Registration for Spring 2026 Autism Services is Now Open!

Donor Spotlight: Meet Kim Huyhn 

FEBRUARY 24, 2026

For close to 40 years, the Surrey Place Foundation has provided vital funding in support of Surrey Place’s mission to help people of all ages with autism-, developmental- and sensory-related concerns push the boundaries of what’s possible and thrive—at every stage of life. This wouldn’t be possible without our growing and dedicated donor community who champion our efforts every step of the way. 

Today, we’d like to introduce you to one donor in particular: Kim Huynh. Not only is Kim a supporter, but she is also a valued staff member here at Surrey Place! Kim joined the team in April 2024 as a Senior Financial Analyst. We recently sat down with her to learn more about what inspires her to give and why Surrey Place will always hold a special place in her heart. 

Tell us about your role and work at Surrey Place.

Kim: In my capacity as a Senior Financial Analyst, I provide financial oversight and strategic support for Surrey Place’s children’s programming. I manage the budgeting process and prepare monthly financial performance reports.

I’m proud that since joining the organization, I’ve been able to apply my previous experience to strengthen the department by developing a month-end and reporting calendar that keeps our deliverables on track. I’ve also helped implement protocols and processes that enable clearer and more effective financial analysis. Our team works hard to ensure every donation counts!  

What inspired you to make a donation in support of Surrey Place?

Kim: My nephew is autistic, so this cause is very close to my heart. Through his experiences, my family and I have seen first-hand how access to comprehensive, holistic care can positively shape a child’s learning and development. I hope that my gift, however small, will help a child learn and pursue a passion that might otherwise have not been possible. 

I deeply believe that every child deserves the chance to live, learn and grow to their fullest potential. Supporting that hope means a great deal to me. 

What do you wish more people knew about Surrey Place? 

Kim: Surrey Place provides specialized teaching, care and support to children and adults with autism, helping them develop the skills they need to adapt independently within their communities. 

Every individual deserves equitable access to learning and development, and with increased public awareness, Surrey Place would be able to expand its programs to more effectively meet the diverse needs of the autism community. 

What Surrey Place projects, initiatives or events are you most looking forward to this year? 

Kim: I am looking forward to Surrey Place securing increased public and private funding so it can expand its existing programs and provide enhanced support for individuals with more acute autism-related needs. Given the current economic climate, additional resources can help alleviate the financial pressures many families face while ensuring their children receive the care and support essential to their wellbeing. 

Finally, what are you most passionate about in life? What gives you hope?

Kim: I am deeply passionate about giving. Life does not offer equal opportunities to everyone and knowing that my support might help someone feel seen, valued and included fills me with hope that our society can lift people up rather than leave them behind. 

We are incredibly grateful to Kim for taking the time to share her story with us. Thank you, Kim, for being a donor as well as a committed member of the Surrey Place team!  

Join Kim and hundreds of others by making a gift to the Surrey Place Foundation today. Your donation helps build a stronger, more inclusive community for everyone and ensures no one is left behind. Donate now.

We love hearing from our donors. If you have a special connection to Surrey Place, let us know—email us at giving@surreyplace.ca to share your story. You may even be featured in an upcoming donor spotlight profile! 

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By 2 months

Has your baby had their hearing screened? YES NO

By 6 months

Does the child?

Startle in response to loud noises? YES NO
Turn to where a sound is coming from? YES NO
Make different cries for different needs (hungry, tired)? YES NO
Watch your face as you talk? YES NO
Smile/laugh in response to your smiles and laughs? YES NO
Imitate coughs or other sounds such as ah, eh, buh YES NO

By 9 months

Does the child?

Respond to their name? YES NO
Respond to the telephone ringing or a knock at the door? YES NO
Understand being told no? YES NO
Get what they want through using gestures (reaching to be picked up)? YES NO
Play social games with you (Peek-a-Boo)? YES NO
Enjoy being around people? YES NO
Babble and repeat sounds such as babababa or duhduhduh? YES NO

By 12 months

Does the child?

Follow simple one-step directions (sit down)? YES NO
Look across the room to a toy when adult points at it? YES NO
Consistently use three to five words? YES NO
Use gestures to communicate (waves hi/bye, shakes head for no)? YES NO
Get your attention using sounds, gestures and pointing while looking at your eyes? YES NO
Bring you toys to show you? YES NO
Perform for social attention and praise? YES NO
Combine lots of sounds together as though talking (abada baduh abee)? YES NO
Show an interest in simple picture books? YES NO

By 18 months

Does the child?

Understand the meaning of in and out, off and on? YES NO
Point to more than 2 body parts when asked? YES NO
Use at least 20 words consistently? YES NO
Respond with words or gestures to simple questions (Where's teddy? What's that?)? YES NO
Demonstrate some pretend play with toys (gives teddy bear a drink, pretends a bowl is a hat)? YES NO
Make at least four different consonant sounds (p ,b, m, n, d, g, w, h)? YES NO
Enjoy being read to and sharing simple books with you? YES NO
Point to pictures using one finger? YES NO

By 2 years

Does the child?

Follow two-step directions (Go find your teddy bear and show it to Grandma.)? YES NO
Use 100 to 150 words? YES NO
Use at least two pronouns (you, me, mine)? YES NO
Consistently combine two to four words in short phrases (Daddy hat. Truck go down.)? YES NO
Enjoy being around other children? YES NO
Begin to offer toys to other children and imitate other children's actions and words? YES NO
Use words that are understood by others 50 to 60 per cent of the time? YES NO
Form words or sounds easily and without effort? YES NO
Hold books the right way up and turn the pages? YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys? YES NO
Scribble with crayons? YES NO

By 30 months

Does the child?

Understand the concepts of size (big/little) and quantity (a little/a lot, more)? YES NO
Use some adult grammar (two cookies, bird flying, I jumped)? YES NO
Use over 350 words? YES NO
Use action words such as run, spill, fall? YES NO
Participate in some turn-taking activities with peers, using both words and toys? YES NO
Demonstrate concern when another child is hurt or sad? YES NO
Combine several actions in play (puts blocks in the train and drives the train, drops the blocks off.)? YES NO
Put sounds at the beginning of most words? YES NO
Use words with two or more syllables or beats (ba-na-na, com-pu-ter, a-pple)? YES NO
Recognize familiar logos and signs involving print (Stop sign)? YES NO
Remember and understand familiar stories? YES NO

By 3 years

Does the child?

Understand who, what, where and why questions? YES NO
Create long sentences using five to eight words? YES NO
Talk about past events (trip to grandparents house, day at child care)? YES NO
Tell simple stories? YES NO
Show affection for favourite playmates? YES NO
Engage in multi-step pretend play (pretending to cook a meal, repair a car)? YES NO
Talk in a way that most people outside of the family understand what she/he is saying most of the time? YES NO
Have an understanding of the function of print (menus, lists, signs)? YES NO
Show interest in, and awareness of, rhyming words? YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys? YES NO
Scribble with crayons? YES NO

By 4 years

Does the child?

Follow directions involving three or more steps (First get some paper, then draw a picture and give it to Mommy)? YES NO
Use adult type grammar? YES NO
Tell stories with a beginning, middle and end? YES NO
Talk to try and solve problems with adults and with other children? YES NO
Show increasingly complex imaginary play? YES NO
Talk in a way that is understood by strangers almost all the time? YES NO
Generate simple rhymes (cat-bat)? YES NO
Match some letters with their sounds (letter b says buh, letter t says tuh)? YES NO