Jameson Bates’ short 19 month life inspired his family to establish memorial and endowment funds to award at least two yearly grants to programs assisting children with special needs. The “Jamie’s Smiles Memorial Fund” and the “Jamie’s Smiles Endowment Fund” are the names of the tax deductible funds established through the IRS non-profit Shelby Community Foundation as his legacy as a special needs charity. The original memorial fund was created in the spring of 2006 and in mid-2007 the endowment fund was finalized. As of February 10, 2020, we have over $134,700 in total cash and investments between our Memorial and Endowed funds and have given away over $146,700 in grants and donations to assist programs for children with special needs. We help approximately 1,100 children with special needs and their families every year and have helped more than 15,600 children since our inception. It is our goal as a nonprofit children's charity to raise enough endowed funds to make three yearly grants available to programs for children with special needs on a permanent and perpetual basis.