Where does a child battling a life-challenging illness go to find peace and solitude?  Where does a child battling a life-challenging illness go to get away from the needles and medicines?  Special Spaces is nonprofit 501 C (3) organization that creates dream bedrooms for children with life challenging illnesses.  Special Spaces evolved on the precedent that children facing this journey need a special space for them to heal, recover and find peace.  Special Spaces was founded in July of 2004 and to this day has created over sixty dream bedrooms since its inception.  These room makeovers and have been designed and implemented in Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio.  Special Spaces is on the verge of becoming a fast growing national nonprofit.

The majority of the children are referred to Special Spaces by the local children’s hospital.  Special Spaces has developed a strong and positive relationship with the hospitals and their Child Life Specialist in the Oncology Department across Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.  In Tennessee alone, there are 191 new childhood cancer patients diagnosed each year.  Once a child is referred to us by the local children’s hospital, a home interview is scheduled with the child and family.  The child is the main "designer" of a Special Spaces room makeover.  Whatever the child can dream or imagine we can create within the limitations of our budget.

Our sources of funding include private and public donations.  The financial funding of Special Spaces is based solely on the generous donation of businesses and organizations that decide to sponsor a particular child’s room.  There are no matching funds or other sources at this time.  We approach businesses and organizations, and request a monetary donation to cover the cost of the supplies.  We also hope to be provided with 15–20 of their employees to work with our skeleton crew for one day at the room that is sponsored.  We put all the volunteers to work under the guidance of our crew which consists of a general contractor, seamstress and other members from our board of volunteers.  In just one day, that dream bedroom is created and presented to the child and family.  In 2007, we received grants from several sponsors to include HGTV, The Nashville Predators and AT&T Pioneers. 

In the last five years, Special Spaces has been able to provide dream bedrooms for over 75 children in the southeast region.  It has also been able to create affiliate chapters in Ohio, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee.  With the proper funding, Special Spaces could not only provide more dream bedrooms but also start chapters in several other areas.  To recap, in 2004 Special Spaces was able to raise approximately $12,500.00 and 100% of this funding went directly into the children’s rooms to make their dreams become a reality.  In 2005, Special Spaces was able to raise well over $28,000.00 all of which went to bedroom makeovers.  In 2006, we were able to raise over $70,000.00 with 100% going to bedrooms. In 2007, we were able to raise almost $72,000.00 with 99% of that going to the room.  Special Spaces at this time, is a 100% all volunteer organization. 

Special Spaces has far out succeeded our expectations.  We know that our goals for Special Spaces of Nashville, Knoxville, Ohio and Kentucky, Florida and Pennsylvania will be met and maintained throughout many years.  The support for this organization has been extremely rewarding and fulfilling for our staff here in Knoxville.  With the proper funding and volunteer commitment, Special Spaces will thrive across the country.  Children with life challenging illnesses will no longer have to wait months for their dream bedrooms.  Nor will any of them have to be turned down due to lack of local support.  With a national launch campaign comes the need for national donations.  It is our vision and hope that Special Spaces will be providing dream bedrooms for children in every state.  The Special Spaces National Expansion Campaign needs your support.  So won’t you consider a donation today?  I promise you that it will be day you will never forget and a day that a child with life-challenging illnesses will always remember.