Celebrating Another Spectacular Spring in the Valley Festival!
Circus tents rose, performers entertained, and joy echoed throughout the fairgrounds as Specially Gifted Foundation (SGF) hosted its 5th Annual Spring in the Valley Festival on April 26th at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds in Rome, Georgia. For those new to our community, Spring in the Valley is SGF’s signature annual event with a powerful dual purpose – creating an inclusive, accessible festival where children of ALL abilities can have fun together, while raising crucial funds to provide life-changing gifts to families caring for children with disabilities. This year’s circus-themed celebration brought together over 2,000 community members for a day that truly embodied our mission of support, inclusion, and community.
"Come One, Come All": A Theme Created by a Gifted Family
One of our most cherished Spring in the Valley traditions is inviting a family who received a gift from the previous year’s festival to design our event t-shirt. This year, our talented young artist Serenity, whose family was gifted from Spring in the Valley 2024, created the perfect design featuring our “Come One, Come All” slogan.
This meaningful connection between past beneficiaries and current festivities perfectly captures the spirit of our mission. Serenity’s circus-themed artwork not only guided our decorations and activities but served as a powerful reminder of the real impact this inclusive community event has on families caring for children with disabilities in Northwest Georgia.
Families from across Floyd County and surrounding areas came together to experience this unique celebration that proves inclusive events can be both fun and meaningful. The Spring in the Valley Festival continues to grow each year as more families discover this special day designed with everyone in mind.
Inclusive Activities for Children with Disabilities: The SGF Kids Game Booth
Our SGF Kids Game Booth, the cornerstone of disability-inclusive play at Spring in the Valley, was bigger and better than ever this year! Expertly run by Emily, SGF Board Member and SLP-CCC, and Ashley, Occupational Therapist Assistant and fundraising committee member, this magical space ensured every child could participate fully in the festival activities.
Children of all abilities flocked to the booth to enjoy sensory-friendly activities, including:
- Adaptive painting stations for creative expression
- Bubble play areas for sensory stimulation
- Accessible sand and water tables for tactile exploration
- Inclusive parachute play promoting group interaction
- Sensory bins with various textures and materials for exploration
Our dedicated “Quiet Corner” continued to provide a calming escape for families and children who needed a break from the excitement. This sensory-friendly space exemplifies SGF’s commitment to creating environments where children with disabilities can thrive alongside their peers without sensory overwhelm.
We witnessed countless beautiful moments as children with and without disabilities played side by side, learning from each other and forming friendships – exactly what inclusive community events should foster.
This meaningful connection between past beneficiaries and current festivities perfectly captures the spirit of our mission. Serenity’s circus-themed artwork not only guided our decorations and activities but served as a powerful reminder of the real impact this inclusive community event has on families caring for children with disabilities in Northwest Georgia.
Families from across Floyd County and surrounding areas came together to experience this unique celebration that proves inclusive events can be both fun and meaningful. The Spring in the Valley Festival continues to grow each year as more families discover this special day designed with everyone in mind.
Family Festival Attractions: Something for Everyone
This year’s festival at Coosa Valley Fairgrounds was our biggest yet! The festival grounds buzzed with excitement as families explored the various attractions designed to engage children of all abilities:
The accessible petting zoo drew constant crowds as children delighted in gentle interactions with friendly animals. Meanwhile, the trackless train provided barrier-free rides filled with smiling passengers all day long, and the modified rock climbing wall challenged adventurous spirits with adaptive equipment for various ability levels.
Our inflatable archery game returned after being a huge hit last year, and the addition of circus-themed photo opportunities allowed families to capture memorable moments throughout the day.
Live music from talented local musicians and bands provided the perfect soundtrack to our circus-themed spectacular, while a variety of food trucks ensured no one went hungry. Whether you craved a savory meal from EVO, a refreshing KONA Ice, or a sweet treat, Spring in the Valley 2025 had something to satisfy every palate.
We owe a special thank you to the Rome Fire Department and EMS for joining us again this year, allowing children to explore their vehicles and learn important safety tips while admiring those impressive big red trucks!
The SIV Car and Bike Show: Shining Stars on Wheels
Our fourth annual Spring in the Valley Car and Bike Show, sponsored by Sherald Salmon Auto Superstore and Blake Alvey, drew an impressive array of vehicles this year. Over 50 proud owners from the Northwest Georgia region came out to showcase their beautifully maintained cars and bikes, adding a touch of chrome and shine to our inclusive circus celebrations.
Judges had the difficult task of selecting winners from the outstanding entries in multiple categories. The competition was fierce, but the camaraderie among participants reflected the community spirit that makes Spring in the Valley so special. We’ll be announcing the winners on our social media soon, so stay tuned!
We extend our deepest gratitude to Sherald Salmon Auto Superstore and Blake Alvey for their continued support of our car and bike show. Your partnership helps make this popular attraction possible year after year!
Disability Resources in Northwest Georgia: The SIV Resource Community
In addition to providing a day of fun and inclusivity, Spring in the Valley serves as a vital resource hub for families caring for children with disabilities in Rome, GA and surrounding areas. This year, we welcomed our largest group of nonprofit and resource vendors yet, including High-Five Society, Parent to Parent of Georgia, CQA Care, NWGA Autism Center, CABS, Advance for Kids, and Mission IS Possible.
These organizations offered valuable information, disability support services, and resources to families throughout the day, creating connections that will last long after the festival ends. As one parent shared, “Finding these disability resources all in one place made such a difference for our family. We discovered support services we didn’t even know existed in Northwest Georgia!”
Growing our resource community is a priority for Specially Gifted Foundation, as it directly supports our mission to provide beneficial resources and a sense of community to families caring for children with disabilities. We look forward to expanding this aspect of Spring in the Valley even further in the years to come.
Judges had the difficult task of selecting winners from the outstanding entries in multiple categories. The competition was fierce, but the camaraderie among participants reflected the community spirit that makes Spring in the Valley so special. We’ll be announcing the winners on our social media soon, so stay tuned!
We extend our deepest gratitude to Sherald Salmon Auto Superstore and Blake Alvey for their continued support of our car and bike show. Your partnership helps make this popular attraction possible year after year!
Volunteer Opportunities in Rome GA: The People Behind the Festival
It takes a circus-sized village to create an inclusive event like Spring in the Valley, and we were blessed with an incredible team of volunteers who made it all possible. Over 45 dedicated individuals donated their time and energy to ensure SIV 2025 ran smoothly from setup to teardown.
We were especially honored to welcome Paula from Greater Atlanta Speech and Language Clinics, who drove all the way from Marietta to support our event. Fun fact: Paula was Kendall Kernion’s speech-language pathologist for many years, and Kendall is the very reason SGF exists today! Read our full founding story here to learn how Kendall inspired our mission to support families caring for children with disabilities.
Among these amazing helpers were friends, family, team members from participating nonprofits, Floyd Springs Baptist Church, and many more. To show our appreciation, Truett’s Chick-fil-A of Rome provided chicken sandwiches and Coca-Cola of Rome donated beverages for all our hardworking volunteers.
In a delightful surprise, the local Crumbl Cookies delivered fresh cookies for our volunteers – a sweet treat that had our co-founders absolutely thrilled! We extend a special thank you to these small business owners who stepped up to support our mission. Your generosity reminds us of the incredible impact local businesses can have on community events like ours.
We truly could not have created such a magical day without each one of these generous souls. Your commitment to our mission and community warms our hearts and reminds us why we do what we do.
Supporting Children with Disabilities: Families Gifted Through SIV 2025
While the circus theme brought plenty of fun and excitement, the true purpose of Spring in the Valley is to raise funds for SGF’s mission to support families caring for children with disabilities. Thanks to the incredible support of over 2,000 attendees, 60+ vendors, 45+ volunteers, and 20 sponsors and in-kind donors, we are thrilled to announce that we reached our goal of raising enough funds to gift two deserving families from the Northwest Georgia area!
In the coming months, we will introduce you to these special families and share how your support will impact their lives in meaningful ways. Whether it’s providing specialized adaptive equipment, funding accessible home modifications, or making dreams come true through memorable experiences, these gifts will make a real difference for families caring for children with disabilities in our community.
The ripple effects of your generosity extend far beyond these two families, supporting Specially Gifted Foundation’s mission to provide special gifts/opportunities, beneficial resources, and a sense of community to families caring for children with disabilities throughout Georgia.
Our Generous Sponsors: The Supporters Who Made It Possible
None of this would have been possible without our incredible sponsors, particularly our presenting sponsor, Relentless Chiropractic. This marks the FOURTH consecutive year that Dr. Sean and Dr. Kendall have stepped up as our presenting sponsor, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to our community and mission.
We are also deeply grateful to all our sponsors at every level, from our major contributors to our community partners. Your belief in our mission fuels everything we do and makes a tangible difference in the lives of families caring for children with disabilities in Georgia.
Presenting Sponsor
NWGA Gifting Sponsor
Supporting sponsor
sgf premier game booth sponsor
advocating sponsors
Alfa Insurance, Ben McWhorter Agency
Steven and Ansley Kelley
community partners
| Apricot Lane Boutique |
| Max & Gail Johnson |
| Atlantic Pacific Credit Union |
| Weldon Dental |
| Uptown Auto Sales |
| Wayne Davis Concrete |
| Communication at Heart |
| Tom Bennett Construction Managment(ANON) |
| Tatum & Chris Sartin |
| Alex Tortoso Agency |
| D&D Services/PROFLOORS |
waste management sponsor
car and bike show sponsor
Blake Alvey
in-kind sponsors
Inclusive Events in Northwest Georgia: Join Us Next Year!
As we close the chapter on Spring in the Valley 2025, our team at Specially Gifted Foundation is already dreaming about next year’s inclusive festival. The bar has been set high, but with our incredible Northwest Georgia community behind us, we know the best is yet to come.
Keep an eye on our social media and website for updates on the families who will receive gifts from this year’s event, and mark your calendars now for Spring in the Valley 2026!
Did you miss the inclusive family festival this year? There are still ways to support SGF’s mission:
- Make a donation on our website to help families caring for children with disabilities
- Shop Specially Gifted merchandise to show your support
- Follow us on social media to stay connected with disability support resources: Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn
Share your Spring in the Valley 2025 memories with us on social media using the hashtag #SIV2025 and tag us @Springinthevalleyga. We’d love to see your photos and hear about your favorite moments from the day!
Thank you for being part of our SGF family and for helping us create a community where every child, regardless of ability, can thrive and feel valued. Together, we truly are creating the most inclusive event in Northwest Georgia!
We are also deeply grateful to all our sponsors at every level, from our major contributors to our community partners. Your belief in our mission fuels everything we do and makes a tangible difference in the lives of families caring for children with disabilities in Georgia.
Specially Gifted Foundation provides families caring for children with disabilities with a special gift or opportunity up to $5,000, beneficial resources, and a sense of community in Georgia.
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