annual update
from our director
Dear friend,
Last December, our daughter Lena turned eighteen. After nearly two decades in the disability community, we’ve long understood the phrase “when the bus stops”. A phrase used for that moment when the structured path of school and support begins to change for individuals with disability & their families. We knew it in theory. But this past year, we have felt it. The routines, relationships, and resources that once provided stability shift a bit, and with it comes the risk of deeper isolation.
At 99 Balloons, we exist to change that story from isolation to being truly known in community. That vision drives every program, every partner site across the U.S., and every global relationship in Nicaragua, South Asia, and Uganda. From the six-month-old at rEcess, to our bEfriend friend who just turned seventy, we are building lifelong relationships that remind individuals and families they are seen & known, they are a vital part of the body of Christ.
Belonging does not happen by accident. It takes intention, steadfastness, and people like you who believe in a better story. Because of your generosity, this mission is not just an idea or resource or concept, it is real life. It is transforming lives here in Northwest Arkansas, across the country, and around the world. Your giving creates deep connection, allowing families “beyond the bus stop” to be truly known, and helps reshape the table where everyone has a place.
Thank you for making this life-changing work possible. We are so grateful to walk this road with you… the best is yet to come!
Love,
Ginny Mooney
BUILDING INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES SO THAT EVERY PERSON WITH A DISABILITY & THEIR FAMILY CAN LIVE A FULL LIFE WITHIN RELATIONSHIPS.
Vision
CHANGING THE STORY OF DISABILITY BY PROCLAIMING THE WORTH AND IMAGE-BEARING BEAUTY OF EACH AND EVERY HUMAN BEING.
theory of change
WHEN PEOPLE WITHOUT DISABILITY AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY
GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER, THEY START TO CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.
EXPENSES: $447,892.39
recess sites
Palmer, AK
Fort Payne, AL
Montgomery, AL
Blountsville, AL
Birmingham, AL
Bentonville, AR (4)
Fayetteville, AR (3)
Rogers, AR (2)
Siloam Springs, AR
Anaheim, CA
Engelwood, CO
Frederick, CO
Atlanta, GA
Gainesville, GA
Mt. Pleasant, IN
New Albany, IN
Bowling Green, KY
Baton Rouge, LA
Berlin, MD
Bolivar, MO
Branson, MO
Kansas City, MO
Springfield, MO
St. Louis, MO
Pontotoc, MS
Charlotte, NC
Tulsa, OK
Brentwood, TN (2)
Lebanon, TN
Memphis, TN
Mount Juliet, TN
Nashville, TN
Smyrna, TN
Dallas, TX
Fort Worth, TX
Lubbock, TX
San Antonio, TX
Hurricane, WV
Carlton, VIC, Australia
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Befriend sites
Palmer, AK
Fayetteville, AR (3)
Rogers, AR
Bentonville, AR
Jacksonville, FL
Plantation, FL
Morristown, TN
Dallas, TX
San Antonio, TX
ripple effects of respite
At Grace Church of the Nazarene in Nashville, TN, retired Army Chaplain and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Brad Lee launched a rEcess site to tangibly love families experiencing disability, something he knows the importance of firsthand through his journey with his son, Kaydan. After receiving respite from another rEcess site in Tennessee, Brad felt called to bring the same support to his own community. Not only has it been something they deeply care about, but it has shifted the whole narrative of their church.
The church’s lead pastor approached the 99 Balloons table at the Disability and the Church conference sharing the impact it had on their church, the families, and himself. He had heard such beautiful stories and was so grateful they were a 99 Balloons site.
Brad shared this, “A most powerful and collective moment occurred when I asked a couple who were picking up their child what they had done with their time during respite. The wife said to me, ‘We actually got to go on a date for the first time in two years.’
Needless to say, Grace Church is looking forward to our next rEcess event!”
the story of their rEcess site was told by the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging WATCH HERE!
Pictured above is Brad in the middle with his Co-Site Director, Lakyn Whaley, and some of their Leadership Team
IAN AND CALEB:
Ian & Caleb were thoughtfully Paired by one of our Northwest Arkansas bEfriend Hosts, Ashley.
friendshipallmakes the difference
Over the last several months, they’ve gotten to have several ice cream runs along with celebrating Friendsgiving with their bEfriend Community and hanging at a 99B karaoke Night, where they didn’t sing but instead made gingerbread houses with Caleb’s fiancée at the time & now wife, Kaitlyn.
“Ian kept eating everything for the gingerbread house while Kaitlyn wasn’t looking”, Caleb said, laughing at the memory. Ian didn’t try to deny it, and just replied with a simple “I did” and a big smile.
The story of disability changes through the profound impact of just a single friendship like Caleb and Ian’s. Here’s a video of them together at our annual NWA bEfriend Talent Show.
LINK TO IG REEL:
HAPPY BREW STORY:
99 Balloons was first introduced to Amy Franks when Happy Brew Coffee Shop in Jacksonville, FL was still just a dream. Amy had been deeply involved in ministry through the church next door and Young Life Capernaum, but she began to notice a gap. Many of her adult friends with disabilities were experiencing fewer opportunities for meaningful friendship as they transitioned into adulthood.
Happy Brew was created as a fully accessible, welcoming space that offers dignifying and meaningful employment to individuals with disabilities. But, the vision didn’t stop there.
This year, through 99 Balloons, Amy launched a bEfriend Community, designed to cultivate genuine friendships between all adults with and without disabilities that come through the coffee shop. Amy and her Host Team have completed training through 99 Balloons and are now spending the summer intentionally pairing members of the community in mutual, freely-given friendship.
widespread impact
This year during Spring Break, we had the incredible opportunity to return to Nicaragua, this time, with a brand new team of dedicated UAMS students and a Speech Therapist. Our partner organization had expressed a deep need for this kind of specialized support, and it was a privilege to meet that need in such a meaningful way. One of the most touching experiences came from our Speech Therapist, who shared this unforgettable moment:
“A family came to the center seeking help with their son’s language development. He was non-vocal and showed no signs of joint attention. When he first walked into the room, he didn’t engage with anyone, he just quietly played with the toys on his own.
So, we began a simple game: building a tower out of blocks. Each time we added a block, I signed ‘más’ (more), encouraging him to do the same. As the tower grew, I’d pretend to knock it over with a dramatic crash. The second time we played, something shifted and he signed ‘más’ on his own. Then he looked at me. Not past me. At me.
And then, the most joyful sound filled the room: his laughter. Not just a giggle, but a full, beautiful belly
laugh. His mom quietly pulled me aside and said, ‘This is the first time he’s ever played with someone like that.’
That moment will stay with me forever. Watching him connect, watching him see the world outside himself…it was breathtaking.”
Stories like this are why we keep pressing to serve & love families experiencing disability around the globe and we’ve seen beautiful growth alongside our partners in Uganda & South Asia as well.
In Uganda a new facility has been underway for a while and they have moved in and are using the space! The Special Education Director put it best: “The joy that the students and staff are experiencing is quite beautiful.” 99 Balloons is providing ongoing support of new initiatives that will best utilize the space to help older children with adulthood transition needs. And in South Asia, All-In sponsorships provide vital support & special education for students experiencing disability.
At the heart of it all, whether in Nicaragua, Uganda, South Asia, or right here at home, the story of disability is changing around the globe.
in action flywheel of change
We invite others to engage with disability in a way that highlights our shared humanity.
At 99 Balloons, not everything we do can be measured in numbers. Our mission is to walk alongside individuals and families experiencing disability, helping ensure they are fully welcomed, known, and included in all kinds of communities.
As we pursue that vision, we press in to advocate, teach, come alongside churches and community partners, equipping them to create spaces where everyone belongs.
Here’s a glimpse of how that work takes shape:
Fellowships + Internships: Our yearlong fellows program allowed 27 - that’s right, 27! - students to gain a greater understanding of our work through curriculum, panel discussions and committed service at local rEcess and bEfriend sites. We also had 5 interns giving a few additional hours with us to build hands-on leadership and a base for lifelong advocacy.
Consulting, Training + Support: Our team is sought after to provide insight and assistance to others in their pursuit to be more inclusive of people with disabilities. Our work extends to various churches, ministries, as well as other nonprofits and businesses. We love sharing about a mindset shift from one-time volunteerism to that of building lasting relationships. We have lived this out over the past year in the following ways:
• Presented on global disability at a large digital gathering hosted by Joni & Friends
• Collaborated with the Tim Tebow Foundation to support their Night to Shine training, which is shared with over 800 churches worldwide
• Partnered with 2 other non-profit organizations in NWA to guide inclusive childcare practices, and supported Fayetteville Public Library in their efforts to better serve adults with disabilities
• Shared with University of Arkansas students studying Speech Therapy and Special Education
Storytelling: We often say that to change the story of disability, you must know the story of disability. We believe the story is one of hope, and in additions to the speaking engagements above, we produce ongoing short documentary-style videos and content, helping others envision earth as it is in heaven, where we see & know each other.
Night for 99: Every September, we host our largest event, Night for 99. While fundraising is certainly a goal, the last few years have also ushered in a reminder of our shared humanity through creative visual experiences. We approach this evening as an opportunity to connect with our community, share our mission, draw a larger audience into the story of disability and extend the invitation to join us.
**mark your calendars for SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
The stories and images shared here are just a glimpse of what your support makes possible through 99 Balloons: Isolation being transformed into lasting relationships, lives being marked by welcome, connection, and belonging.
We’ve seen time & time again what a real impact a friend can make. We believe that relationships change everything and that the church is positioned to be this catalyst of hope.
God continues to reveal His heart through the families we serve, the volunteers who show up, and the generous donors who make this work possible. We could not do any of this without you and we are so thankful to be in it together. Your continued generosity fuels lasting change in the lives of individuals and families experiencing disability.
Scan the QR code to continue your support.
Or if you’d like to talk to our team about continued giving and exactly how it will change the story of disability, email info@99balloons.com.
