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About Us

Our Mission

A lifespan of autism services to:

H

Help Families

O

Open Minds

P

Promote Inclusion

E

Expand Potential

Our Story

Our Story

Project Hope Foundation was founded in 1997 by two moms searching for services for their young sons with autism. What began as a parent-led effort has grown into a South Carolina-based nonprofit providing a lifespan of autism services through four core programs: therapy, education, adult services, and community engagement.

Today, Project Hope Foundation is the largest South Carolina-based autism service provider, with nine campuses serving hundreds of children, teens, adults, and families every day.

Our purpose is to improve lives impacted by autism through programs grounded in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA.

What Makes Us Unique

Project Hope Foundation is different because we serve:

    • across ages, from early childhood through adulthood;
    • across the autism spectrum, including individuals with a wide range of strengths, needs, and support levels;
    • across programs, offering therapy, education, adult services, and community engagement; and
    • across communities, helping families, schools, employers, professionals, and neighbors better understand and support people with autism.

As a nonprofit founded by parents, we understand that autism affects not only the individual diagnosed, but the entire family. That understanding shapes everything we do.

Our approach is individualized. We seek to meet the unique needs of each person while also supporting the family and strengthening the broader community around them.

Extraordinary Ordinary Moments

Our guarantee to each family is “extraordinary ordinary moments.”

These are the moments many families long for: a child looking up when a parent calls their name, a family making it through a grocery store trip without a major meltdown, a first word spoken, a new skill mastered, a moment of independence gained.

These moments may seem ordinary to others, but to families impacted by autism, they are extraordinary. Our programs are designed to teach the skills that may not come naturally and to celebrate every meaningful step forward.

Recognition and Accreditation

Project Hope Foundation’s therapy and adult services programs are accredited by the Autism Commission on Quality and have been recognized by United Way of the Piedmont as Programs of Excellence.

Our educational program, Hope Academy, is accredited through the South Carolina Independent School Association and received the Education Spirit Award from the Community Foundation of Greenville, Greenville Journal, and Town Magazine.

Project Hope Foundation has also received the Angel Award from the South Carolina Secretary of State, recognizing our responsible stewardship of charitable funding.

Our Values

Dedicate Ourselves To Individuals Impacted By Autism

Cultivate A Culture of Compassion

Leverage Our Collective Strengths

Commit To Ongoing Improvement

“Project Hope Foundation gave us just that: hope. I can’t begin to explain this amazing group of people … They have an amazing heart for these kids and their families.”

— Current Parent

Leadership

Lisa Lane, MA, JD

Co-Chief Executive Officer

Susan Sachs, MSW

Co-Chief Executive Officer

Mark Knight, BCBA

Chief Operating Officer

Scott Braud, BCBA

Chief Clinical Officer 

Meghan Helman, BCBA

Vice President of Therapy & Finance

Bethany Welborn-Ruhl, BCBA

Vice President of Therapy & Education

Board of Directors

Joe Vaughn, Chair
Kelly Fairbairn, Vice Chair
Doug Hayes, Treasurer
Lisa Hyman Lane, Secretary

Linda Dolny-Lister
Stephanie Martin
Susan Sachs
Alonzo Thompson

Our History

Our Funding

As a nonprofit organization, Project Hope Foundation works diligently to provide quality services as efficiently and effectively as possible.  Project Hope Foundation’s programs receive funding support from a variety of sources, including insurance, Medicaid, Medicaid waivers, and Exceptional SC Scholarships. However, we must raise over $1 million annually to cover the funding gap for our services.

To do so, we rely on:

Based on our use of funding, we received the Angel Award from the SC Secretary of State.

Bethany Welborn-Ruhl

Vice President of Therapy & Education

Bethany joined the Project Hope family in June 2013. She has been working with individuals with autism since 2003 when she began working as a line therapist with a 2-year old boy. Since then, she has worked as line therapist, senior therapist, coordinator, and classroom teacher at several organizations, including Mariposa School for Children with Autism, the Early Autism Project, and Gwinnett County Public Schools.

Bethany enjoys working with a variety of learners on the autism spectrum. Her favorite part of her work is celebrating with the treatment team as clients master skills that make a meaningful difference in their lives and the lives of their families!

Hailing from western North Carolina, Bethany graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and psychology from Wake Forest University in 2006. In January 2011, she completed the required coursework at Florida Institute of Technology and became a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst. Two years later, Bethany received her master’s degree in Special Education from Georgia State University, as well as her Board Certification in Behavior Analysis.

In her free time, Bethany enjoys spending time with her loved ones, crafting, and going to the movies.