Read Their Stories. See how your generosity makes a difference at TASK
Thirty years ago, TASK began with a simple belief: Every person deserves the opportunity to belong, to grow, and to experience the joy of being included. Today, that belief is continuing to change lives right here in St. Louis.
For 30 years, TASK has provided children and adults with special needs opportunities that many families simply cannot find anywhere else. Through sports and recreation programs, life skills classes, friendships, and meaningful community experiences, TASK is so much more than a place to attend a program. For some, it’s a place to discover independence. For others, it’s where they find their first real friendships. And for families who have struggled to find somewhere their loved one truly belongs, TASK can mean everything.
Your Gift Stays Here. Your Impact Is Personal.
When you give to TASK, your generosity stays right here in St. Louis, creating opportunities for local children, adults, and families. Your gift helps a child experience the joy of belonging, gives individuals a place to build friendships and independence, and provides families peace of mind knowing their loved ones are welcomed and valued. Sometimes, it simply allows us to tell a family facing financial hardship, “Just come.”
Help us reach our goal: $30,000 for 30 Years of TASK
As we celebrate TASK’s 30th anniversary, our goal is to raise $30,000 to continue creating opportunities, friendships, and moments of belonging for generations to come.
Here is your chance to make an impact. Will you make a gift of $30, $100, $300, or an amount meaningful to you? Your generosity will help sustain the programs, friendships, and moments of independence that families have come to depend on. Whether your family participates in TASK programs, you’ve supported us for years, or you’re just learning about our mission, we invite you to be part of sustaining what makes TASK so special.
Thank you for considering a gift and for helping us continue making a difference in the lives of local families. We are grateful for your support and for being part of TASK’s story.
Below, we invite you to read the stories of just a few of the families whose lives have been changed through the generosity of people like you. These are the stories that remind us why your support matters so much.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Jen Pranger
Executive Director of TASK
"A Lifetime of Believing in TASK"
Sometimes, one small decision can lead to a lifetime of making a difference.
For Missy, that decision came in high school when her mother encouraged her to volunteer at TASK’s summer camp. What started as a summer volunteer opportunity became something much bigger.
Missy made friends, met lifelong mentors, and discovered the joy of helping others. For the first time, she felt she was making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
She was hooked.
Over the years, her involvement with TASK grew alongside her own life. She volunteered as a teenager, served on the Junior Board in her twenties, began supporting TASK financially, and today serves on the TASK Board of Directors while continuing to give and sponsor programs.
Through it all, she’s witnessed firsthand what TASK means to the children, adults, and families we serve.
What stands out most to Missy isn’t simply the activities we offer. It’s the dignity, compassion, respect, safety, and joy that TASK brings to individuals with special needs.
She believes TASK is a place that doesn’t simply accept people with special needs — it celebrates them.
Missy now brings her own young children to TASK so they can experience that spirit of inclusion and learn that everyone has the ability to make a difference. And after decades of involvement, she knows that donations to TASK are more than charitable contributions. They’re investments in dedicated staff, creative programs, safe spaces, and opportunities for families who need them.
“Every dollar raised supports local families and creates opportunities for our community to thrive.“ -Missy, Volunteer, Board Member, Donor
Help us write TASK’s next chapter.
As we celebrate 30 years of changing lives, we’re looking ahead to the next 30.
Our goal is to raise $30,000 in honor of 30 years, ensuring TASK can continue growing, filling gaps, and creating opportunities for children and adults with special needs throughout our community. Whether you’ve supported TASK for decades or are considering your first gift, you have the opportunity to be part of something meaningful. Missy perhaps said it best when asked what she would tell someone considering a donation: “Do it. Plant that seed! We’ll water it, we’ll nurture & protect it, we’ll bring the sunshine! Then, you can watch it BLOOM!”
More Than Just a Game — Declan's Story"
For Austin and Kylie, watching their son Declan participate in a soccer game at TASK was about so much more than playing a sport.
It was about seeing their son out on the field, trying something new, participating alongside others, and simply enjoying being part of a team.
For many families, these moments might seem ordinary. But for families like Declan’s, they can mean everything.
At TASK, Declan has found a place where he can truly be himself. Whether he’s trying a new activity, challenging himself, or spending time with others, he’s surrounded by staff and volunteers who encourage him, celebrate his efforts, and make him feel welcome.
Austin and Kylie have watched Declan build confidence and independence through these experiences. Just as importantly, he’s found a community outside of his family where he knows he belongs.
As Austin shared: “TASK means having a place where Declan can truly be himself.”
“One of our favorite TASK memories is watching Declan play soccer. Seeing him out there participating, trying something new, and simply enjoying the experience was incredibly special for us.”- Austin, TASK Parent
That’s what makes TASK special. It’s not just about soccer, recreation, or learning a new skill. It’s about giving children like Declan the opportunity to experience the same joy, friendships, and sense of belonging that every child deserves.
And for parents, knowing their child is welcomed, accepted, and genuinely cared about is something that’s difficult to put into words.
"TASK gave us a life!"
For JoAnn, mother of twin sons Jamil and Khalil, those five words say everything.
Now 31 years old, Jamil and Khalil have been part of TASK for over two decades. Both are nonverbal, and opportunities to socialize, make friends, and participate in activities alongside their peers have often been limited.
But at TASK, they found a place where they could simply be themselves. JoAnn remembers the excitement on her sons’ faces when they realize they’re on their way to TASK. She recalls watching them dance on stage, swim with friends, earn trophies and participate in activities she once never imagined possible.
One memory stands above the rest. At summer camp, JoAnn arrived to find Khalil surrounded by a group of football players, laughing and flexing his muscles with the guys. He wasn’t being treated differently.
He wasn’t watching from the sidelines. He was simply one of them. “I wanted to cry at the glimpse of inclusion and pure fun. Just one of the guys. It was so beautiful to see my dreams in reality.”
“I wanted to cry at the glimpse of inclusion and pure fun. Just one of the guys. It was so beautiful to see my dreams in reality.”- JoAnn, TASK Parent
For JoAnn, TASK has meant more than activities. It has given her sons experiences, confidence, and a community that celebrates them. And when financial challenges threatened their ability to participate, TASK quietly told her family two words: “Just come.” No embarrassment. No questions. Just compassion. That is what community support makes possible.
"A Second Home for Katie"
When Katie aged out of the public school system, her parents, Tom and Libby, faced a challenge familiar to many families of adults with special needs: finding somewhere their daughter could continue learning, making friends, and being part of a community. Because of some of Katie’s challenging behaviors, finding a program willing to accept her wasn’t easy. Then they found TASK’s Next Steps adult day program.
The staff agreed to give Katie a chance. Within just a few days, she was welcomed into a community that embraced her individuality and gave her a place to belong.
Today, Katie spends her days learning new skills, volunteering in the community, reconnecting with friends, and enjoying activities like Zumba, which her parents say she never wants to miss!
But one ordinary morning at TASK became an extraordinary moment for her father.
Tom was walking Katie into the building, as he often did. As they approached the gym, Katie released his hand, pointed toward the exit, and let him know he could leave.
She had this.
Tom quietly watched as Katie hung up her backpack, took out her communication device and lunch, and headed into the room to greet her classmates.
“At that moment I knew that she had found her second home.”- Tom, TASK Parent
For a parent who had struggled to find a place where his daughter would be accepted, that moment meant everything. Tom and Libby have watched Katie become more mature, cooperative, and confident. She comes home happy, often with a smile and a fist bump when asked about her day.
And for her parents, there is tremendous peace of mind in knowing Katie has somewhere she wants to be, surrounded by people who care about her.
Your gift, large or small, allows us to continue to provide valuable opportunities to people with special needs!
Your contribution can be a one-time gift, a recurring donation, or it can be designated in memory of a person or in celebration of an event. Your donation will help us to continue to provide one of a kind programs and activities to our amazing special people. Thank you for your generosity!
