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Our Beginnings
1997-2000
In the spring of 1997, Kenny Mauck felt the challenge through the teaching of his pastor, L.H. Hardwick of Christ Church, to reach out to children and families within the greater Nashville area. It was during this time that Kenny revealed to his wife, Raye Ann that he desired to fulfill a promise he made to God and himself back in 1992. He had made a promise to a troubled nine year old African American child who had serious emotional and psychological issues due to his mother's severe neglect. In looking at the records this child's mother had become a prostitute to maintain her drug habit and then he and his baby brother were found holding each other starving with nothing but an old bag of cocaine lying next to them when the police found them. Thus began his promise to this child that he would create an army of care givers if necessary to see that children like this special youngster would never have to endure such a tragedy alone, ever again.
Five years later the promise became a reality in that Kenny and Raye Ann, with the prayerful support of their family, began the first non-profit 'Faith Based' Community supportive organization within the Greater Nashville area for children, youth, and their families. The kitchen table in their home became the first office location and they took $750.00 from their savings account to begin what was then known as, 'LifeCare for Youth'. In 1998, a Board of Directors was established for this non-profit organization and the first relocation in the Kitchen was moved to their remodeled garage. Raye Ann operated the day to day activities while Kenny, who was still working full time at Christ Church, was the Executive Director. With the help of their own children, Landon, Megan, and Kelsey, they helped transport children and youth, and assisted Raye Ann (mom) in getting the organization started. From 1998 to the year 2000 LifeCare went from having two contracted professional caregivers to five professionals caring for over 75 families within this time frame.
2001-2004
The organization moved in 2001 to Brentwood, TN in a two room office suite adjoined next to Dave Ramsey, dear friends of the Mauck family. It was at this time Kenny went part-time with Christ Church and he and his wife Raye Ann began a Juvenile Accountability Program with children and youth who were residually going before the court system with legal problems. LifeCare at this time changed its name to 'LifeCare Family Services' when it became evident that the children's caregivers, the parents needed as much help for themselves, as well as other siblings in the family. In January 2002, Kenny became the full time Director of LifeCare Family Services, and through the invitation of Chuck Klusener, LifeCare became the first Faith Based, Licensed Community Mental Health Agency with the State of Tennessee.
In the year 2003, LifeCare went from a staff of 10 to a staff of 16 employees. It was then in 2003, that an amazing growth began to happen. Very little time passed before the organization was caring for over 400 people with a staff of over 40 employees. At the end of 2003, LifeCare opened their second office located in the city of Cookeville. This
growth continued in the year 2004, and at the end of 2004, LifeCare was serving over 800 clients and had a staff of approximately 80 people. Both Christy Donnell and Maggie Foster were instrumental during this time period in that both of assisted greatly in developing our Information Technology and Human Resource Offices of LifeCare. It was also during this time period LifeCare hired a well respected full time Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Dr. Cynthia Rector who has developed with Sean McPherson one of the most intensive programs for Children and their family members suffering with severe and persistent mental illness in the State of Tennessee.
2005-2006
In the year 2005 LifeCare opened its third location in Lebanon, TN and it was at this time that Kenny began to search out another Executive partner for Raye Ann and himself due to the tremendous growth that was continuing to occur within the organization. In October of 2005 Kenny asked Chuck Klusener to now join him as his Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations. Chuck began full time in January of 2006 and the administrative office in Nashville nearly doubled in size within one year and the operations of LifeCare had now a very accomplished support person to assist Kenny and Raye Ann in fulfilling its on going mission.
2007
In 2007 LifeCare began to expand into Supportive Housing and went from a few beds in 2007 to nearly 75 beds at year end. Currently, LifeCare has over 100 beds in 2008 and is continuing to serve over 2,000 children, youth, and adults, and its staff of over 200 are committed and specifically trained to deal with issues ranging from addictions, marital and family, legal and domestic, financial, and other related counseling issues facing individuals and families today.
2008 - Ten Years and Beyond
A lot has happened from that first office since the inception of the organization in the Mauck's kitchen, as LifeCare just celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 2008 with Bill Boards, radio spots, and a fall festival. LifeCare has two large facilities now with over 12,000 square feet within its two offices in Nashville and Cookeville. Within the last four months LifeCare has opened four new locations with offices in Franklin, Columbia, Lawrenceburg, and Pulaski. "LifeCare has really just begun" says its founder, Kenny Mauck, as we see our faith based organization making a larger impact on our city, state, and we believe one day our nation. We are just now realizing how awesome God is, when we simply put our trust in him and remain committed to the promise and dream He planted in our hearts a decade ago. We are seeing a great army of professional faith-based caregivers who are joining with us monthly to share their genuine love and concern by caring for one child and family at a time. We want LifeCare to continue be a place for people of all walks of life and ethic backgrounds to experience a place of healing for them and their loved ones, throughout Nashville, the surrounding Middle Tennessee and throughout areas within Tennessee, and our Nation at large. Wow… wonder what the next 10 years might look like!!!!
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