Julonna Bailey remembers the early days of the PERFECT Project clearly: families were asking for help they could actually use, and there weren’t enough tools made with their day-to-day reality in mind.

When Hunter’s Fund awarded Julonna her first grant (she was Julonna Peterson then), it gave her the boost to start building a resource for children with developmental disabilities — and for the caregivers and teachers walking beside them every day. That first “yes” helped turn an idea into something families could reach for when they needed support.

Since then, life has shifted — and so has PERFECT. Julonna recently shared that the project is going through a rebrand as she figures out how it can grow in a new place. While she works through legal requirements in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), she’s continued supporting some clients virtually. And back in Saint Vincent, her mother — a teacher — has helped keep the work moving by responding when families reach out for products and support. Even across islands, the need hasn’t disappeared, and neither has Julonna’s commitment to meet it.

That steady work through PERFECT has shaped what came next.

Last summer, Julonna got married and is now Julonna Bailey. She also relocated from Saint Vincent to the BVI, where she lives and works today. She’s a lecturer in psychology at the community college, and she also does part-time occupational therapy. Along the way, she has led workshops and seminars focused on mental health — a natural extension of what she learned through PERFECT: people don’t just need information; they need to feel prepared, supported, and understood.

Now, Julonna is taking what she’s seen and heard from families and turning it into something new: a book. The story is told through the eyes of a child with developmental disabilities, with a Caribbean focus. Julonna’s hope is simple and powerful — that any child who picks it up, autistic, ADHD, or otherwise, will feel seen. She’s aiming to complete it around March or April and hopes to offer it in both digital and print formats, including on Amazon.

When you support Hunter’s Fund, you’re not just helping a project get started — you’re helping it grow into new seasons. Julonna’s story is what that can look like: one grant, one idea, and a steady path forward for the families who need it most.