Co-founder Carole Samango-Sprouse
co-founder jacolyn bucksbaum
Co-founder Jacolyn Bucksbaum

The Foundation

Established in 2005 by Carole Samango-Sprouse, Ed.D and Jacolyn Bucksbaum

The Focus Foundation was born of both passion and a necessity identified by two women from vastly different backgrounds. 15 years ago Jacolyn Bucksbaum and Dr. Carole Samango-Sprouse forged an alliance to improve the lives of each and every child with an X and Y Chromosomal Variation world wide. Firm in their resolve to improve the health and well-being of children with X and Y Chromosomal Variations and the resulting developmental dyspraxia and dyslexia, Jackie and Carole are working to optimize the abilities of effected kids to ensure that they grow into successful and empowered adults. Raising awareness means raising funds and both women are tireless in their efforts to reach, educate and embrace everyone touched by the variations. The foundation is an organization for parents, doctors, teachers, therapists, and the very children with whom they work.

Jackie is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology with a BFA in Photographic Arts and Sciences. She worked in the motion picture industry in production for 15 years. A fearless philanthropist and civic leader, Jackie has extensive experience with nonprofit foundations and has served on numerous boards, spearheading projects that shine the spotlight on the US Ski Team, the Ounce of Prevention Fund, the Society for Contemporary Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, and the Latin School of Chicago. Jackie leads the Jacolyn and John Bucksbaum Foundation focusing on a variety of areas including early childhood education, Jewish education, the arts and medical advances that support both patients and effected family members She is currently a board trustee for the Chicago International Film Festival and Moadon Kol Chadash.

Dr. Carole Samango-Sprouse, a neurodevelopmentalist, has spent more than 20 years providing unique care and treatment for children with rare genetic disorders including X and Y Chromosomal Disorders. She is an associate clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Human and Molecular Genetics at Florida International University.

Her eclectic training has provided the framework for her writings on the integration between brain, neurogenetic disorder, individual learning style, and the importance of movement and motor skills as a framework for all achievement and intelligence. She has written more than 90 scholarly articles about the phenotypic profiles of children with various genetic disorders. She has recently authored an e-book on X and Y Chromosomal Variations and the relationship between hormones, brain development and neurodevelopmental performance. Dr. Samango-Sprouse has been instrumental in leading research studies on the benefits of testosterone for boys with 47, XXY for more than 8 years.

She serves as the Executive Director and Chief Science Officer of The Focus Foundation and has extensive and innovative training as well as experience with X & Y Chromosomal Variations, Developmental Dyspraxia and Dyslexia. In the last 15 years, The Focus Foundation has assembled an experienced and dedicated team of scientists, scholars, educators, health care providers, fundraising and marketing experts, and passionate volunteers.

Our team is driven to identify innovative and creative solutions for the challenges that children with these disorders encounter. We have partnered with the private donors, the pharmaceutical and corporate sponsors to fund research, educate and train the medical, health care professionals and the lay community about the red flags of developmental disturbances, brain-based intervention and syndrome-specific treatment for these children. With targeted intervention services, boys and girls with these conditions can avoid school failure, poor self-esteem and secondary behavioral problems. Then, recovery and optimal development can be achieved.

Together We Can…

  • National Attention

    Focus national attention to X & Y Variations, Dyslexia and Developmental Dyspraxia

  • Early Identification

    Increase early identification of these disorders

  • Greater Understanding

    Develop greater understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of the disorders

  • Targeted Treatment & Goals

    Create targeted treatment and syndrome-specific goals

  • Share Knowledge

    Share our most current evidence-based knowledge on these disorders with our families, medical professionals and all who care for those effected

  • Greater Understanding

    Develop greater understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of the disorders