Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Georges.
Hi Stacy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always loved working with special needs clients and got my degree in Recreation Therapy from Purdue University. After raising two children who needed accommodations to even make it through the government school system, I realized the battle that parents of children with special needs, fight for “a fair and equal education.”
Our mainstream schools serve children who can sit and take notes during a lecture. When a child learns differently, the burden is on the parents to prove that their child needs a different teaching style. This is when things get messy. Because of the battle that parents fight to get their children an education, therapy, and medical assistance, their finances, are both physical and mental. health is affected. Marriages are destroyed under this pressure 80% of the time, and families become single-parent homes. Now this family’s finances are drained, and the parents need rest. I started by caring for special needs children in the home myself, through that experience, I met many parents who could not afford to for care. There is a State-funded program that is serving 13,000 families, but there are still over seven thousand families on a waitlist.
The state has a surplus of tax money of over six billion dollars, but it is not being given to these families. Special Needs Respite uses private donations to pay for respite care to those who cannot even fill out the State application. We run multiple fundraisers each year, but it is not enough. We need grants from private companies to serve these weary parents. When we strengthen the family, we strengthen our community. With a budget of 500,000 a year we could serve two hundred and fifty weary families. We have served Three hundred and sixty families over the first five years. This is our SEVENTTH year of serving. The system is in place, but our fundraisers cost money. A grant or donation would go directly to the family relief of our Metro Atlanta families.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The struggle is, and continues to be that fundraising takes money. We pay for the venue, entertainment, and dinners. Then we have to sell enough admission tickets and marketing sponsorships to cover those costs. THEN ever is left over after expenses are paid, we put toward serving families.
We love our events, and they help our brand recognition, but we need Grants, and private donations that can go directly to our cause. The smaller the income the higher the percentage of donations go to operating costs. We only have two paid staff, and they are contractors, so we are run mainly by volunteers. Yet the priority of paying for special needs childcare is done with the funds raised from events.
We need a high-profile spokesperson in the Atlanta area to get the attention of those who can help fund the cause. Everyone knows someone with a special needs child. What we may not know is how to help them. We know that they need respite care. Just ask them. That is the number one need most parents ask for. You can make a difference, by telling your friends about this opportunity to make our community stronger.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have made a career of helping those who have challenges from all different disabilities. Both physical and mental health can be a barrier to enjoying a full life of Work, play, and family. I did my internship at Shepherd Spinal Center right here in downtown Atlanta. I have worked with children and adults with special needs here for sixteen years, There are wonderful programs offered to our disability community for work and play.
The prominent challenges are still transportation and living situations. Parents provide both of these for their children and adults with disability. Imagine how many parents are sleep-deprived and driving their disabled family member. Traffic and accidents are everyone’s problem. My work every day is to share this struggle with our community. These people are isolated from the community for one reason or another. This results in the breakdown of mental and physical health.
According to Phycology Today magazine, research shows that Isolation is equivalent to Obesity, or smoking 15 cigarettes a day. This is how much isolation deteriorates the body of these parents. Giving them time to go outside to get in the sun, get a coffee, or meet a friend, can give them the hope they need to continue on another day. Without hope, parents turn to murder-suicide. in many cases.
This is the passion of my life, to help weary families stay whole. I am always available to speak to groups big or small on behalf of our special needs families in Metro Atlanta. Right now, our strongest supporters have been Eagles Nest Church in Roswell and the Aberu Family Foundation.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I spent two years learning from Business Networking International, BNI. This organization is the most successful in training and growing new business owners.
They offer free training videos and podcasts that are available with membership. You also get access to business owners all around the world to meet and network. This membership helped me double our donations in the first year. Go to: www.BNIATL.com to visit a chapter near you.
Pricing:
- We provided funding for 93 families in 2023.
- A donation of $500,000.00 will pay for 250 weary families to get respite and hope to get.
- March 23 Rock’n for Respite $1,500.00 sponsors get marketing and an evening of dinner for 8 and entertainment
- $500.00 gives one family three months of respite care.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.specialneedsrespite.org
- Instagram: special needs respite
- Facebook: Special Needs Respite, inc.
- Linkedin: special needs respite
- Youtube: special needs respite
