More Than Just Tender Loving Care

"The children don't see the therapy as therapy. They see it as part of a normal school day."

Real estate isn't always a money-making business for a company. In some cases it is the community that profits. For more than 20 years the Kansas City real estate community has shown the Children's TLC (Therapeutic Learning Center) a tremendous amount of support.

"It would be impossible to quantify or to fully describe the impact their involvement has had on Children's TLC," says Jennifer Collet, event coordinator for the center. "Since we are one of three tenants in the building and the agency owns the building there is not much in it for them," she says. "I think the attraction we have is the services we offer."

With an already established reputation throughout the Kansas City community Children's TLC offers services designed to prepare children with disabilities, such as autism, Down syndrome, and seizure disorders, for a smooth transition into a school environment. "The children don't see the therapy as therapy. They see it as part of a normal school day," she explains.

With 60 students currently enrolled in the program, and each provided with individual therapy plans, the center must rely on sophisticated and specific treatment tools. Treatment activities take place in the same classroom the child is placed in, because, as Collet says, "children don't generalize well." The only type of treatment not carried out in the classroom is the physical therapy, because of the contraptions used.

"We have a speech and language pathologists in all classrooms, as well as a teacher's assistant and a therapist," says Collet. Children receive expert treatment from the center's pediatric physical therapists, occupational therapists, and early childhood special education teachers. "You can't hurt a child by paying too much attention to (him or her)," she says.

Funding for such treatments can be expensive and comes from a variety of sources. While much of it comes from fundraising, a portion also comes from private insurers, Medicaid and, in some cases, the school district. But the center's biggest fundraiser is the Groundhog Run, held each year in the February. "Last time we had 10 realty companies sponsor teams," says Collet. The main sponsor of the event is Hunt Midwest Corporation. Each year Hunt Midwest opens its doors to the community by hosting the run. Hunt Midwest hosts the event in its underground facility, the Sub Tropolis, and has since its inception 22 years ago.

Gib Kerr, vice president for Tower Properties Co., also enjoys participating in the yearly run. "It's really fun to have all the Realtors competing to see who can produce the fastest team," he says. "There really is a lot of camaraderie within the Realtor community." Kerr says because the Groundhog Run is such a big event it's the perfect opportunity for companies who have not participated in the past to start participating. The Groundhog Run has also dug up a number of other local Realtors for support. Zimmer Real Estate Services, Block & Company, and Trammell Crow are among the list of return contributors.

Crown Center Redevelopment also supports the Children's TLC. Seven years ago the group approached the Children's TLC to participate in the "Pumpkin Patch." Since then Crown Center has been the main sponsor of the day of games, rides, activities and pumpkins, while Children's TLC is the sole beneficiary. The Children's TLC "Under the Big Top," a circus themed event also brings in more funding and fun with the help of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Collet adds that in addition to fundraising support, many area Realtors serve as members of its managing board. Tower Properties Co., and HNTB Companies are only two of the Realtors lending their expertise to the center's daily operations. Kerr is chairman elect for the center's board of directors. As such, Kerr oversees all activities and committee actions. "It's really a great organization. They are doing great things with the kids with disabilities," he says. "The progress and seeing the ded- ication of the staff is incredible."