Annual Report

2015
Annual
Report
The mission of First Steps, Inc. is to
educate and care for children with special
needs and medical conditions alongside
their typically developing peers in inclusive
environments and support their families.
Special Events
The 2015 Vino on the Veranda was held at City Winery on
October 1st. First Steps’ annual fundraising event always
provides a night of great company while guests enjoy the
selection of over 40 wines and an extensive silent auction.
We are grateful for the support of our sponsors, patrons, auction contributors,
guests and volunteers. Without them, this event could not be successful!
Save the Date for a return to City Winery on September 29, 2016!
Art Show and Sale
First Steps hosted its Fourth Annual Art Show and Sale on April 24 at
the McWhorter Family Children’s Center. The children showcased their
artwork inspired by Edvard Munch, Jackson Pollock, Piet Mondrian,
Damien Hirst, and many more. The event grows each year
as parents, grandparents, extended family, friends, and
supporters come back to celebrate our students and their
hard work, and enjoy great eats at the food truck! A special
thanks goes out to Anne Friedland of the Junior
League for her continued amazing support.
Partners
We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the following individual,
corporate, community, and foundation partners through June 30, 2015. If
your information is missing or is incorrect, please contact us at 615-690-3091.
Foundation Partners
Community Partners
Baptist Healing Trust
Cal Turner Family Foundation
Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Dan and Margaret Maddox Charitable Trust
Delek Fund for Hope
Dorothy Cate & Thomas Frist Foundation
First Tennessee Foundation
Frist Foundation
HCA Foundation
Jane & Richard Eskind and Family Foundation
NAAEYC
Nashville Predators Foundation
None Will Perish Foundation
Protestant Orphanage Foundation
Southern Association of Colleges
T & T Foundation
Woodmont Christian Church
Best Brands
Duncanwood Society
Individuals with a minimum contribution of $1,000
Lisa & Karl Cox III
Mr. and Mrs. John Greer
Shelly Cox Harris
Cheryl Hilgenbrink
Maureen Joyce
Carolyn Loudenslager & Dan Muir
Mr. & Mrs. Clayton McWhorter
Richard Vaughn
Blake Watt
Corporate Partners
AT & T
Bone McAllester Norton
Comdata
Donatic
Gresham, Smith and Partners
HCA/Tristar
Lewis Thomason
QTEC
Swaim & Swaim
Waller
Books Are Fun
Franklin Road Academy
Frugal MacDoogal
Gateway Community Church
TN Dept. of Education
TN Dept. of Human Services
United Way Metropolitan Nashville
United Way Williamson County
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
Individual Contributors
Periann Allman
Michaela Anderson
Rebecca Annastas
Stephanie Apa
Charliene & Philip Armstrong, Jr.
Michelle Barker
Adrian Benavente
Nicole Binkley
Stacy M. Blackwell
Karen Blankenship
Ralph & Mary Bowen
Johnnie Brandon
Whitney Broadway
Cabrina Brown
Stephanie & Jason Brown
Susan & Bill Brownie
Sarah & Hayes Bryant
Stacy Bruner
Julie & Stuart Burkhalter
Margaret & Barry Buxkamper
Lauren & Wil Caldwell
Mark Cappellino
Saowapa Cassidy
Dorothy Cheagle
Diane & Tim Clark
Kevin Clouse
John Cole
Tara Coleman
Lisa & Billy Collier
Lisa & Karl Cox, III
David Dahlroos
Sheri Davis
Lou Ann de Roode
Joshephine Dean
Katie Dean
Julia & Kenneth Dean
Maggie & Chip DeVier
Jackie Dixon
Mr. & Mrs. Ben R. Doubleday, Jr.
Sara & Mark Dugan
Amy Dunlap
Kathryn & Webb J. Earthman
Rose & Kevin Easton
Rhonda Eitel
Holly & James Enterline
Katherine Enterline & John Miller
Donald Estes
Joy Farmer
Susan & Jerry Faulkner
Kaci & Matt Fisher
Judy & Frank Foster
Victor B. Francescon, Sr.
Claire & Merrick Francis
Cayley Freeman
Peggy S. Fults
Valere & Benjamin Fulwider
Kimberly Davis Futrell
Kelly Fry
Victoria Gentry
Christy & Keith Gibson
Ray Gibson
Shelley & Chris Green
Meaghen & Tim Greene
Gay & John Greer
Shannon Hamlin
Susan Hampton
Robbie Hampton
Carolyn Hannon
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Hansen
Shelly Cox Harris
Kelli Jo & John Hazen, Jr.
Pamela Hazen
Jennifer & Keith Hein
Senator & Mrs. Douglas Henry
D. Michael Henry, Jr.
Deanne & Gregory Hernandez
Heather & Ed Higgins
Cheryl Hilgenbrink
Jennifer & Reid Hillen
Stephanie & Richard Holland
Reba Holmes
Amy Hostettler
Barbara Hotz
Mr. & Mrs. D. Joseph Houck
Melissa & Thomas Howard
Amber & Jared Humphrey
David James
Mallory Johnson
Maureen Joyce
Faye King
Lauren & Andrew King
Amanda & Jon Knight
Vasanta Knight
Nicole Knott
Shannon Goff Kukulka
Teresa & Paul Kuharsky
Christine Kyle
Christie & Rob Laird
Ellen Lehman
Ellen & Martin Leinwand
Marye Lewis
Sharon & Robert Loftis
Lesa & Andrew Long
Elizabeth & Christopher Long
Carolyn Loudenslager & Dan Muir
Emily Levin
Jay Lurie
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Mahler
Anne Martin
Bob Martineau & Pamela Eddy
Kim Masengill
Teresa & Rob Mason
Paula McClendon
John McCourt
Katherine & Jim McElroy
Mr. & Mrs. Michael McMillen
Mr. & Mrs. Clayton McWhorter
James Mitchell
Meghan Moncayo
Lise & Will Morrow
Ann M. Musick
Paula Murfree
Jay Nair
Carol Nesmith
Dee & Tirrill Parker
Melody Patterson
Mandy & Ryan Peebles
Holly & Chad Poff
Anne Pomeroy
Kathleen Reece
Debra Rhoads
Brenda & Marshall Richards
Terry A. Roney
Emily & Tony Runzo
Jennifer Rybolt
Patricia Sargent
Suzanne & Jason Satterfield
Carolyn Schneider & Barrett Sutton
Mary Schoettle
Kevin Sharp
Cyndi & Bill Sites
Christine Skold
Bonnie & Larry Smith
Janet & Ed Smith
Monty Steele
Joanne & Joe Sowell
Stephanie & Jon Sundock
Laura & John Tarpley
Amber Taylor
Dr. & Mrs. Paul Teschan
David Thomforde
Carolyn Thompson, M.D.
Tracy M. Thurber
Karsten & Chadd Tierney
Diane Turman
Stephanie & Jason Underwood
Richard J. Vaughn
Deanna Wallace
Rebecca & Travis Walters, MD
Blake Watt
John & Anne White
Patty Wingfield
Dean’s Story
Dean was born in October of 2010 at 32
weeks gestation. An undetected kidney tumor
present in his mother suddenly hemorrhaged
and her body cut off blood and oxygen to him
causing brain damage to the motor relay and planning
sections of his brain. Both his Mom and Dean are lucky to be
here today, but that is only the beginning of Dean’s story.
Not expected to live through the first night, Dean continually
defies the odds. He was at high risk for many secondary complications,
but he had none. He did not have a stroke and he never developed
any further brain damage, and his brain damage remains isolated.
When he left the NICU at two months old, despite his improving
health and development, his parents were told to prepare for the worst. Dean started pediatric therapy two weeks
after he came home from the hospital and continues those therapies today. He receives feeding therapy, speech
therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, hippotherapy, aquatic therapy, vision therapy and ABM (Anat Baniel
Method) therapy for children with Cerebral Palsy. Right before Dean turned two, it was evident that Dean needed to
be around other kids his age.
Dean’s mother says she chose First Steps because, “there is no other school built the way this school is built. When
you have a special needs child, parents are thrown into a new unfamiliar road full of red tape and obstacles that
make it difficult for your child to be as normal as possible.” For Dean, once he was put in the classroom with his
peers, his personality came. He was soaking up the socialization and education, and he was finally being challenged
by his surroundings just like the other kids and he loves every minute of it. His friends know Dean as Dean, not the
kid who is disabled.
Dean trusts his teachers, helpers, therapists and friends, and they challenge him as an individual child, not just as a
special needs child. Through his inclusive education and on-site therapy, Dean continues to make progress every day.
Though Dean still has difficulties, he is the brightest, smartest, most determined boy. He is so full of life! When you
see Dean cruising in his shiny new gait trainer in the halls with a big smile on his face, you know why. He has been
given the opportunity to thrive in an environment that fosters the whole child, despite their difficulties!
Revenue FY 2014-2015
Expenses FY 2014-2015
Program Service Fees
43%
Program Services
89%
United
Way
5%
Fundraising 9%
Other
2%
Fundraising
4%
Management & General 7%
Children Served in Each Program (686 total children)
Child
Development
Center (83)
12.1%
of our families
are low-income
Pediatric
Therapy
(121)
17.6%
85% of the children served by First Steps' programs have been diagnosed
as having developmental delays, special needs, physical disabilities or
chronic medical conditions. Diagnoses range from autism spectrum disorders,
Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, failure to thrive,
seizure disorder, trisomy 13 and many others.
15% are typically
developing
peers in the child
development
center classrooms.
The children and families at First Steps represent a wide variety of ethnicities:
Many of the families
we serve are from other
countries, including:
Mexico, Puerto Rico,
Egypt, Guatemala,
Ecuador, Burma, India,
Iran and Somalia.
23%
Black
19%
Hispanic
6% Asian
2% Other
First Steps would like to recognize and thank the following volunteers for their service:
Danielle Aument
Anne Friedland
Ashley Lewis
Carly Blakely
Kelly Fussman
Will Moore
Katie Carrero
Sarah Gniazdowski
Michelle Myers
Murphie Clem
Steve Cundy
Holly Davis
Kathryn Defatta
HCA
Cori Haber
Ryan Hazen
Emily Hohmann
IBM
INTERNS
Elaine Merle
Mayra Gonzales,
Tennessee College of
Applied Technology
Giselle Zaragoza,
Anna Snodgrass
Tennessee College of
Applied Technology
Tolly Stewart
Amy Vaillencourt
Sloan Strickland
Caroline Watkins
Belmont University
Catherine Couey
Lesley University
Adventist University
of Health Sciences
Lauren Sprouse
University of Alabama
Birmingham
Katie Crumpler
University of Alabama
Birmingham
Donate Online
We make it convenient by accepting online
donations through our website. Just visit
www.firststepsnashville.org
and click “Donate.”
1900 Graybar Lane | Nashville, TN 37215
615.690.3091
www.firststepsnashville.org