain, The Swain Center

Bronze

$1,000-$2,499

  • Beryl Fogel
  • Sean Green/SPG
  • Marvel Philip/Ed Theory
  • Sophie Miles
  • Raquel Narain
  • Leann Schouten
  • Jeannene M. Ward-Lonergan

Friends of the CSHA Foundation

Up to $1,000

  • Diane Collins
  • Annette Crotty
  • Stephanie Davis
  • Helen Demetrion
  • Jamie Fitzpatrick
  • Elaine Fogel-Schneider
  • Sherry Foldvary
  • Susan Fosnot
  • Jessie Ginsburg
  • Kelley Griest
  • Pamela Heino
  • Holly Kaiser
  • Hillary Kissack, Communication Works
  • Brian Lewis
  • Marcella Cardoza McCollum
  • Robert McKinney
  • Tram Nguyen
  • Pacific Coast Speech Therapy Services, Inc.
  • Jen Richard
  • Christine Villareal
  • Christopher Wenger
  • Francine Wenhardt
  • Maret Wilson Walker

The CSHA Foundation is a qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions to the foundation may be tax deductible based on current Internal Revenue Service regulations. Donors are encouraged to discuss the deductibility of contributions with their tax advisor.