About Us

About

History Through the use of sports, games, activities, arts-and-crafts, and field trips, The Exceptional Foundation helps its participants achieve a higher level of confidence and gives the participants the opportunity to lead a more “normal” life. The activities that participants at The Exceptional Foundation engage themselves in are fun and entertaining, but the ultimate goal of any sport, craft, or field trip is to teach the participants social skills and cognitive skills, thus enabling the participants to attain the greatest level of independence that they have known.

Our goals:

  • To provide daily programs for our exceptional participants which include team sports, exercise classes, social events, music, and arts and crafts activities.
  • To provide a place for group support programs for families that include exceptional members.
  • To provide hands-on training for teachers, social workers and others who are involved with exceptional citizens.

History

History The Exceptional Foundation, a non-profit organization, began fifteen years ago with five mentally challenged participants. In 1993 this group of five individuals had grown dramatically, and The Exceptional Foundation was established in order to expand recreational and social opportunities for exceptional individuals.

Through the course of the years, the number of participants increased to exceed the capacity of The Exceptional Foundation’s borrowed facilities, consisting of local schools, churches, and other non-profit organizations’ pools, parks, gyms, and classrooms. In 1998, a fund-raising campaign began with the intention of obtaining enough funds to build a facility that the participants, the staff, and the families and friends of the participants could call home. This dream came to fruition in 1999, when ground was broken and the hope of the five original participants and their families became reality.

Today, The Exceptional Foundation serves over three hundred individuals in the Birmingham metro area by providing services throughout the school year both during and after school hours, and in the summer with an eight-week-long day-camp. The Exceptional Foundation serves participants that span the entire gamut of socio-economic and religious backgrounds with an age range from 5 until they no longer need our services. The Exceptional Foundation affords children with mental and/or physical challenges a place to socialize, play games, participate in sports, and most importantly, a place where they “fit in.”

Mission

The Exceptional Foundation is a non-profit organization which strives to meet the social and recreational needs of the exceptional population of the greater Birmingham area. We offer a variety of programs that improve the quality of life for exceptional people and their families through recreational, social, and other caring activities.

History

Staff

Board of Directors

Patricia Acton
Beth Arnett
Brook Balogh
Susan Barstein
Tom Brinkley
Chuck Burkhart
Shaun Flynn
Anne Johnston
Charlie Jordan
Xia Liu
David Loper
Tammy Maddox
Becky Morton
Bill Pradat
Alan Rogers
Walter Scott
Jim Sisson
Ashanti Slone
Amelia Spencer
Jim Sturdivant