Local nonprofit Special Kids recently received a grant from The Baptist Healing Trust (BHT), which awarded funds totaling over $2 million in its most recent grant cycles.  In addition to its regular funding cycle, BHT held a special funding cycle for Affordable Care Act outreach, training, and enrollment assistance. Over $800,000 will fund nonprofit agencies working in middle Tennessee to help link people to affordable coverage. 

“We are proud to help support 42 local non-profits working to create access to quality, compassionate health services for the community’s most vulnerable residents,” said President & CEO Dr. Cathy Self.  The mission of the Baptist Healing Trust, a private grant making foundation, is the sacred work of fostering healing and wholeness for vulnerable populations through strategic investing, philanthropy, and advocacy.              

The $32,000 grant awarded to Special Kids will provide programmatic support for the 2014 season of Camp Ability, a seven week summer day camp for children with special needs, as well as Camp Ability Plus, four additional days of camp throughout the year.

Recipients of the contributions include non-profit organizations from 40 counties in middle Tennessee that focus on physical health, mental health, recovery from alcohol and drug abuse or healing from abuse, neglect, and violence.

This year’s grants bring the collective grant making of the Baptist Healing Trust to over $64 million since 2002.  The Baptist Healing Trust was created when Baptist Hospital in Nashville sold to St. Thomas Health Services, a ministry of Ascension Health in St. Louis, Missouri.

Special Kids is a Christian nonprofit providing rehabilitation and nursing services to children with special needs. The Murfreesboro-based ministry started with one child in 1998 and has grown to serve over 2,600 children from 11 counties in middle Tennessee. For more information about Special Kids, please visit specialkidstn.com.