Special Kids announced today it recently received a grant for $9,000 from the Richard Siegel Foundation to help fund its summer day camp for children with special needs.

The grant will help reduce weekly fees for all campers attending Camp Ability. In the past 2012 camp season, 56 campers attended, and Special Kids aims to increase attendance to 62 campers with the help of the Richard Siegel Foundation.

“The continued support from the Richard Siegel Foundation has allowed Camp Ability to provide care to a growing number of children in our community,” said Alexis Ramsey, CTRS, Director of Skilled Care at Special Kids. “It is truly a blessing to continue to receive this funding for our families and our organization. We are so thankful for the grant.”

Since 2007, the Richard Siegel Foundation has partnered with Special Kids to start and continue Camp Ability, a Christian-based summer day camp for children with special needs between the ages of 6-25. The day camp focuses on abilities rather than disabilities during its eight week session from June to July each year. Camp Ability provides an opportunity for children with special needs to participate in structured recreational activities in a safe environment.

The summer camp strives to promote each child’s self-esteem, social skills, and body image by providing a setting for positive social interaction to increase and enhance daily living skills. Camp Ability also provides programming to help equip children for school and everyday activities.

Mr. Richard Siegel envisioned programs receiving grants from the Foundation promoting high moral and ethical standards and being available to all children regardless of race, religion, or nationality. The Richard Siegel Foundation aims to improve the overall quality of public education in the city of Murfreesboro and promote the development of young people and families through recreation in Rutherford County.

Special Kids is a Christian nonprofit organization located in Murfreesboro, TN, providing therapeutic rehabilitation and professional nursing services to children with special needs. Since 1998, Special Kids has served over 2,300 families from 11 counties in middle Tennessee. For more information on Special Kids, please visit specialkidstn.com or call 615.893.4892.