Youngkins present Spirit of Virginia Award to The Bailey Center for Special Needs

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the first lady presented the 2025 Spirit of Virginia Award to a special needs center in Mecklenburg County that highlights autism awareness.

On Wednesday, Aug. 27, Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne Youngkin visited The Bailey Center for Special Needs in South Hill to present the final Spirit of Virginia Award of the Youngkin Administration.

“Suzanne and I are honored to present the Spirit of Virginia Award to Mandi, Bailey, and the entire Bailey Center team, who are shining examples of the Spirit of Virginia in action,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This center is more than a place; it’s a beacon of hope, love, and opportunity for families with children who have special needs across Southside Virginia. Children are nurtured and empowered to grow, and parents find the support and encouragement they so deeply deserve. The Bailey Center embodies the very best of what it means to live out the Spirit of Virginia – communities coming together, locking arms, and lifting one another up.”

The Bailey Center -- one of 24 nonprofit organizations that received this spirit award -- was founded by Amanda "Mandi" Calhoun and was inspired by her son, Bailey.

The center is reportedly in partnership with FEAT (Families Embracing Autism Together), to provide "a safe, comfortable, and sensory-friendly environment where participants can learn, play, and grow," per a release.

In addition to its enrichment and inclusion opportunities, it also offers training and support for parents, caregivers and educators, the governor's office said.

“The Bailey Center reminds us that through love and determination, personal challenges can be transformed into community-wide blessings,” said First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin. “Mandi, Bailey, and the entire Bailey Center family are changing the narrative around autism in Virginia—one family, one program, one breakthrough at a time.”

The center also leads initiatives such as Buddy Ball, LINCS (Learning in Networks of Community Support) and BEYOND.

“The Bailey Center is deeply humbled and honored to receive the Spirit of Virginia Award,” said Mandi Calhoun, Co-Founder and Executive Director. “This recognition is not ours alone—it belongs to the incredible community that has walked alongside us, supported our mission, and made this dream a reality. Together, we are building a place of hope, inclusion, and belonging for families across Southside Virginia.”