Mark Werner, CEO of Charbroil presents a $1,000 check

RiteCare Update - August 6, 2022

In January of this year the Valley of Columbus RiteCare Clinic, the Autism Learning Center, LLC (ALC), Columbus, GA, was acquired by Florida based, Shields Capital (SC), a health care centered capital investment group and KNR Therapy (KNR), located in Tampa, FL. KNR provides home, school, center and community based Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) in Central Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Massachusetts.

Nicole Hilmes, the founder and Director of ALC, who continues to work with the new owners said, “Our team is thrilled to join forces with KNR. Our goal at ALC has always been to provide interventions based on the principles of ABA to help children learn how to independently communicate, play, and socially engage in their community. We are confident that together with KNR our combined efforts will make a stronger organization and allow us to better serve our families. This is a huge step forward for families, in addition to the support, we can continue to offer our employees.”

ALC provides clinic and school-based ABA therapy services to children ages 2 to 18 years old. As Nicole’s son, “Drew”, has grown up and thanks to his mother’s commitment to all children with autism, has progressed from nonverbal to being able to communicate with a Language Acquisition Through Motor Planning (LAMP) device. The KNR partnership will allow her to spend more time with Drew and her husband, Brigadier General, Andrew “Andy”, Hilmes who recently relinquished his Command of the Combat Readiness Center and Director of Safety at Fort Rucker, AL, in preparation for his retirement.

We recently met with Frank Bequer, the founder of KNR, and some of his senior staff members at ALC and presented them with a check for $5,000 on behalf of the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia, Inc., RiteCare© Childhood Language Program. This brings the Valley up to date on the funding commitment we made to them as our RiteCare Clinic. Frank was firm in his commitment to continue to partner with RiteCare and is looking forward to his return trip to participate the Valley’s Second Annual, Charity Dove Shoot, Saturday, September 17, 2022, in Lumpkin, GA. To learn more about The Autism Learning Center, LLC (ALC) in Columbus, Georgia, a division of KNR Therapy, please visit their websites.

We have two major fundraising projects ongoing. The upcoming Dove Shoot, Saturday, September 17, 2022, will raise money to fund our commitment to RiteCare. We need volunteers, donors, paid sponsors, prizes to raffle off and registered shooters to make this a success. We are also raffling off a 12 Gauge Benelli M2 Field Shotgun to raise money for the Valley. You can donate cash, buy sponsorships and register to shoot with a credit card online on the Valley’s website www.scottishritecolsga.com, or just call me at 706-527-7126, to purchase shotgun raffle tickets.

Also, thanks to Honorable Brother Joe Oelgoetz, we have received a generous contribution of $1,000 from Char-Broil in Columbus. Other than the Dove Shoot Sponsors this is our first contribution from a major corporate donor.

Thanks to all of the Brothers who make the Valley of Columbus the great success that it is.

Phil Harris 33°, Chairman

Executive Committee