Young Specialized Needs Recreation volunteer earns award for friendship, building community
From left, Mark and Rachelle Mullen with son Grant Mullen are pictured Thursday with Kootenai County Sheriff Deputy Doug Goodman and Jason Hattrick from Kindness 911 as Grant is honored with a Kindness Citation for making a positive impact on his community. For his ninth birthday, all Grant wanted was to celebrate with his friends from Specialized Needs Recreation, where he and his parents and siblings volunteer.
Photo by Kaitlyn Rose Photography
Grant Mullen of Hayden shows off a framed and autographed photo collage during his 10th birthday celebrating with his friends from Specialized Needs Recreation at Triple Play Family Fun Park.
Courtesy photo
COEUR d'ALENE — At the young age of 10, Specialized Needs Recreation volunteer Grant Mullen is wise — and kind — beyond his years.
He received a Kindness 911 Citation from Kindness 911 founder and CEO Jason Hattrick during Specialized Needs Recreation's annual Gems and Jeans event Thursday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
"It was really cool, very surprising," the Hayden youth said Monday.
Grant was recognized for an extraordinary act of friendship and community building that took place in September 2024 as his ninth birthday approached. When his parents asked what he wanted to do to celebrate, he asked if he could invite everyone from SNR to his party, knowing that people with special needs don't always get invited to such events.
"Grant has always been a very kindhearted little boy his entire life," his dad, Mark Mullen, said. "He is an extremely sympathetic child."
SNR serves youth and adults with developmental and physical needs. All of the Mullen family — Grant, his two older siblings and his parents — have volunteered at the Coeur d'Alene nonprofit for more than a year. During that short time, the Mullens have formed close friendships with SNR participants.
"They're nice," Grant said.
He invited the SNR participants because he wanted everyone to know they are thought of and included. In a news release, SNR officials said Grant's thoughtful action embodies the heart of SNR’s mission — building belonging, fostering friendships and creating inclusive opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
"Everyone deserves it,” Grant said. "It’s the right thing to do. People deserve it."
Based in southwestern Washington, Kindness 911 is a nonprofit that supports law enforcement and fire agencies while recognizing individuals for having positive impacts on their communities. Its “Kindness Cops and Crew” issue Kindness Citations to exceptional individuals of all ages.
Program officials heard about Grant while watching the CBS program "On the Road with Steve Hartman," which aired a segment featuring Grant's birthday wish earlier this year.
"I have the honor of teaching and coaching kids with special needs on a daily basis and Grant’s story instantly touched my heart," Hattrick said in the news release. "I knew that Kindness 911 was going to be a part of his story as well."
SNR Executive Director Lindsay Patterson said at SNR, belonging is the goal.
"We are thankful to Grant for demonstrating what true belonging looks like," she said. "Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, can change lives.”
Mark Mullen said he and his wife, Rachelle, raised their kids to be kind.
"We’ve always told them, 'You're never mean to anybody. You're nice to everybody. It doesn’t matter where they come from, what they look like, how they dress,'" Mark said.
SNR also announced the Building Belonging Capital Campaign, an initiative to construct a recreation center in Kootenai County that will allow SNR to expand its reach.
The event brought in a preliminary $153,000 as of Monday afternoon, Patterson said, with an additional $73,000 allocated for the capital campaign, for which a dollar amount has not been set.
Grant Mullen of Hayden shows off a framed and autographed photo collage during his 10th birthday celebrating with his friends from Specialized Needs Recreation at Triple Play Family Fun Park.