Gas South Illness and Disability Impact Investment Winners: 2019 Impact and 2020 Goals

2020 Illness and Disability Investment Winners 

Shepherd Center 

Shepherd Center's mission is to help people with a temporary or permanent disability caused by injury or disease, rebuild their lives with hope, independence and dignity, advocating for their full inclusion in all aspects of community life while promoting safety and injury prevention.  

The Gas South impact investment funds will be used to purchase an adapted minivan to provide transportation for more individualized outings. Ensuring their young patients (as well as their general patient population) can venture out into the community feeling more confident and with a sense of belonging.

Additionally, an outing in a minivan vs. a Shepherd bus allows patients to experience an adapted vehicle and is often a catalyst for patients and families purchasing a vehicle that can be used and driven by their adolescent patients. Driving or returning to driving is often one of the primary goals of their teen patients.

Sunshine on a Ranney Day 

The mission of Sunshine on a Ranney Day is to renovate homes for children with long term illnesses and special needs. Sunshine on a Ranney Day renovates homes for children with long-term illnesses, disabilities, and special needs so that they can safely live in their own homes with their own families.  

Each year, they help around 20 children by providing them with life-changing modifications (in addition to the large-scale, special project they complete each year in the community). This year, they have 13 children that are still waiting for their modifications. Each child has a specific project budget that will address their unique needs. The funding from our Gas South impact investment will be used to outfit a home with a wheelchair accessible bathroom and bedroom for a child.  

Training and Counseling Center (TACC)  

TACC offers affordable counseling services specifically to the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged. TACC has recently added a new counselor specifically to serve low-income and disadvantaged children due to the ever-increasing need for mental health services for the youngest community members. The Gas South Innovation Investment of $10,000 will provide 100 sessions to underserved and vulnerable children and youth in metro Atlanta.   

2019 Illness and Disability Investment Winners 

Bert’s Big Adventure 

Gas South’s Impact Investment allowed Bert’s Big Adventure to impact families at their Family Orientation, Send Off Celebration, Walt Disney World, and Spring Reunion. At the family orientation, they were able to surprise 8 children and 31 family members with the news they were headed to Walt Disney World! At the Sendoff, Gas South granted a child (Alex) and his family of 5, with a 4-night Disney cruise in September 2019. While at Disney World, 12 children were able to have princess and pirate makeovers and dance parties with characters. In May, over 450 family members gathered at the Fernbank Museum for a Spring Reunion. All the children that Bert’s Big Adventure touches have a difficult life because they are dealing with terminal illnesses. The Gas South impact investment helped to give them precious time and memories with their families that they otherwise would not experience.  

“We are beyond grateful for the continued support (not just financially) from the Gas South team – you are truly a unique organization dedicated to giving back in our community.” Molly Parish, Executive Director. 

Camp Twin Lakes 

Camp Twin Lakes provides a place where children with serious illnesses, disabilities, and life challenges can discover and be their best selves. Our Gas South 2019 investment helped Camp Twin Lakes serve children with limb deficiencies or defects, cancer, Type I diabetes, Tourette syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, developmental disabilities, organ transplants, spina bifida, and congenital insensitivity to pain, as well as children in foster care, children with an incarcerated parent, kids who have lost a parent serving in the military or have active military parents, and those who have experienced a loss.  

Gas South's investment of $50,000 allowed Camp Twin Lakes to transform the lives of 91 children and teens with special healthcare needs and life challenges. This program provides a 70% scholarship ($550) for every camper served, funding camper food, fully-accessible housing, and all program supplies and equipment. Because of supporters like Gas South, we were able to provide a scholarship to 100% of our campers, and more than 70% attended Camp last summer at no cost at all! 

Gas South will partner with each of the winning organizations to track and measure the impact that our investments are having. Our employees will also have the opportunity to engage in volunteer activities with the winners throughout the rest of our fiscal year.  

As a leading provider of natural gas throughout the southeastern U.S., Gas South has taken a close look at how we can make sure our success as a company directly benefits the communities we serve. Through volunteerism, charity partnerships and ongoing financial support, we’re helping people in our community fulfill their potential with the hope that, one day, they’ll join us in being a fuel for good. 

Thanks to our friends at Bert's Big Adventure for providing the photo for this article.