The Story
Amari is a bright, energetic 10-year-old who loves sports like flag football, basketball, WWE, and any chance to compete. One morning in early 2025, a wrong-way driver hit Amari and his father head-on while they were on their way to school. The accident left Amari paralyzed and without his right leg. Since that day, Amari and his family have been adjusting to a new way of life, and Sunshine on a Ranney Day has been honored to support them. Thanks to the generous help of former Atlanta Hawk Trae Young, the Trae Young Family Foundation, and the talented Crosby Design Group, SOARD transformed Amari’s home with a fully wheelchair-accessible bathroom and a custom dream bedroom. The project reached a national audience when a special story about Amari’s makeover aired on NBC Nightly News, just days before Christmas 2025.
In April 2025, shortly after Amari's accident, former Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young visited him in the hospital. Trae was moved by Amari’s spirit, and his family’s strength impressed him. He wanted to do more than just visit. Instead, he sought to make a real difference. Consequently, he reached out to SOARD. Working with Crosby Design Group, we began planning spaces to ensure Amari’s new life would be not only manageable but meaningful.
After months of planning, Trae, Amari, and our team gathered at Walk Your Plans Atlanta in October 2025, where Amari saw his new bathroom and bedroom mapped out full scale for the first time. We are so grateful to the team from Kids R Kids Corporate, who worked with Amari and SOARD project manager Christian to clear out the bathroom and bedroom and start construction. Because Amari’s parents requested that his bedroom stay upstairs so he wouldn’t feel separated from the rest of the house, we immediately understood and prioritized their wishes. This custom solution was made possible by the generosity of donors like Trae Young and the Trae Young Family Foundation, whose support enabled us to find the right way to keep Amari close to his family while ensuring his safety and independence. As a result, Trae made it possible for Amari to receive a stair lift, ensuring he can safely and comfortably access his room every day. Although SOARD doesn’t install stair lifts, the incredible team at 101 Mobility stepped in to make it happen.
Jennifer Crosby of Crosby Design Group and junior designer Ella Guinn redesigned the bathroom layout to create more space to move, turn easily, and use the shower safely. Because Amari shares the bathroom with his sister, they added thoughtful storage solutions. The result? A space that's comfortable and useful for both of them. Once again, our partners made a big difference. They also ensured Amari's personality shone in his bedroom through a unique shoebox-shaped bed, a custom closet, and a desk.
We are grateful to our in-kind partners who made this possible: Mike Kamber and Therapy Gyms built the bed; Echols Glass & Mirror created the closet and desk; Mohawk Flooring provided flooring; MSI supplied tile; CR Home and Cambria delivered countertops; Real Floors Commercial donated the Schluter system and labor for flooring and tile installation. These invaluable relationships enable our work. We are truly thankful for their generosity.
We are truly grateful to Trae Young, the Trae Young Family Foundation, Crosby Design Group, and all partners who supported Amari’s family. Thanks to their support, Amari now has a home where he can heal and regain independence, while his family moves forward with greater comfort and hope. Now, Amari can move independently between floors using the stair lift, shower safely in his new bathroom, and keep his belongings within reach in his bedroom. These upgrades allow him to spend more time with his family and enjoy his favorite activities, restoring his independence and comfort.
