Statements

Mission

Shelby Foundation Inc. was organized to help enhance the education of children age 3-22 with severe/profound special needs. This organization provides funds to Harris-Hillman Special Education School to purchase adaptive equipment and make capital improvements to provide a safe, functional learning environment for students with intellectual and developmental disablities. We are hoping to partner with another organization to establish 'Donnie's House' a continuing education therapeutic day program much like the education program at Harris-Hillman Special Education School for students that have aged out of public school.

Background

The Shelby Foundation Inc. was established in 2009 to provide funds to Harris-Hillman Special Education School. and other programs that provide support to young adults once they age out of public school. Harris Hillman School serves Davidson County students age 3- 21 who have severe/profound special needs. The adaptive equipment needed to provide the best education for these students is very expensive. The Shelby Golf Scramble & Auction benefitting Harris-Hillman School was started in SEP 2006. After three successful golf tournaments (fund raising events) were held and the event established, The Shelby Foundation Inc. was formed in order to continue the golf tournament & auction, and solicit grants from various companies, organizations, and foundations. We have a small window of opportunity to help these students and provide the best education possible.
The Shelby Foundation was named in honor of Shelby Elizabeth Hickman who attended Harris-Hillman Special Education School from January 2001 thru May 2020. Shelby passed away in January 2022. The Hickman family and Shelby Foundation Board members plan to continue raising funds in Shelby's memory to provide financial assistance to organizations that provide services and support to children and young adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Impact

Funds raised from the 2009 Shelby Golf Scramble and Auction allowed the Shelby Foundation Inc. to present a check in the amount of $65,000 to Harris-Hillman Special Education School. The funds were used to build a large shade structure (pavillion) that allows all students to enjoy the outdoors. The majority of the students cannot be in direct sunlight due to their medical conditions or medications. The structure was built available and ready for use by April 2010. The 2010 Shelby Golf Scramble, Auction, & Concert was another successful event. A check for $ 65,000 was presented to Harris-Hillman in DEC 2010. The funds will be used to build 'The Wiggle Room', a physical therapy room for Harris-Hillman students. Plans for the Wiggle Room were not finalized until 2011. The project will be started as soon as all construction cost are determined. This project can be built in phases as funds allow. A portion of the 2010 funds given to Harris-Hillman Special Education School were used to purchase a much needed sound system and Ipads for the students to use as part of their education program. Funds from the 2011 Event allowed The Shelby Foundation to enter into a contract to build a physical therapy room (The Wiggle Room) at Harris-Hillman Special Education School. The contract amount $90,000 was paid directly to the contractor Knestrick Construction. A check for $10,000 was presented to Harris-Hillman in December 2011 to purchase equipment for the new physical therapy room. Funds from the 2012 event are being used to provide a multi-sensory room at Harris-Hillman. This type of room greatly benefits students and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Funds raised from the 2013 and 2014 golf tournaments have been used to enclosed the in-ground trampoline area at Harris-Hillman. The enclosed room contains an overhead lift system that will be used to get students safely on and off the trampoline. A small rock climbing wall has been included in the space as well.A portion of the funds from the 2015 golf tournament have been used to install movable partitions that include white boards. The partitions will provide private space for IEP Meetings and additional education space. Funds from the 2015 and 2016 golf tournament is being used to purchase specially adapted communication equipment and devices to be used in speech therapy and the classrooms. Funds are also being used to purchase outdoor furniture that is wheelchair accessible and large umbrellas that will provide shade on the library patio.2017 Funds have been used to purchase a walker that can be used for multiple students. Eye-gaze technology equipment was purchased for the technology lab.2018 Funds were used to pay for teacher position so that all students would have access to the physical therapy room and the multi-sensory Snoozelen Room. Physical therapy equipment was purchased for Harris-Hillman School PT Department. 2019 Funds were provided to pay for Art Worshop scheduled for 2020 and physical therapy equipment was purchased. Funds were offered to Harris-Hillman School to pay for flooring for the indoor trampoline room; however, the project was not done. 2020 Provided funds to Friends Life Community to support programming for young adults with intellectual disabilities that have aged out of school. 2021 Golf Tournament funds in the amount of $80,000 were provided to the Empower Me Center to use as needed to support new facility and/or support for needs associated with programs for young adults. 2022 Golf Tournament funds in the amount of $100,000 were provided to the Empower Me Center to use as needed to support the new facility being built and/or support for programs for young adults. 2023 Golf Tournament funds in the amount of $80,000 were provided to Empower Me center. Equipment was purchased for Harris-Hillman School and communication devices were purchased for Sumner Co. students.

Needs

Volunteers are always needed at Harris-Hillmans Special Education School. Many students are tube-fed and would like to be read to or engaged in an activity while other students are eating lunch. Sponsors are always needed for the annual Shelby Golf Scramble, Auction. Metropolitan Nashville School System does not provide funds to purchase all of the specialized equipment needed by Harris-Hillman students. An Adult therapeutic day program is needed for Harris-Hillman students once they graduate. This is needed to prevent regression, have intereaction with peers, and allow parents/caregivers the ability to continue to work. Our organization needs help with grant writing. The Shelby Foundation has connected with other organizations that provide services to individuals with special needs; however, programs serving young adults with severe to profound special needs are greatly needed in the Nashville Metropolitan area.

CEO Statement

Children with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities are underserved in the Metropolitan Nashville area. An inclusive classroom is not the best education choice for all children with special needs. The Shelby Foundation Inc. is focusing on creating a state of the art school for students with severe special needs. In addition, the foundation would like to expand to fund therapeutic adult day programs for students who graduate from Harris-Hillman. Currently, there are no day programs available in the Nashville area for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. ECF Choices only option is isolation at home with limited access out into the community due to little to no transportation for adults in wheelchairs. The Shelby Foundation is currently seeking a partnership with another organization to provide a hub & spoke type day program for students that have aged out of the Harris-Hillman Special Education School.
The Shelby Foundation continues to provide communication devices to students in Sumner County schools. These devices give the students the ability to communicate and take the stress away from families that were not financially able to purchase a communication device for their child.

Board Chair Statement

Todd Jenkins, Board Chair Shelby Hickman attended Harris-Hillman Special Education School and close friend to me and my family. This school met her needs in a least restrictive environment. She was a student at Harris-Hillman from age 3 thru graduation at age 22. During her years there she made tremendous progress. She learned to crawl, walk with assistance, and ride an adaptive bike while she has been there. Each day is a challenge when raising a 'special needs' child. The staff at Harris-Hillman are very resourceful and do a great job of bringing the community into the school so that the students are not segregated from typical peers and others without special needs. Programs are desperately needed for young adults with intellectual and physical disabilities once they age out of public school. Friends Life Community and the Empower Me Center are currently providing programs for young adults with disabilities.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Human Services  - Developmentally Disabled Services/Centers
Secondary Category:	Public & Societal Benefit  - Alliances & Advocacy
Tertiary Category:	Education  - Special Education

Areas Served

Harris-Hillman Special Education School, one of the beneficiaries of The Shelby Foundation Inc. funds, serves students in Davidson County. Students from other counties may attend Harris-Hillmans under certain circumstances. The therapeutic adult day program for young adults with severe to profound physical and intellectual disabilities should be located in or around the Davidson County area. Support has been provided to Empower Me Center in Wilson County and Sumner County School students.

TN - Davidson