About Us

My name is Taewoo, and I am the founder of the non-profit, The Bridge. I am 16 years old, and I currently attend Orange Lutheran High School. I was inspired to create this non-profit last year. At my school, we hold Day of Dreams, which is a day where we partner with schools who are dedicated to preparing students with special needs for “lives of purpose, quality, contribution, and independence.” On this day, we had over a hundred students who were paired for a fun day at Orange Lutheran. I was so surprised to see how much love and happiness were shared. We had all kinds of activities, and I was fortunate enough to play basketball, draw, and more with my partner. This event opened my eyes to how blessed we are to have such an opportunity that was provided by my school. 

Furthermore, that same spirit came alive again when I traveled to La Casa de Gabriel in Mexico, a home for children and adults with disabilities. There, I met Sergio, a man with Down syndrome whose bright energy and kindness left a lasting impression on me. Despite his limited verbal communication, we connected instantly and I still remember our cool handshake and how naturally we understood each other. It reminded me that sometimes connection doesn’t always require words but it requires just openness and heart. That experience inspired me to continue expanding The Bridge, creating more opportunities for young people to build friendships like the one I formed with Sergio, and to bridge the gap between understanding and action.