Welcome to our Creative Community
Our Partners in Creativity
We love Nashville, the people we work with, and the creative communities throughout our town. Below, you will see multiple organizations that we are happy to call a part of our family. We love being involved in our community to help provide, give, and assist in any way possible.
It is our goal at IES to always make an effort to develop, lift, and support one another in our family.
The ERDie Project
The ERDie Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that is named after Emma Ryleigh Dixon, known to many as ERDie. The non-profit is something that Emma’s parents, Jeni and Charlie, felt very passionate about getting started after the loss of their daughter on April 1, 2022. Their mission is to raise funds for pediatric bone cancer research and to help families battling this horrible disease.
Childhood cancer is rare, but childhood bone cancer only makes up about 3% of all pediatric cancers with only about 1,000 cases diagnosed annually in the United States. Although there are millions of dollars donated to cancer research annually, only 4% of that money raised goes towards pediatric cancer research with fractions of that amount going towards pediatric bone sarcomas. There has been progress in finding cures for cancer as a whole but The ERDie Project is focused on making a difference when it comes finding new ways to treat and cure bone cancer in children. The same treatment protocols have been in place since the 1980s and that is unacceptable.
For more information on The ERDie Project, visit their website, theerdieproject.org.
Down Syndrome Association of Middle TN
The Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee (DSAMT) celebrates and supports individuals with Down syndrome and their families, to promote understanding and acceptance of those with Down syndrome.
At IES, we are thrilled to support DSAMT and their annual event, “The Extra Mile®.”
Each year, approximately 5,000 participants from Middle Tennessee are expected at “The Extra Mile” making it the largest Down syndrome awareness event in the state, and the primary source of funding for the organization’s programs.
This free, community event brings together families, schools, churches, vendors, businesses, and media to celebrate and enjoy activities for the entire family!
For more information on DSAMT, visit their website, somethingextra.org.
HIHO Classic Golf Tournament
Hand in Hand Options Inc. hosts an annual golf tournament benefiting the Diocese of Nashville. IES is proud to be a continuous partner!
The tournament’s proceeds go to the diocesan Catholic schools that serve students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as students with specific learning disabilities. Currently, the Diocese of Nashville has three participating schools who have a Hand in Hand Options program: Pope John Paul II Preparatory School in Hendersonville, which pioneered the program in 2004; St. Ann School, which began in 2017; and, most recently, St. Henry School.
All diocesan schools serve students with specific learning differences such as ADHD, dyslexia, executive functioning, and more.
For more information on HIHO and the Nashville Diocese, visit their website, dioceseofnashville.com.
GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville
GiGi’s Playhouse was created to change the way the world views a Down syndrome diagnosis and send a global message of acceptance for all.
We understand that many families are first time parents and they need us. Many young parents do not expect, or know in advance of their child’s diagnosis, and they need renewed hope and genuine acceptance from day one.
At GiGi’s Playhouse families are never alone. From a prenatal diagnosis to career skills, we make a lifetime commitment to remain by their side. Families are empowered with all the tools their child needs to succeed!