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Our daughter Katy is our life, our blessing and truly our hero. She is physically challenged-- so much so that she needs assistance with every activity of her daily living. Her mind however, and her hopes and desires, are very similar to any 28 year old woman. You could say she is “trapped in a body” that doesn’t work. She is not physically independent enough to get around on her own, or be out in the community working, yet she longs to have a job, friends, and basically a typical life.
After high school, there were no programs that would accommodate her unique needs. All the ones we identified, were for cognitively challenged individuals who were less physically challenged, and none had the resources or the courage to provide for Katy's extensive needs. Resolved to keeping her at home with us, we tried our best to encourage and stimulate her each day, but often she would have times of bursting into tears and when asked what was wrong, she would reply between sobs with great emotional distress, that she “had no life”. You see, young adults long for a life other than one at home with aging parents.
Then we found Brightstone, an organization founded ten years ago in Franklin, Tennessee by a bright, creative and caring special education teacher. Brightstone provides job training and lifelong education classes for adults with developmental disablilities. ( www.brightstone.org) Brightstone had the compassion, the courage, and the resourcefulness to take Katy in, and a willingness to learn to provide for her unique needs. Now Katy wakes up every morning looking forward to traveling to a loving environment where for seven hours she can work, learn, and play. Brightstone has given her a life, a meaningful job, a support system, personal friends, and most importantly…worth and value.
These difficult economic times are affecting all of us, but especially private non-profit organizations like Brightstone. At a time when it is financially difficult to consider donating, it is actually the most important time of all. Will you consider partnering with Brightstone to insure their continuing operation and to provide these adults with a life of value? Will you consider donating so that care-givng families can have a needed break, yet can feel comfortable that their precious one is in a safe, loving environment? Will you consider helping a wonderful organization that has helped so many others?
Please help Brightstone and their annual golf fundraiser by supporting us as golfers and helping us reach our goal. Your donations are critical and will provide the necessary funds for Brightstone to continue operating. Any amount you give will be appreciated and no amount is too small. Give from your heart to an organization that has so much heart.
Many thanks for your support and don’t forget to forward this to anyone you think might consider donating also!
Thank you so much,
Keith and Doreena (and Katy)
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