Mission Statement
BrightStone provides comprehensive work, social support, and future residential services for adults with special needs expanding their potential and helping them develop mentally, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.
Leadership
CEO/Executive Director
Mrs. Brenda Hauk
Board Chair
Mr. Don Stinnett
Board Chair Company Affiliation
HCA, SrVP, Chief Controller "Retired"
History & Background
Year of Incorporation
1999
Organization's type of tax exempt status
501-C3
Financial Summary
Graph: Expense Breakdown Graph - All Years
Projected Expenses
$1,117,000.00
Projected Annual Revenue
$1,117,000.00 (2017)
Statements
Mission
BrightStone provides comprehensive work, social support, and future residential services for adults with special needs expanding their potential and helping them develop mentally, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.
Background
BrightStone began as an educator and parent-led effort to provide continuing learning and job opportunities beyond high school for adults exiting special education programs in middle Tennessee schools. A survey conducted in 1998 determined that 75% of local graduates who had completed a job training program and exited high school was still living at home with family and with no prospects of a job nor any further skill training. It was also determined that job resources and residential opportunities were very limited in middle Tennessee. To meet this very urgent need, BrightStone began in 1999 with 4 students and a volunteer staff with the commitment to provide not only job training skills but also continued learning opportunities in a professional, safe, and loving environment.
After providing services in a local church, a new 9,000 square foot facility was built to enhance program offerings and to increase numbers served. Transportation options began, and the student population and program services began to grow. Today 39 students are enrolled at BrightStone where they are offered classes in job skills, productive work habits, functional academics, health & wellness, physical exercise, computer skills, leisure activities, community awareness, music, and artistic skills.
BrightStone's enrollment continues to grow and we maintain a constant and lengthy waiting list as we move forward in our growth and plans for broader and better services.
The vision was and still is to provide quality opportunities for these very capable adults allowing them to find their potential in employment and in life. BrightStone continues to provide job training where adults learn job skills and productive work habits. Our Learning Lab was created to help our students maintain the functional academics and thinking skills they already have, keeping them vital and alert. The state-of-the-art computer lab offers educational software programming as well as internet buddies, journaling opportunities, and fun games.
Several classes are available for continuing education in functional academics, computer skills, cooking and nutrition, social awareness, music, art, crafts, physical wellness, and personal advocacy. After all, learning is a lifelong process!
BrightStone's goal is that our students contribute to society to the fullest of their potential.
Impact
Recent accomplishments:
1. BrightStone recently purchased a beautiful 138-acre property just 3 miles from our current location, which will be the site for our new college-like campus. Our planned facility will be the first of its kind in the state of Tennessee. County entitlement to build our new campus facility has been approved.
2. We launched an intensive awareness campaign in 2016 to share our plans with community leaders. We have hosted tours for over 200 guests and continue to invite the community to tour our existing facility and visit our new campus location.
3. In January 2017, we began planning for a $25 million multi-year capital campaign. Vision Philanthropy Group has been retained as our campaign counsel. Phase one of the campaign will require $8.5 million and over $3.6M in funds have already been committed from compassionate families in the community.
4. BrightStone received a $1M gift from a family in Franklin. This donation to help fund our expansion was the largest gift in our 17-year history.
Goals for 2017 include:
1. Pay off our $3.1M mortgage for the land purchased.
2. Select an Architectural firm and complete drawings, renditions, and concepts.
3. Continue our community awareness efforts through tours and participation in community, corporate and church presentations or events. We want everyone in the community to know about BrightStone and our expansion plans that will impact our community for generations to come.
4. Continue to collaborate with local and national organizations serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Needs
BrightStone has the following needs:
(1) $10,000 for our Scholarship Fund to help adults be able to attend BrightStone who have no other place they would like to go each day.
(2) Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and help provide needed resources not covered by tuition allowing us to provide a wide variety of programs including health and wellness, therapeutic activities and exercise programs, all supervised by our full-time registered nurse.
(3) Volunteers to assist teachers and students in areas such as job training, computer skills, functional academics, field trips, and special events. We need volunteers with skills to help maintain our property involving fencing, mowing, carpentry, electrical, landscaping, etc. To inquire about volunteer opportunities, please contact Elaine Farmer at 615-790-4888 or email elaine.farmer@brightstone.org.
Other ways to donate, support, or volunteer
A gift to BrightStone ensures that adults with special needs are given an opportunity to work, learn and play in a safe and loving environment.
In addition to monetary gifts, other means of giving include:
- Gifting “in honor” or “in memory” of someone
Donate in someone’s name – in honor of their special day, or in memory of a loved one. Provide the name and address of the family and we will notify them of your thoughtfulness. The donor’s contribution amount is not disclosed. - Employer matching gifts
Many companies will match donations made by their employees. Please check with your HR department to obtain information on your company process. - Gifts of stock
Gifts of stock are handled through Southwestern Investment Services, Inc. Please call Director of Advancement, Randy Elliott at 615-790-4888 to receive additional instructions. - Planned Gifts for the Future
If you are interested in including BrightStone in your will, establishing a trust, or identifying BrightStone as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, please contact Randy Elliott at 615-790-4888.
A simple way to make a planned gift is to add the following language to your Will, naming BrightStone as beneficiary: “I give, devise, and bequeath ________ (a certain sum, a percentage of the estate, or the remainder of the estate) to BrightStone, 104 Southeast Parkway Court, Franklin, TN 37064.” (Ask your attorney for specific language). - Gifts In-Kind
Check out our current Wish List on our website. A variety of items with a broad range of prices is included. We will be happy to issue an in-kind receipt for items donated. - Volunteer
BrightStone volunteers make up our "BrightCorps" and help with the day program, fundraising benefits, administrative office needs, student product sales, and special student events.
To donate online go to: http://brightstone.org/donate/give-now/
Service Categories
Primary Organization Category
Human Services / Developmentally Disabled Services/Centers
Areas of Service
We are located in Middle Tennessee in the historic town of Franklin, in Williamson County. The majority of our adults reside in Davidson and Williamson Counties; however, we serve adults from several other surrounding counties. This serene country environment provides an excellent setting for our adults who enjoy living in peaceful and calm surroundings. We are, however, close to the busy city life of Nashville giving our adults many opportunities for work, social support, and an active life!
Board Chair Statement
From Don Stinnett, Chairman:
BrightStone will celebrate its’ 20-year anniversary in 2019 and has BIG (BrightStone Is Growing) plans for the celebration: expanding our services to more adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, adding new facilities and more programs, and for the first time, including student residence options for those who need it. From four adults meeting in a church to up to eighty living on a first-rate campus designed just for them.... this is our vision. 2015 saw significant steps taken toward this goal. We bought almost 140 acres of land south of Franklin, TN through the use of mortgage financing and completed a land use plan. Our Board is fully engaged and supportive, our donor base is ready to step up, and our staff is capable of pulling it off. The challenges of capital fundraising, overseeing the construction project and transitioning to the new campus, are all before us. We are up to the task. I am personally excited and ready to go the extra mile in terms of my time and financial support. Many others are ready to join me.
Adults with special needs are a forgotten community by most of our society. Over the coming decade, more than 500,000 individuals with autism alone, will leave school and enter adulthood. This doesn’t include other disabilities. Fewer than 20% of adults with disabilities are in the labor force and under 20% of those who are employed work full-time. Upwards of 70% of adults with special needs report isolation and depression and over 50% of parents report clinical depression. They and their families need encouragement and practical everyday support. That is what we do here. BrightStone is not a place to go, it is a place that helps provide a full and meaningful life of dignity and hope. I am privileged to be part of it and know of no better place for anyone to invest their time, energy and finances. Join us—you will make a big difference that will bring you great joy!
CEO Statement
Everyone needs a reason to get up in the morning and something of value to do! We all value ourselves by the accomplishments that we make each day, and so do our BrightStone adult students.
Individuals with intellectual and developmental challenges not only can work, they greatly enjoy working. BrightStone provides options, support, and opportunities so these adults can live a valued life at their highest potential with respect and dignity in a caring and loving environment.
Our ultimate goal is to provide whole life programming, assistance, and learning for our adults 24/7 including a program of vocational training and job opportunities, social and community activities, life and functional learning, a full program of individualized therapeutic opportunities, and much-needed supervised residential options. We recently purchased property in Franklin and look forward to building a new campus to accomplish this goal!
To live as they want, where they want, with whom they want while participating in activities and jobs they like is a lofty and determined goal of our staff, our families, and our adults themselves! This new and innovative campus will be the means toward this goal. Job skills in such areas as horticulture, crafts, hospitality will be taught in a facility built to meet their individual learning styles as well as their physical and health requirements.
Our new campus will also host an equestrian center for therapeutic horseback riding and animal care. Other therapies will be provided in this state-of-the-art facility, such as aquatic therapy, physical therapy, language therapy, and behavioral therapy along with augmented communication methods.
This is a huge vision and will take a huge community of caring people to make it happen! We are very excited about the future of BrightStone and the quality of life it affords these very deserving and hard working citizens who want to contribute - they just need the chance!
Many donors have helped BrightStone reach its current successful status. We are very grateful to this giving community made up of so many, many people who care, and we look forward to a future of partnering together to provide a place of hope, a program of work and dignity, and a culture of positive success!
Board Chair
Board Chair
Mr. Don Stinnett
Company Affiliation
HCA, SrVP, Chief Controller "Retired"
Term
May 2017 to May 2018
Email
stinnettdw@gmail.com
Board Demographics - Ethnicity
African American/Black
0
Asian American/Pacific Islander
0
Caucasian
12
Hispanic/Latino
0
Native American/American Indian
0
Other
0
Board Demographics - Gender
Male
10
Female
2
Unspecified
0
Governance
Board Term Lengths
3
Board Term Limits
2
Board Meeting Attendance %
73%
Does the organization have written Board Selection Criteria?
No
Does the organization have a written Conflict of Interest Policy?
Yes
Percentage of Board Members making Monetary Contributions
100%
Percentage of Board Members making In-Kind Contributions
0%
Does the Board include Client Representation?
Yes
Number of Full Board Meetings Annually
4
Risk Management Provisions
Executive Director/CEO
Executive Director
Mrs. Brenda Hauk
Term Start
Mar 1999
Email
brenda.hauk@brightstone.org
Experience
Master of Education, Peabody School of Education, Vanderbilt University. Bachelor of Music, Baylor University. Special Education teacher, 12 years in Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Founder and Developer of Williamson County Schools Transition Program, called the JOBS Program, matching special needs students with local job opportunities in Williamson County schools. Trainer and Coach for TN State Special Olympics. Teacher Trainer for special education programs in local churches.
Staff
Full Time Staff
17
Part Time Staff
2
Volunteers
206
Contractors
4
Retention Rate
82%
Plans & Policies
Does the organization have a documented Fundraising Plan?
Yes
Does the organization have an approved Strategic Plan?
Yes
Number of years Strategic Plan Considers
1
When was Strategic Plan adopted?
Jan 2016
In case of a change in leadership, is a Management Succession plan in place?
Yes
Does the organization have a Policies and Procedures Plan?
Yes
Does the organization have a Nondiscrimination Policy?
Yes
External Assessments and Accreditations
External Assessments and Accreditations
Senior Staff
Title
Program Coordinator
Experience/Biography
Educator in Special Education, 8 years Job Coach Trainer and developed Job Coaching Manual for Williamson County Schools Helped establish JOBS Program for Williamson County Schools Special Olympics assistant coach
Title
Director of Operations
Experience/Biography
20 years of retail/operations/marketing in corporate settings, most recently as VP of the Western Division of DCI Management Group, Inc.
Title
Director of Advancement
Experience/Biography
BA degree in Journalism; Senior staff experience includes Dir of Advancement for New Hope Academy; Director of Development for Guideposts Foundation; Vice President for Thomas Nelson Publishers, President for Texas State Credit Company
Fiscal Year
Fiscal Year Start
Jan 01 2017
Fiscal Year End
Dec 31 2017
Projected Revenue
$1,117,000.00
Projected Expenses
$1,117,000.00
Endowment Spending Policy
N/A
Endowment Spending Percentage (if selected)
0%
Detailed Financials
Short Term Solvency
Capital Campaign
Is the organization currently conducting a Capital Campaign for an endowment or the purchase of a major asset?
No
Capital Campaign Anticipated in Next 5 Years?
Yes
State Charitable Solicitations Permit
TN Charitable Solicitations Registration
Yes - Expires June 2018
Organizational Budgets and Other Documents