Special Note from Our CEO
2023 was a huge year for IMPACT Tallahassee for so many reasons. It was our first full calendar year operating under our new name, IMPACT Tallahassee, and we got to witness the positive changes firsthand. Each of our “big three” programs – IMPACT Academy, IMPACT Preschool, and IMPACT Therapy – thrived in their own ways. Our hard work and community investment paid off – and we’re only getting started.
Before diving in, I’d like to extend thanks to our staff, program directors, and our Academy and Foundation boards for everything they did to make this one of our best years yet. Our IMPACT family is the reason we’re able to continue growing in our mission to serve those with special needs to ensure they are able to become as independent as possible.
To learn more about IMPACT’s mission and vision, please click here.
Kevin Kolka, IMPACT Tallahassee CEO
(Pictured at right with the IMPACT Tallahassee Team of Directors)
|
IMPACT PRESCHOOL |
IMPACT ACADEMY |
IMPACT THERAPY |
| 50 Students in Preschool | 48 Students in Academy | 500+ Clients in Therapy |
| 70% increase in enrollment in the last year.
Earned an Early Learning Coalition CLASS score of 5.96 out of 6, a very big deal! |
The 2023-2024 school year saw the single largest increase in enrollment since the school’s inception.
Renovations over the summer allowed for updated classroom space, better storage solutions for teachers, and a more effective PAES Lab. |
25% growth in the last twelve months.
Renovations early on in the calendar year allowed Therapy’s capacity to double as needs in the community continue to grow. Applied Behavioral Analysis kicked off in January 2023 – and quickly exploded! 10+ students from OT, PT, and ST programs at FSU, FAMU, UF, and Keiser Universities are being trained through IMPACT’s practicums. |
Fundraising
The IMPACT Foundation executed two brand-new (and successful!) fundraising events this year! Our goal was to draw in a new circle of supporters with our fall and spring fundraisers; in turn, we held two of our most successful events in IMPACT history this year!
Each event allowed us the opportunity to create and foster relationships with members of our community that had and had not interacted with IMPACT in the past, which allowed us to share our mission and vision with our neighbors. We were lucky enough to find incredible partners in Sun Stop Stores, who was the title sponsor for both events this year, and to work with several local bands and businesses!
Thanks to the generosity of our community partners and the hard work of our IMPACT Foundation and IMPACT Academy boards, IMPACT Tallahassee was able to raise nearly $190,000 to go towards renovating and expanding our facilities, services, and opportunities available to our clients and students, as well as going towards the development of our Community Center.
Our Reach & Our Community
IMPACT Tallahassee also expanded our reach this year, supporting families from 14 Florida counties and 4 Georgia counties. Renovations to IMPACT Therapy this spring allowed us to double our capacity, including the establishment of an ABA practice. We were also able to make updates to our Academy and Preschool spaces, refreshing our classrooms for more efficient use of space – and maximum fun.
In addition to our spring and fall semester fundraisers, community events also became a focus for IMPACT this year, including our inaugural Trunk or Treat. Local community members were invited to join IMPACT students on campus for an early Halloween celebration, complete with costumes, games, treats, and food trucks!
We also connected with several local organizations, including 100 Men Who Care and the Community Foundation of North Florida, both of whom awarded IMPACT grants in honor of our service to our community.
Since 2006, IMPACT has worked to create a community where all children, especially those with special needs, could thrive.
IMPACT was founded in 2006 to provide families with a central location for children to receive first-rate therapeutic treatment from expert, individually licensed therapists. By 2012, services had expanded to include a wide variety of therapy types, including speech, music, and physical therapy, as well as the addition of IMPACT Academy and IMPACT Preschool.
Started by parents with a need for specialized programs, IMPACT is focused on building a community for all children, especially those with special needs. IMPACT serves children aged 6 weeks to 22 years old with varying disabilities, including but not limited to Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and Autism, and is the only full-service, comprehensive private education center in the region.
Over the last 15+ years, IMPACT has grown but remained focused on empowering and educating all children with a model that utilizes therapeutic intervention to provide a solid foundation for each child to have positive social, emotional, physical, and academic success. Whereas traditional schools cannot provide individualized care for each student, IMPACT understands that every child has the potential to succeed and deserves quality educational opportunities based on their individual developing strengths.