Last week Special Kids held its Annual Dick Kleinau Investor Appreciation Reception to honor the local non-profit's major investors in 2014. The event was held at the new Special Kids Kleinau Nursing Center.

Special Kids Therapy and Nursing Center, a local organization that serves children with special needs, invited investors who gave $1,000 or more to the event. Over 65 guests enjoyed dinner from Jim 'N Nicks Bar-B-Q. The evening commenced with father, Joe Smith, sharing about his daughter, Ellie, who has received physical, occupational, speech, and feeding therapies at Special Kids.

The event continued with the recognition of honored investors for their ongoing support of the ministry. The individual investor honorees were Chuck and Lou Carter of Murfreesboro followed by the church partner honoree, Belle Aire Baptist Church. The Knights of Columbus were recognized for their ongoing civic group partnership and the Richard Siegel Foundation for their support as a grant partner for Camp Ability of Special Kids. Special Kids honored Nissan North America for its corporate partnership and Mike Picklesimer for his architectural contributions to the Special Kids building project in 2014. Dan Decker was recognized for fundraising over $3,000 by hiking the Appalachian Trail for the children at Special Kids.

During the event, the Buddy Gibbs Volunteer Appreciation Award was introduced. It was in memory of Buddy Gibbs, who served the children through his church, Family Worship Center, and the Special Kids Race. Charlie Apigian received the inaugural award in honor of his volunteer efforts as the Special Kids Race director.

The evening concluded by recognizing the Dick Kleinau Lifetime Giving Award recipients given to investors who have contributed over $100,000 through their lifetime giving. Recipients of the award included The Christy Houston Foundation, The Baptist Healing Trust, Charity Circle, HCA, Eddie Davis, Murfreesboro Medical Clinic & Surgicenter, Cam and Celeste Bivens, and Hubert and Dene McCullough.

Investors who are interested in learning more about Special Kids and its ministry to children with special needs may contact Stephanie Folkmann at 615.893.4892 or sfolkmann@specialkidstn.com.

Special Kids is a Christian therapy and nursing center for children with special needs. The Murfreesboro-based ministry started with one child in 1998 and has grown to serve over 2,700 children from 18 counties in middle Tennessee. For more information on Special Kids, please visit specialkidstn.com or call 615.893.4892.