Empower Me Center

What Empower Me Center does

Empower Me Center is a Tennessee-based nonprofit organization founded in 1999 by pediatric therapists that delivers recreational, educational, and therapeutic programs for individuals with disabilities across Middle Tennessee. The organization operates five core programs: a six-week Summer Day Camp for children ages 5-17, an Adult Day Program (Day Dreamers) serving adults 18+ four days weekly, an Educational Program including Ryan's Recess (a school-based disability awareness curriculum launching 2026-27), an adaptive Recreational Program with basketball leagues and planned sport expansion, and a future Multi-Living Program for supportive housing on a reserved 5-acre portion of its campus.

The organization operates from multiple physical locations in Lebanon, Tennessee, including Greer Recreation Center for summer camps, Fairview Church for adult programming, and a developing 25.45-acre permanent recreational campus on South Hartmann Drive acquired in 2018 debt-free. Its technology stack is modest and operational: Trax Solutions for online event registration, QuickClick for payment processing with a 3% card convenience fee, RunSignUp for 5K events, EarthCam for live construction monitoring, and standard social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn) for outreach.

Revenue is generated through a combination of modest program fees, individual and corporate donations, recurring fundraising events (Shooting for the Future clay shoot, Wyatt's Walk and Run, Daring to DREAM Luncheon, Shelby Scramble golf tournament, Dice and DREAMS casino night), and a $22 million capital campaign with over $5 million secured toward Phase One. The organization has served individuals from 28 counties, three states, and internationally since 1999, and currently maintains waiting lists that the new campus is designed to eliminate.

Name

Empower Me Center

Legal name

Empower Me Center

Website

https://empowermecenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Empower Me Center is a Tennessee nonprofit founded in 1999 that delivers recreational, educational, and therapeutic programs for individuals with disabilities, operating summer day camps, adult day programs, and adaptive recreational leagues across Middle Tennessee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Special Needs Recreational Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Child and Youth Services (62411), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Adaptive & Special Needs Personal Training (HSADAAAL)

Keywords

• Disability day programs
• Adaptive recreation services
• Special needs camps
• Therapeutic activities
• Developmental disability services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lebanon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream includes individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and proceeds from fundraising events such as Shooting for the Future clay shoots, Wyatt's Walk and Run, Daring to DREAM Luncheon, and Dice and DREAMS casino nights.
2. Capital Campaign Contributions: Major gifts and capital campaign donations specifically designated for facility construction on South Hartmann Drive, including $1 million anonymous gift (2023) and $500,000 in-kind contribution (2024).
3. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts including bequests, charitable lead or remainder trusts, donor-advised funds, retirement asset designations, and non-cash assets such as real estate.
4. Program Fees: Modest participant fees for day camp and adult program activities, with payment options including Venmo, check, and credit card through QuickClick portal with 3% processing fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Empower Me Center delivers a portfolio of recreational, educational, and therapeutic programs for individuals with disabilities, including a six-week Summer Day Camp for children ages 5-17, an Adult Day Program (Day Dreamers) for adults 18+, adaptive Recreational Leagues (basketball and planned expansion sports), an Educational Program (Ryan's Recess and professional development), and a future Multi-Living housing initiative. Programs are staffed by licensed therapists, special education teachers, counselors, and nurses, and are delivered in person at partner venues and the developing 25.45-acre South Hartmann Drive campus in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Product overview

Empower Me Center is a nonprofit organization that provides a portfolio of recreational, educational, and therapeutic programs for individuals with disabilities. The organization offers five interconnected programs: Day Camp Program for children ages 5-17 with week-long summer camps and year-round enrichment activities; Recreational Program featuring adaptive basketball leagues; Educational Program including Ryan's Recess for schoolchildren and professional development for healthcare providers; Adult Program (Day Dreamers) serving adults 18+ with life skills and community activities; and Multi-Living Program for future housing development. The Capital Campaign (DREAM Initiative) supports expansion of facilities including an Education Building, Community Recreational Building, and Sports Complex. Programs are delivered at Greer Recreation Center, Fairview Church, and the future South Hartmann Drive campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Camp Program Week-long summer day camps in June and July for children ages 5-17 with mild to moderate physical, developmental, or mental disabilities, plus one-day enrichment camps throughout the year. Programs are directed by healthcare professionals and tailored to individual abilities.
• Recreational Program Adaptive recreational activities including basketball leagues in January and February for all abilities and skill levels, with plans to expand to baseball, soccer, flag football, field hockey, bocce ball, and volleyball.
• Educational Program Professional development and training for healthcare providers and community members, plus Ryan's Recess program educating 2nd graders about disabilities through hands-on learning with pediatric wheelchairs, simulation goggles, and sensory challenges.
• Adult Program (Day Dreamers) Serves adults 18+ four days per week at Fairview Church, promoting life skills, independence, and community involvement through HOME TEAM on-site activities (arts, cooking, dancing) and TRAVEL TEAM community outings.
• Multi-Living Program Future housing development program utilizing five acres of land set aside on the South Hartmann Drive campus to provide on-site housing opportunities and connections to nearby facilities for individuals requiring additional support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving thousands of individuals with disabilities since 1999
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Shelby FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Shelby Hickman Memorial Celebrity Golf Scramble benefits Empower Me Center. The Shelby Foundation, established in memory of Shelby Hickman who inspired organizations serving children and young adults with disabilities, partners annually on this fundraising event at Old Hickory Country Club.
• Stockton Building Corporation (Tim Stockton)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Builder partnering on Phase One Education Building construction. Tim Stockton with Stockton Building Corporation volunteered time and expertise, contributing $500,000 in-kind contribution in 2024. Actively working on Phase One development.
• The Arc Davidson County & Greater NashvilleminorOthersAdministers the Family Support grant for Davidson & Wilson Counties, providing financial assistance for families who have a family member with a disability. Listed as community resource for Empower Me Center families.
• Northwestern Mutual (Kaci Fisher and Jessica Rogers)minorOthersFinancial advisors providing benefit navigation, cost of living planning, ABLE accounts strategies, trust funding, and comprehensive estate planning for families with special needs members. Listed as community resource partner.
• Fairview ChurchminorOthersHosts the Adult Program physical location at 1660 Leeville Pike, Lebanon, TN. Community partner providing facility space for Day Dreamers Adult Program.
• Shannon Speck's ElectricminorOthersEvent sponsor for the Shooting for the Future clay shoot fundraising event at Cedar City Gun Club.
• Lebanon Special School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school district for Ryan's Recess educational program launching 2026-27 school year. Will expand to schools across Middle Tennessee in 2027-28.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Ability Center: Nonprofit providing adaptive recreation, sports, and outdoor experiences for individuals with disabilities. Comparable to EMC's combined day camp, recreational leagues, and educational programming model, though operating at much larger scale.
• Morgan's Wonderland: Ultra-accessible theme park and recreation complex in San Antonio serving individuals with special needs. Comparable vision to EMC's planned South Hartmann campus (inclusive recreational facilities for individuals with disabilities), though at a much larger scale and capital-intensive model.
• GiGi's Playhouse: National network of Down syndrome achievement centers offering educational, therapeutic, and social programs for individuals with disabilities and their families. Comparable programming model with therapeutic and life-skills focus, delivered through a multi-location nonprofit structure.
• Special Olympics Tennessee: Provides year-round adaptive sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Directly comparable to EMC's Recreational Program (basketball leagues) and Adult Program sports/outings components, both serving the same Tennessee market.
• Friendship Circle: Network of nonprofit chapters providing recreational, social, and educational programs for children and young adults with special needs. Directly comparable mission and program mix to EMC's Day Dreamers adult program and day camp offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including camp, recreation, and adult day programs. Directly comparable to Empower Me Center's mission and service mix, but operates as a federated network across many states rather than a single community-rooted organization.
• The Arc: National nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, family support, and direct services. EMC partners with The Arc Davidson County, indicating overlapping mission, participant base, and family-support services.

Others

• Shelby Farms Park / Inclusive Play Initiatives: Large regional park and inclusive recreation destination in Memphis, TN. Comparable in serving adaptive recreation audiences in Tennessee but operates as a public park/landscape rather than a disability-specific services nonprofit.
• Variety - the Children's Charity of the Tennessee Region: Tennessee-based chapter of Variety children's charity supporting children with disabilities through funding for equipment, medical needs, and programs. Comparable donor base and beneficiary population; works alongside rather than competes with EMC.

Regional players

• Camp Speers-Eljabar YMCA: Residential summer camp in Pennsylvania serving children with special needs. Comparable day/residential camp model to EMC's Day Camp Program but operates in a different geography; relevant for cross-regional benchmarking on camp operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvtuwTfKeSAmn4Cx47-wGiA
• Facebookfacebook.com/EmpowerMeCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empower-me-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/empowermecenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empower Me Center