ANNUAL REPORT | 2013

First StepsBoard ofDirectors2012-2013

Eric R. Bergesen Pres ident

Hayes Br yantTreasurer

Anne C . Mar t inSecretar y

Amy Dunlap Shannon Goff Kukulka

Ken Hinman Mel issa HouckMaureen Joyce Amanda Knight

Michelle McWhorterDan Muir

Mary Ruth RaphaelJon SundockJef f Tanner

Mike Umphres

The mission ofFirst Steps, Inc.is to educateand care forchildren withspecial needsand medicalconditionsalongside theirtypicallydeveloping peersin inclusiveenvironmentsand supporttheir families.

Our Vision

Enhance the quality of life for children

and their families.

Eliminate barriers to services for children

with special needs.

Empower families as they seek to meet

the needs of their children.

Improve the community as a whole;

child by child, family by family.

Celebrate each child’s unique potential.

The 2012 Vino on the Veranda was

held at Flyte World Dining and Wine on

October 4.The wine tasting and silent

auction event was chaired by board

members Amanda Knight and Anne Martin.

We were excited to have Highlands Winery

on site as our guests enjoyed their

selection of wines as well as over 40

other wines from around the world.

We are grateful for the support of our

sponsors, patrons, auction contributors,

guests and volunteers.Without them, this

event could not be

successful.Thank you for

attending our exciting

evening of wine and

good company to benefit

First Steps!

Art Show and SaleFirst Steps hosted its Second Annual Art Show and Sale on April 26 at the McWhorter

Family Children’s Center. Following the success of the first event, we invited parents,

grandparents, extended family and friends back to celebrate our students and their hard

work. Represented this year were works inspired by Edvard Munch, Jackson Pollock,Andy

Warhol and Claude Monet. Many thanks to the Wrapper’s Delight food truck and Tree

Branch Cakery for providing food, to our Center Staff for volunteering, and to Anne

Friedland of the Junior League for her continued amazing support.

SPECIAL EVENTS

First StepsGraduation

On July 26, First Steps families and staffgathered at First Presbyterian Church tocelebrate our McWhorter Family Children’sCenter Pre-K graduates. Students wereawarded diplomas as they prepare to enterKindergarten.They sang songs, performedskits and recited poetry. Thanks to all whojoined us for this special occasion and wewish our First Steps graduates the very best!

On September 12, the Community OutreachProgram celebrated it’s “3rd Birthday.” Over60 families gathered at the Center to enjoythe company of their peers and play gameswith the developmental therapists and volunteers. This program continues to be a huge part of First Steps.

Foundation PartnersBaptist Healing Trust

Community Foundation ofMiddle Tennessee

Dan & Margaret MaddoxCharitable FundEBS FoundationEzell Foundation

First Tennessee FoundationFrist FoundationHCA Foundation

Jackson National Life FoundationMcLeroy Foundation

Nashville Bar FoundationNashville Predators Foundation

Protestant OrphanageFoundation

Purity FoundationT & T Foundation

Cal Turner Family Foundation

Corporate Partners

ARC-NashvilleAT&T

Bone McAllester Norton, PLLCCeridian

Charlesbridge PublishingComdata

HCA/TriStar HealthSwaim & Swaim

TargetThe Rowland-Bradford Group

Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis

Community Partners

Books Are FunJunior League of Nashville

TN Dept. of EducationTN Dept. of Human ServicesUnited Way of Metropolitan

NashvilleUnited Way of Williamson

CountyVanderbilt University Medical

CenterVanderbilt University School of

Nursing

We gratefully acknowledge thecontributions of the following individual,corporate, community and foundation partners through June 30, 2013.

Duncanwood SocietyIndividuals with a minimumcontribution of $1,000

Dr. and Mrs. John GreerMs. Maureen Joyce

Mrs. Carolyn Loudenslager andMr. Dan Muir

Mr. and Mrs.Will MorrowMr. and Mrs. Jon Sundock

Mr. Mark SwaimMr. Richard Vaughn

Mr. Blake WattMr. and Mrs. Karl D. Cox, III

Ms. Cheryl AbernathyMs. Michaela Anderson

Mr.Terry AndersonMs. Stephanie Apa

Mr. Philip ArmstrongMs. Patricia Ayers

Mr. and Mrs. Eric BergesenMr. Richard BergesenMs.Amanda BillingsMs. Nicole BinkleyMs. Stacy BlackwellMs. Mary Bowen

Ms. Johnnie BrandonMs. Barbara BrazzellDr. McCall Bryant

Mr. and Mrs. Hayes BryantMr. Barry BuxkamperMs.Ashley CaldwellMr. Saowapa Cassidy

Ms. Kay CaudleMs. Diane ClarkMs. Lisa Collier

Mr.Vashon CovingtonMr. and Mrs. Karl D. Cox, III

Mr. James DavidMs. Sheri DavisMs. Julia Dean

Ms. Jackie DixonMr. and Mrs. Ben R. Doubleday, Jr.

Ms.Amy DunlapMs. Donna Dunlap

Dr. and Mrs.Webb EarthmanMr. and Mrs. Bob Eskew

Ms. Joy FarmerMr. and Mrs. Jerry Faulkner

Mr. and Mrs. Merrick FrancisMs. Barbara French

Ms. Kimberly M. Davis FutrellMs. Kathleen German

Mr. and Mrs. Harris GilbertMs. Lana Grant

Ms. Carissa GravesMr. and Mrs.Tim GreeneDr. and Mrs. John GreerMs. Polly Payne Gregory

Ms. Ellen HallMs. Shannon Hamlin

Mr. and Mrs. Charles HammondMs. Kimberly Harbour

Mrs. Kim HardinMs. Shelly Cox Harris

Mr. and Mrs. John HazenMr. and Mrs. Ed Higgins

Mr. David HillMr. Ken Hinman

Ms. Stephanie HollandMr. and Mrs.William Hook

Ms. Barbara HotzMr. and Mrs. Darren Houck

Mr. Jared HumphreyMrs. Glenda Darlene Hurst

Ms. Delores IvyMr. David JamesMr. Marc Jenkins

Ms. Mallory JohnsonMs. Betty Jones

Ms. Maureen JoyceMs. Elizabeth KleparekMr. and Mrs. Jon Knight

Mr. and Mrs. Jason KranholdMr. and Mrs. Steven Kukulka

Ms. Lisa LandonMr. Don L. Lee, Jr.

Ms. Erin LeeMs. Sharon Loftis

Mr. and Mrs. Chris LongMs.Ann T. Loyd

Mr. and Mrs. Bill MahlerMs.Anne MartinMs.Teresa Mason

Ms. Paula McClendonMr. and Mrs. James L. McElroy

Mr. and Mrs. Michael McMillenMr. and Mrs. R. Clayton McWhorter

Mr. James MitchellMr. and Mrs.Will Morrow

Mrs. Carolyn Loudenslager and Mr.Dan Muir

Ms.Ann M. MusickMr. and Mrs.Tirrill Parker

Ms. Melody PattersonMs. Denise Phillips

Mr. and Mrs. Chad RaphaelMs. Kay Raybin

Ms. Kathleen ReedMr. Zack L. Register

Mr. and Mrs. Marshall RichardsMs. Kelly Richardson

Mr. and Mrs. Jon RomaMr.Terry RoneyMs. Rose Rowe

Mr. Irv RubensteinMs. Diane SausedaMs. Sally Schenker

Ms. Jill StoneMr. and Mrs. Jon Sundock

Mr. and Mrs. Barrett SuttonMr. Mark SwaimMr. Jeff Tanner

Dr. and Mrs. Paul TeschanMr. and Mrs. Michael Umphres

Mr. Richard J.VaughnMs. Deanna Wallace

Ms.Amy WareMr. Blake E.Watt

Ms. Rebecca WebbMr. and Mrs. John White

Ms.Valerie WhiteMr.William WhitmerMs. Donna Wilson

Mr.T. Cooper WoodsMs. Mary Ann Young

Individual Contributors

Revenue FY 2012-13Government

49% United Way6%

Other1%

Fundraising14%

Tuition26%

Expenses FY 2012-13

ProgramServices

4%

ProgramServices

78%

Fundraising4%

Management &General

18%

Sebastian’s Story

Sebastian initially came to First Steps as a part ofour Community Outreach Program. He now attendsour Child Development Center and receives therapythrough our Therapy program, proving that FirstSteps can truly help a family with a child with specialneeds meet all of their goals while allowing for astress free transition.

The first time a First Steps Developmental Therapist in the CommunityOutreach Program met Sebastian, she and the service coordinator had some initialconcerns. He wasn't walking, talking, or showing any signs of social interaction orcommunication. If he was happy, he played alone. Sebastian would just cry if hewas sad, hungry, or in pain. Much time was spent trying to figure out what heneeded or wanted. From the beginning, he not only had our DevelopmentalTherapist provide Developmental Therapy but he also needed several othertherapies as well. First Steps, along with his parents, wanted to cover all of thebases because it was unknown what Sebastian truly needed. In just a fewmonths, after integrating Sebastian into the therapy program along with hishome services, Sebastian went from a shy, frustrated little guy to a walking, talking,social butterfly. He was no longer afraid to walk without support. He was singingsongs and counting from one to ten (in English AND Spanish) with his parentsand older sister. He was suddenly labeling animals, shapes and vehicles. Followinghis successes in the Outreach Program, Sebastian was transferred over to theFirst Steps Therapy Program, where he began with Occupational Therapy.

When he first started Occupational Therapy, Sebastian had difficulty transitioningand was having numerous tantrums. He required frequent redirection and assistanceto stay seated for functional activities. He would also get stuck on certain preferredtoys becoming overly upset when it was time to put them away. Sebastian hadbelow average fine motor skills and challenges with feeding himself on top ofbeing a picky eater. Sebastian’s mother was very involved and was able to givethe pediatric therapists at First Steps some good insight into daily life at homeand how these issues affected their life as a family. She was able to attend sessionsand observe treatment and as a result of her follow through with suggestedactivities, she began seeing many improvements in Sebastian's behavior, self-helpskills and fine motor skills.

During this time, Sebastian was enrolled in First Steps' Child DevelopmentCenter.The teachers and therapy staff were able to communicate and as a resultgoals were carried over to his classroom day. Because of the ability to work soclosely with the family, teachers and outreach staff, Sebastian was able to makesignificant progress in many areas in a relatively short period of time. He is afunny, witty little boy who loves to make you laugh. He is always full of smilesand everyone enjoys being around him.

First Steps could not be happier with the amazing results of this early intervention into the young life of Sebastian.We believe he will continue to grow and learn and will be successful in Kindergarten and beyond.

The following honorarium giftswere made to First Steps.

In honor of Miles Hunter

Ms. Susan HammondMr. Marc Jenkins

Ms. Jill StoneMr.T. Cooper Woods

In honor of Susan Brownie

Ms. Danielle Gilbert

First Steps would like to recognizeand thank the following volunteers for their service:

BB & T Bank GroupFRA Student Volunteer GroupAnne FriedlandRyan HazenHCA EmployeesIBM Employees

Junior League of NashvilleLipscomb University StudentsUnited WayVanderbilt Nurse

Practitioner ProgramAlex White, FRA Turner Fellow

1900 Graybar Lane Nashville, TN 37215

615.690.3091firststepsnashville.org

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