Lifetime Achievement Award - Phil and Kay Atterberry

Since 1987, Phil and Kay Atterberry have opened their home and their hearts to 17 children with special needs through foster care. Of their 17 foster children, they adopted seven - six boys and one girl.

The Atterberry’s first came to Heartspring in 1989 when two of their sons, EJ and AJ, began receiving speech services as a result of a congenial defect. Due to severe complications from surgery, EJ passed away on October 12, 1991. He was five years old. In December 2005, a statue of the Disney character Goofy that was commissioned by the Atterbery’s in 1992, was rededicated on Heartspring’s new campus. EJ’s brother, AJ, unveiled a plaque displaying EJ Dreams, a poem written by Kay, forever memorializing EJ as part of Heartspring’s history.

The Atterberry’s do not seek recognition or reward. “If we can give a child a weekend, a week, a month or a year and they can have the experience of a family, a full tummy, a warm bed –then that makes it worth it,” said Kay.

Heartspring wants to thank Phil and Kay for all they have done, serving as mentors, counselors and advocates to others who foster, adopt or strive to help children with special needs. We honor them with the Lifetime Achievement Award for their unwavering commitment to provide a better life for children in need.

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