People with Disabilities Community Partners | Special Kids Special Families appreciates our community partners. We are grateful for your generosity and we thank you for supporting our mission to support individuals with disabilities and their families.
Valuable Community Partnership of Nationwide Business and Local Non-Profit
The infusion of the business community into the non-profit world can create a powerful catalyst for community change. The partnership started as a result of the efforts of Mr. John Butts, at NuStar. John, and his wife Jennifer had fostered many children and worked with Ms. Ellegard with the foster care agency she supervised, and they eventually adopted a child. Their friendship continued after Ms. Ellegard left that organization and started up Special Kids Special Families.
In 2004, Nustar, then affiliated with Valero, hosted annual golf tournaments in Texas to raise money for children’s charities. It was through John’s nomination of SKSF’s Zach’s Place, that this program received a generous award of $25,000. These funds helped support specialized respite and child care to families raising children having diagnoses that include Autism, seizure disorders, Downs Syndrome, and other challenges. For some families, finding regular child care would not be possible without Zach’s Place program.
Since that grant award, the connection and commitment from NuStar Energy employees has continued throughout the years. Dedicated NuStar employees and their families consistently support and volunteer at SKSF events and individually contributing to SKSF programs. Providing financial support for SKSF’s Annual Bowlathon, the employee Texas style summer barbecue, for SKSF’s annual Christmas party, to benefit children & adults with disabilities and the Annual Night of Comedy; in which NuStar participates as a Platinum sponsor every year.
“The amazing ongoing commitment that NuStar Energy shows to our programs gives us that stability to continue our efforts to help support families who have a loved one with a disability. Their contribution and dedication to SKSF is invaluable,” comments Linda Ellegard, Executive Director.