Special Kids recently recognized its top investors for 2011 during the Dick Kleinau Investor Appreciation Dinner held at Belle Aire Baptist Church. The dinner was an effort to thank investors who gave $1,000 or more in the previous year as well as volunteers who went above and beyond in the efforts to further the mission of Special Kids.
The organization presented framed artwork created by children receiving services at Special Kids to the top grant, business, civic group, church, individual, and volunteer investors. Baptist Healing Trust, which funds the organization’s summer day camp was the top grant partner, providing $27,250 in funding, while Thomas Nelson, who pledged $25,000 a year for three years, was the top business partner. Charity Circle, which gave $23,000 in funding to Special Kids, was the top civic group and Family Worship Center, the top church partner, chose to support the Special Kids through a $13,000 special investment from its congregation. Eddie Davis, owner of Gas World and Davis Construction, was once again recognized as the top individual investor giving $10,000 to Special Kids. Felicia Shirley was recognized as the top volunteer having dedicated countless hours to the organization as a committee member and Team Athletes for Special Kids member.
The dinner is named after the late Dick Kleinau who co-founded Special Kids with his daughter Carrie Goodwin. Kleinau invested faithfully, financially, and voluntarily to ensure the doors of Special Kids would be open to those in need. Unfortunately, Kleinau passed away two weeks before the facility officially opened in 1998, but because of his vision and faith to follow Jesus Christ in caring for children with special needs, more than 2,200 children from middle Tennessee have been served at Special Kids. Special Kids is able to continue its mission through individuals and organizations who follow Kleinau’s example by investing faithfully, financially, and voluntarily.
Special Kids is a Christian, nonprofit organization located in Murfreesboro, TN, that provides therapeutic rehabilitation and professional nursing services to children with special needs. Since 1998, Special Kids has served over 2,200 families from 11 counties in middle Tennessee. For more information on Special Kids, please visit specialkidstn.com or call 615.893.4892.
