Maria Montalvo remembers when her son Diego was first diagnosed with autism at the tender age of 2. 

"Like a ghost in a beautiful boy, our son was there physically, but wasn’t there mentally," Montalvo said. "He would look through us.”

The Montalvos of West Kendall -- mom, dad, son, daughter and dog named Scooby -- have journeyed to many doctors, insurance companies and books to learn about autism and go around obstacles to help Diego, now 13, and thriving. 

Through the years, the Montalvos also have met other families of children with autism -- 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorders -- and now want to help others. They created the D Amor Foundation (D for Diego and Amor for love) and hope to open as many doors as possible for autistic children to explore and reach their full potential.  

The foundation's goal is to “create resources and educational tools, such as speech, occupational, art, music, and sensory integration therapies,” Montalvo said.  “The ultimate goal is to have an establishment that will help all those families that don't have the financial resources to cope with everything related with Autism and Sensorial Integration Disorder.”

Just how important are organizations like this?

Dr. Michael Alessandri, executive director of the University of Miami's Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, South Florida's leading autism support agency, said he knows firsthand the importance of these kinds of ventures.

"While research and advocacy are critical to our cause, families today are really most desperately in need of organizations that will help them fund their children's therapies and care," Dr. Alessandri said. "Most families are excluded from insurance benefits for autism or the needed therapies are simply not covered. What Maria is doing is exemplary in my opinion, in that it will raise awareness and resources for families trying to help their children receive the care they so desperately need to improve today."

These goals are no small task. There is a great need in Miami for better resources for children with autism, especially for low income families. The foundation's first fundraiser will be a Zumbathon at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20th at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Hall, 11291 Southwest 142nd Ave., in West Kendall. Tickets are just $15 and can be purchased at the door or through their website, www.damor.org. 

The Zumba Masterclass is led by Zumba jammer expert, Meli Mastroeni Kirkwood, from California, and other instructors.

Kirkwood is donating her expertise in fitness to fundraiser because she remembers when her 6-year-old niece Gianna was born.   

"Even though she was the most happy baby, we knew she wasn't 100 percent here," Kirkwood said. "I saw my sister's frustration, denial, unhappiness and mostly, struggle. At that time we lived in Florida and the doctors wouldn't diagnose Gianna. Therefore, there was barely any therapy offered. My sister luckily moved to California and found help. Gianna's final diagnosis was Asperger's Sydrome."

Montalvo, a student of Kirkwood's fitness class, asked why she was moving to California and Kirkwood told her she needed to be close to her family.

"Since I moved, I wanted to help Maria and her vision to help families experiencing autism," Kirkwood said. "I know she has the potential to make a change in people's lives and this ZUMBATHON is proof. I'm just putting my talent, but all the work was made by friends and the Montalvo family. I'm proud to be the instructor and the friend to support a great cause that will change the future for many other families."