About Us
Our Story
Exceptional Foundation of Atlanta opened in 2018 as an affiliate of The Exceptional Foundation, a day program in Homewood, Alabama. Atlanta resident Mark Smith saw the positive impact The Exceptional Foundation had on his brother, who was a participant, and wanted to make the program available for families in the Atlanta area.
We opened in 2018 as an affiliate of The Exceptional Foundation, a day program in Homewood, Alabama. Atlanta resident Mark Smith saw the positive impact The Exceptional Foundation had on his brother, who was a participant, and wanted to make the program available for families in the Atlanta area.
Meanwhile, Susan Keeney, Lauren Wilson, and Renee Smith, special education teachers in the Atlanta area, also recognized the need after their students aged out of public schools and lost access to valuable resources. Collaborating with Tricia Kirk, the President of The Exceptional Foundation, they opened The Exceptional Foundation of Atlanta in 2018, serving four families.
Having been built on this strong foundation, The Exceptional Foundation of Atlanta continues to grow and now serves almost 200 families in the Atlanta area.
Our Mission
The mission of The Exceptional Foundation of Atlanta, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is to provide a vibrant, empowering day program for adults with special needs, while supporting parents in their journey of caregiving.
Our Vision
Our vision is to provide adults with special needs in our community the opportunity to have meaningful lives.
What We Do
It’s not easy being “exceptional”... and it only gets harder as those with special needs get older.
To put it mildly, the opportunities for individuals with special needs who have graduated out of their local school system are embarrassingly inadequate.
The Exceptional Foundation of Atlanta seeks to provide a solution to this serious and growing problem by creating an inclusive community built around social, recreational, and volunteer activities.