A force of nature describes a person as full of energy, unstoppable and unforgettable. Meeting Denise Resnik for the first time more than 20 years ago, I realized that I had encountered a force of nature.
Over my 20+ years of serving as a grantmaker, I have been privileged to meet many nonprofit founders and executives. I have always been intrigued by their individual inspiration, and interested in the source of their passion for the cause they work so hard to further. Denise has been driven to support the needs of individuals with autism by an intensely personal connection – her son Matt.
In 1997, Denise, together with another mom and their developmental pediatrician co-founded the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC). She sought to find answers and support for families like hers whose everyday lives deal with frustrations caused by this pervasive developmental disorder. With Denise’s motivation and leadership, SARRC has grown into an internationally recognized nonprofit that conducts innovative research and builds inclusive communities for individuals with autism and their families.
The exhaustive work Denise devoted to building SARRC would wear out any ordinary individual. Leading a nonprofit is a 24/7 job that consumes your life, but for Denise, there was more work to be done. In many of our early discussions, she shared her family’s concerns about a future for Matt. The CDC reports that almost 2% of children in the U.S. are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. In addition to advancing research and supporting and educating families who face the challenges of autism with the work being done at SARRC, Denise wanted more for Matt. She sought to open the door to more options for living, learning and leading as her son, and so many others grow into adulthood.
Thus came the founding of First Place AZ, a supportive housing and community developer, and developer of First Place-Phoenix, which includes apartments, a transition academy and a global leadership institute. Touring this beautiful property in midtown Phoenix for the first time a few years ago, I was so impressed by the thoughtful design, community amenities and comprehensive supports. Every detail has been taken into account to provide adults like Matt, while enabling them to maximize their independence, community connections and quality of life. First Place goes far beyond addressing the needs of adults with autism, and incorporates education and training for support specialists, while working on research and public policy advancements to improve lives for all who are living with autism and related disorders.
Every step of the way, these two organizations have been inspired by the passion and drive of Denise. As a mother of a young child with autism, she saw a need which was not being addressed by others and took action to change the landscape of available support services. As Matt grew and his needs changed, she continued seeking answers and used her acquired knowledge, contacts and ingenuity to develop new solutions to assist this population.
Denise Resnik is a force of nature. Founding one nonprofit organization is a lifetime achievement. Denise has founded and led both SARRC and First Place AZ, not to mention DRA Collective – her successful marketing/communications firm. Despite all of her accomplishments, I know the role she is most proud of is being Matt’s mom. Her life has been devoted to doing everything possible to make his life journey, and the lives of thousands of others, more fulfilling and complete. She says that Matt and others with different abilities inspire her work.
Denise is an inspiration to me and to all who seek to improve lives for others. Her life of giving back while moving forward with her eye on the next piece of the puzzle has made our community and our world a better place.
Learn more about First Place AZ and how you can help this cause at https://www.firstplaceaz.org/.
