Healthy Connections Zero to Five
Published 6:56 pm Friday, April 4, 2025
- Ava is Sarah Busbee McKee’s third child. She was a surprise on multiple fronts. I will be honest; it was a dark few months’ processing the reality of a late in life pregnancy and then finding out that she had Down Syndrome. But God is good and comforted and assured me that everything would be alright.
Sarah Busbee McKee’s third child is a special needs child.
Sarah Busbee McKee, Healthy Connections Coordinator, is the daughter of Ben Busbee, retired executive director, Charles Henderson Child Health Center, Troy.
Busbee was the guest speaker at the Brundidge Rotary Club on Wednesday and shared his thoughts about his very special granddaughter who has some special needs.
“Out of the desire to help others that have or will experience what I experienced, the birth of a special child who also has some special needs, we have started a non-profit called Healthy Connection Zero to Five or HCZ25,” he said.
“Special” is also one word that describes the many others who are contributing to HCZ25, a 501C3 non-profit corporation licensed/registered in Alabama.
Busbee said HCZ25 was established to assist parents, families and caregivers of special needs children, with an emphasis on Down Syndrome, connect with area resources that support early development from birth to five years.
Busbee said the goal of HCZ25 is threefold: to connect parents/caregiver to community resources and support groups; when funding is available, to help offset the cost of therapy and counseling services for patients/families of special needs children that are uninsured or under-insured; and support/partner with local elementary school special education programs through financial donations and volunteers support for special projects.
On April 26, Busbee will participate in a charity bike event in collaboration with O’s Cool Bike Foundation to the help raise awareness and funds for both of these non-profit organizations.
O’s Cool Bike Foundation has two major philanthropic goals: to provide balance bikes to low-income children in southeast Alabama Head-Start facilities through a partnership with OCAP, and to provide scholarships to first-generation college students at Troy University majoring in social work, human services, hospitality, tourism, or event management. Funds raised from the ride/walk will enable O’s Cool Bike Foundation to donate more bikes and helmets to area low-income children and to fund the Lewis’ scholarships at Troy University.
The event will be held on the campus of Troy University.
