EXCEPTIONAL FAMILIES PROGRAM CELEBRATES ONE YEAR

“What does a Community Foundation do?” That’s the question we are asked most often

at the Coronado Community Foundation (CCF). One way we answer is by identifying and addressing the unmet needs in our community, and one year ago, in partnership with Camp Able, the City of Coronado, and Friends of Coronado Library, we launched the Exceptional Families Program (EFP) to do just that.

The Story Time Exceptional Families Program event at the Winn Room, co-sponsored by Friends of the Coronado Library, delights kids of all ages! Photo credit: Ed Clemente Photography

EFP was created to serve families with members who have special needs, many of whom are Navy-connected and face limited access to consistent, inclusive support in Coronado. The program, designed and produced by Jenelle Nettles, Director of Camp Able offers meaningful respite and creates enriching, inclusive opportunities for participants of all ages. EFP also supports adults who have aged out of school-based

systems, providing a space for connection, belonging, and continued growth. As a co-sponsor, Friends of the Coronado Library proudly hosts the events that take place at the Winn Room, and helps facilitate these meaningful events. "The programs and services of our Coronado Library are not only confined to the library itself states Carl Luna, President of Friends of the Coronado Public Library. "Through partnerships with Coronado nonprofits, schools and our local military families and organizations, the Library can support an array of programs, such as Exceptional Families bringing Library-supported programs into every corner of our community.  The Friends of the Coronado Library are proud to be an underwriting partner with the Library in these programs."

A Year of Connection, Creativity, and Community

Over the past year, more than 250 participants have taken part in the monthly Exceptional Families Program events—each one thoughtfully designed to foster joy, inclusion, and meaningful connection. These gatherings go far beyond activities like building birdhouses, making sand candles, or exploring hands-on science and storytelling; they’ve become places where families come together, where isolation gives way to community, and where every participant is truly welcomed.

For Rudy, a 50-year-old Coronado resident, the program offered something he’d been quietly searching for: friendship. He showed up to his first event hoping to meet someone new—and left saying, “I found my crew.” Since then, Rudy has become a regular, even enrolling in Camp Able, and is thriving in a community where he feels he belongs.

In April, at an EFP event held at the Coronado Library, families gathered to build bird feeders and meet live falcons. Parents called it one of their favorite experiences of the year—a perfect blend of creativity, discovery, and shared joy that brought families together in a meaningful way. Sometimes, the impact is felt just as powerfully by those behind the scenes. One mother, emotionally drained after her adult son’s surgery, almost didn’t attend. With a gentle nudge from volunteers, she decided to come—and was met with care and

support. Volunteers stepped in to offer one-on-one attention, giving her a rare chance to rest while her son happily participated. She left feeling lighter, seen, and renewed.

Another parent—a Navy mom—shared how her autistic son, often overwhelmed in group settings, felt truly at ease for the first time at an EFP event. “He could be himself,” she said. “We felt included.” These moments, big and small, are at the heart of what EFP is all about: building a safe, welcoming space where families are not only supported but celebrated.

Making new friends at the Camp Able tent at the Coronado Art & Wine Festival. Photo credit: Ed Clemente Photography

Measured and Meaningful Impact

The impact of the Exceptional Families Program is both measurable and deeply personal. In terms of scale, Camp Able reported a remarkable increase in summer camp enrollment—from 400 in 2023 to over 700 in 2024—thanks in large part to the expanded reach and relationships fostered by EFP.

Even more meaningful are the personal stories of gratitude and relief. John Leslie, an EFP

parent, shared his heartfelt experience: “My family of four rarely gets to go out together. My wife has advanced MS and uses a wheelchair, and our two children have autism and Down syndrome. But this event was different—we could attend as ONE family. My wife could relax and enjoy lunch while the wonderfully patient staff cared for our children. I had tears in my eyes just sitting with her in peace. The EFP has done something beautiful for families like ours—thank you.” He continued, “If you only knew (perhaps you do) the lives of families raising a child with special needs… the endless doctor appointments, school challenges, financial strain, frequent illnesses. But we wouldn’t have it any other way. Our love is tested—and found

to be true.”

Read the full article as seen in the Coronado Eagle & Journal here.