Operation Round Up Impact – Joe’s Kids

Operation Round Up Impact – Joe’s Kids

Learn more about KREMC’s Operation Round Up Program, and the organizations it benefits, like Joe’s Kids. Concern for community is one of KREMC’s core principles, and Operation Round Up is one way we give back to our local community.

What is Operation Round Up?

Operation Round Up is a voluntary program in which KREMC members pool their resources together to help those in need. The concept is simple: each month, KREMC members who participate in the program allow us to round up their bill to the next dollar. For example, if a member has an electric bill of $53.86, that bill would be rounded up to $54.00, with 14 cents being donated to the program. If a member has multiple accounts, they can decide if they would like each account rounded up or just one. Each participating member, on average, contributes approximately $6.00 a year.

The money is then deposited into the Kosciusko REMC Operation Round Up fund, held at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. A voluntary advisory committee, comprised of KREMC members, meets regularly to review applications for Operation Round Up grants, and to make grant recommendations.

What is Joe’s Kids and its mission?

Joe’s Kids is a nonprofit pediatric therapy center providing physical, occupational, speech, and dyslexia therapy services. Their mission is to equip children with diverse abilities to realize their full potential through care, community, and connection. Every day, they help children gain the skills and confidence they need to thrive at home, in school, and in life.

How did this organization start?

Founded in 2014, Joe’s Kids was created to address a critical gap in care for children with special needs. Early access to high-quality therapy can dramatically improve a child’s development, independence, and future opportunities. Yet across Indiana, a shortage of specialized pediatric therapists and long waitlists often leave families without timely access to care. Joe’s Kids was founded on a simple belief: every child deserves the opportunity to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.

How has it grown over the years?

Since opening in 2014, Joe’s Kids has grown from serving 70 children annually to more than 720 children each year across Kosciusko County and 12 surrounding counties. In response to community needs, they have expanded their services to include case management, dyslexia-focused therapies and tutoring, and hippotherapy through their partnership with Magical Meadows.

This year, they completed renovations on their forever home, a 19,000-square-foot facility on 10 acres of possibility. More than a building, it represents their vision of a Child Achievement Campus where children are empowered, families are supported, and hope reigns.

How does Joe’s Kids impact the children it serves?

When a child receives the specialized therapy they need, they gain skills, confidence, and greater independence. Milestones like a first word, a first step, or success in the classroom can transform a child’s future and bring hope to their family.

For parents, Joe’s Kids provides more than therapy. They provide guidance, support, and a trusted partner. By ensuring children receive life-changing care when they need it most, they help families envision a brighter future and give every child the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Do you have any specific success stories you can share?

When four-year-old Parker came to Joe’s Kids, autism made everyday life overwhelming. He struggled with communication, following directions, and managing big emotions. After trying two therapy providers closer to their home without success, his family found a team at Joe’s Kids that truly understood his needs.

Today, Parker is using spontaneous language, building fine motor skills, regulating his emotions, and even attending therapy independently, a milestone his family once thought impossible. His progress has transformed life at home, bringing greater confidence, connection, and hope.

As his mom, Tiffany, shared, “Joe’s Kids was the only place that truly took the time to understand my son. I have watched Parker blossom and learn to use his voice in a way I didn’t think was possible.”

Tiffany drives 114 miles round trip twice each week because, for Parker, Joe’s Kids is more than a therapy center. It is where he found his voice.

What are some challenges your organization is facing?

Joe’s Kids operates in a healthcare environment shaped by changing regulations, workforce shortages, and reimbursement rates that often fall short of the true cost of care. At the same time, funding volatility across healthcare and nonprofit sectors creates ongoing uncertainty. These challenges can limit access to services and contribute to longer wait times, making community support more important than ever.

How has the Operation Round Up grant impacted your organization?

Support from KREMC Operation Round Up has helped Joe’s Kids bridge the gap between what insurance covers and what it actually costs to provide specialized care for children with developmental delays and disabilities. These funds have supported critical programs, equipment, and services that allow Joe’s Kids to expand access to care, reduce barriers for families, and help more children reach their full potential while giving families hope for the future.

How can people in the community get involved?

The support of the local community makes everything Joe’s Kids does possible. Readers interested in getting involved can contact Joe’s Kids about volunteer opportunities or support a child through sponsorship or a charitable donation. Because insurance often does not cover the full cost of care, every gift helps ensure local children have access to the life-changing services they need to thrive. Learn more at www.joes-kids.org.