It’s a lifeline for Northeast Georgia families with special needs children, and while Challenged Child and Friends isn’t changing its mission, it has changed its name and its look.
The Gainesville-based school and rehabilitation center this week announced it is now Sisu. The nonprofit says it believes the new name better conveys its promise to “celebrate and nurture” the individuality of all children of all abilities and guide them to reach their full potential.
“Our mission hasn’t changed,” says executive director Jamie Reynolds. “In fact, we believe our new brand better defines what we do and have always done.”
Sisu is a Finnish word that embodies the characteristics of determination, persistence, grit, bravery, resilience, hardiness and indomitable spirit.
The name and logo change follow what the organization describes as a year-long “extensive rebranding effort” that included input from staff, parents, donors and the community at large.
One woman’s dream
Challenged Child and Friends was born when, according to its website, an occupational therapist named Jean Willers began providing services for a young boy critically injured in an automobile accident.
In 1985, the organization incorporated as a nonprofit and in 1992 it expanded to become a fully inclusive program serving children with disabilities alongside their typically developing peers.
Today, the program is SACS accredited and Quality Rated and continues to serve the educational and medical needs of thousands of families.
It’s one of only a select few schools in the nation offering the convenience of education, therapy, nursing and family support services in one location.
What began more than 30 years ago as one woman’s dream, has grown into an integrated learning environment where children ages 6 weeks to 6 years with and without special needs learn and interact alongside each other.
“From the beginning, this community has thrived at discovering the potential in all children, enabling a ‘can do’ spirit, and therefore empowering children to try, to learn and to love,” says Cathy Drerup, who served as the school’s executive director from 1988 to 2007. “Recognizing every child’s unique spark builds a solid foundation for them to shine in school and in life.”
The next 30 years
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with this new brand identity to propel us into the next 30 years,” says Sisu board member and marketing committee chair Jenny Floyd. “Throughout the board’s process, we heard over and over again the importance of a name inclusive of all children that focuses on the potential that exists in every child, regardless of ability.”
According to Floyd, Sisu is a Finnish concept generally considered not to have a literal equivalent in English. It is most easily described through a combination of various English terms including determination, persistence, grit, bravery, resilience, hardiness and indomitable spirit. It is a consistent and courageous approach toward challenges which at first seem to exceed our capacities.
“Sisu is universal,” Reynolds says. “The potential exists within all individuals. You just have to recognize and nurture that unique spark within every child to inspire him or her to accomplish more than ever dreamed possible, and that’s what we do.”
“Our mission hasn’t changed. In fact, we believe our new brand better defines what we do and have always done.” ~ Jamie Reynolds, executive director.
Talk to any of the staff at the school, and they are quick to tell you about Sisu moments they witness every day.
They speak of babies who roll over for the first time after weeks of persistently rocking back and forth and children who can’t walk but let nothing stop them from discovering a way to slide. Sisu moments can be found when teachers are inspired to grow because of their students, or parents find the strength to leave their babies in someone else’s care for the first time.
“Sisu is a perfect name for this incredible organization. As a family, we try to instill qualities like perseverance and grit into Eleanor’s life every day,” says Sisu parent Alexis Seymour. “These amazing little humans are shining examples of the power of the human spirit and the power to overcome challenges that seem at first to exceed our capabilities.”
For more information, visit mysisu.org or call the school at 770-535-8372.
