Leslie Karnowski

Jennifer Swain/ Visionary

 Jennifer likes hammering out details. Her non-profit organization, Special Spaces, provides bedroom makeovers for critically-ill children. Her vision is fashioned from the dream design in each child’s mind’s eye. “These children have compromised immune systems. They spend lots of time in bed,” she explains. Sponsors and grants foster the $2500 it takes to redo each room. Since 2004, the single mother of nine (six are adopted), has constructed 50 rooms, including a UT football theme (Peyton Manning stopped by) and a girl’s frog baseball room with a lilypad bed. Everything is hand-painted, handmade and hand-sewn by five crew-leaders and project volunteers – all in one day! “I’ll never find a cure for cancer,” she admits. “But I can help with their journey and put a smile on their face.” As if a busy home life and start-up business aren’t enough, Jennifer is also pursuing her Master’s in non-profit administration. “Special Spaces is destined for greatness. I’m ready to take it national.”