The Oxford Kids Foundation is recognized as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
We are a passionate team of 100% made of volunteers who work to help children in need.
Our goal is to raise and award funds for children to receive beneficial medical therapies not covered by insurance in the state of Michigan.
WMUZ Interview with Founder, Tami Peterson
A Note From the Founder:
As a mom of a disabled daughter, I personally learned the challenges of providing for a child with special needs. Although I found benefit in traditional therapies: speech, language, physical, and occupational therapy, I knew there had to be more options out there. For my daughter the answer was to add hyperbaric oxygen therapy to her daily regimen. Although this was not seen as the normal, insurance covered treatment, it was the answer in giving me back the healthy, mobile daughter I once had.
After having my daughter’s life given back to me, I sought to serve others by making this therapy available to as many people as I could. I opened a clinic so that others could have access to the treatment also. However, it did not take long to realize how many of my patients needed not only the hyperbaric oxygen therapy, but many other treatments and specialized diets as well. Many parents were already financially drained. Although the parents became very creative with fundraising we wanted to do more to help. That is when we also began doing fundraisers to raise money to help the families of these children financially and have the ability to do more therapies. Out of that desire grew Oxford Kids Foundation.
Upon development of the foundation, it has been a humbling experience to realize how many people are out there who want to help others financially. You too can make a difference in a child’s life!
Help heal the world, just give back.
Tami Peterson (Powell), PhD
Founder
Oxford Kids Foundation
Our Core Values
Accountability:
Commitment to noble stewardship, transparency, and highest fiduciary responsibility.
Accessibility:
Providing access for therapies and resources to help children with disabilities, chronic illness, and traumatic injuries.
Integrity:
Commitment to premier standards of personal, ethical and professional behavior.
Innovation:
Conducting, supporting, and promoting research for alternative therapies.
Excellence:
Supporting and creating the highest caliber of therapies and resources for children and their families.
Executive Board of Directors:
Andrew Kistner joined the Oxford Kids Foundation board in 2022 after his daughter, Gracie, was a recipient of two Oxford Kids Foundation grants. Andrew, his wife Emily, and their little Gracie discovered Oxford Recovery Center in 2019 while seeking therapies to help with Gracie’s Cerebral Palsy diagnosis in hopes of helping Gracie learn to walk. Through Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Intensive TheraSuit Physical therapy. The Kistner’s were from out of state and would temporarily relocate to Oxford Recovery Center for therapy for Gracie. After spending all that they had on the first two trips in 2020, they turned to the Oxford Kids Foundation for help. In September 2021 Gracie took her first steps in the nurses office at Oxford Recovery Center. Shortly thereafter Andrew joined Oxford Recovery Center as their Director of Marketing, and soon joined the Board of Directors for the Oxford Kids Foundation. Gracie now attends Oxford Recovery Center full time.
Advisory Board of Directors:
Dr. Tami Peterson is a mom to two extraordinary children, Blake and JeAnnah, and is the founder of Oxford Kids Foundation. Tami taught children with special needs from 1985 through 2013. Her own daughter’s life-threatening illness led her to discover the healing power of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. JeAnnah recovered and is now a happy and healthy young adult who works at ORC. You can read the whole story here.
Witnessing the financial struggles that families face in their efforts to care for and seek healing for their children, Dr. Peterson started the Oxford Kids Foundation. Not only is she blessed to serve others at Oxford Recovery Center, she serves others by fundraising to provide the alternative therapies they need.
Cindy Sheppelman has always been compassionate and generous to her friends and extensive family. But when she suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2010, Cindy was exposed to the expense and frustration of disabled people trying to recover. She quickly discovered that traditional therapies covered under insurance, often are not best in recovery. In her own journey to recovery she realized therapies such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Anat Baniel, and therapeutic riding offered her healing.
She has worked tirelessly to raise funds and awareness for children who can benefit from these amazing therapies, as she feels this is now what God has called her to do. A phrase she loves to use is, “You really can change the world if you care enough,” by Marian Wright Edelman.
Gary Marken’s involvement with children goes far beyond his own. He has been a dedicated coach for football and baseball for over 10 years in South Lyon. His servant heart has allowed him to work with many committees in fundraising for the schools, holding many events and helping those in need. God brought Gary to Oxford Recovery Center in 2008, and he continues to be blessed every day and live out his passion to serve.
Paula Marken and her family have lived in the South Lyon community for over 40 years. Her love and passion for children has kept her working for the South Lyon School district since 2003. She has always been an advocate for children and is very involved in her church, teaching in the children’s Adventureland for the last nine years. Her husband, Gary, is also on the Board.
Paula’s life goal:
“I believe God has a purpose for each of us, and mine is to make a difference in the lives of others, to show Christ to all while continuously seeking Him in everything.”
