GuideWater

Kelly Gannon, CFP®, ChSNC® is a Senior Financial Planner with James River Wealth Advisors in Midlothian, Virginia, who we partner with for their specialty in comprehensive financial planning for families caring for individuals with special needs.

Kelly understands that special needs planning requires more than traditional financial advice—it requires compassion, coordination, and long-term vision. Families navigating disabilities face complex decisions surrounding government benefits, special needs trusts, guardianship considerations, long-term care planning, and lifetime financial security. Kelly works closely with parents, caregivers, and multigenerational families to design thoughtful strategies that protect benefits while building sustainable financial support for the future.

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Chartered Special Needs Consultant® (ChSNC®), Kelly brings both technical expertise and a deeply relationship-driven approach to her work. She collaborates with attorneys, accountants, and other professionals to ensure each plan is coordinated and tailored to the unique needs of the family.

Kelly believes special needs planning is ultimately about peace of mind—helping families feel confident that their loved one will be cared for, supported, and financially secure long after they are no longer able to provide that support themselves. Her goal is to serve as a trusted, long-term partner, guiding families through life’s transitions with clarity, empathy, and steady advice.

This is sure to be a wonderful event !

Fathers, mothers, caregivers, and family members are warmly invited to attend this stop of the Special Fathers Network U.S. Tour!

Come meet local mentor fathers, connect with others who understand the journey, and hear from author and podcast host David Hirsch. Attendees will also receive a complimentary copy of “Dads Raising Children With Special Needs & Disabilities: A Guide for 21st Century Dads.”

We are also grateful to our special guest speaker, Jeff Katz, CPS, an award winning multimedia personality and highly sought after professional coach and inspirational speaker.

A heartfelt thank you to our community partners whose collaboration helps make this event possible:

Ainsley's Angels in Virginia
AnswersNow
Best Buddies Virginia & DC
Better2gether RVA
Beyond Boundaries
Chesterfield County Mental Health Support Services
Commonwealth Community Trust (CCT)
Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)
Disability Benefits Guidance LLC
Family Lifeline
Fatherhood Foundation of Virginia
Sentara Health
Sportable - Richmond Adaptive Sports & Recreation
The Tutoring Hub: Tutoring & Advocacy, LLC
Therapeutic Adventures, Inc.
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD)
Virginia Voice
Yellow Bus ABA

The Special Fathers Network is a mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs, now with more than 900 dads in 14 countries. SFN mentor fathers make themselves available to support and mentor fathers who are earlier in their special needs parenting journey.

You can register or sign up to be a community partner at https://friendshipcircleva.org/sfn

We are excited to connect with families today at the Shalom Baptist Touch an Truck! Be sure to swing by and say hi and learn more about GuideWater!

Meet your guide:

Hi, I'm Monica!

I grew up the proud middle sister to two incredible brothers with Down syndrome. Because of them, I didn't just learn about the disability world, I live it!

Throughout my life I observed, absorbed, and learned how the system works. That experience shaped my heart early and ultimately led me to a career in disability services.

I watched too many families struggle with a system that should be helping them. Families who'd been given conflicting advice. Families drowning in paperwork. Families who felt like nobody really understood what they were going through.

Through my personal journey and my professional work, I developed a strong understanding of benefits and services and most importantly, how the various systems fit together. I know how overwhelming it feels when you're trying to make the right decisions for someone you love. And I've also seen what happens when families get the right guidance: the relief, the confidence, the ability to finally plan for the future instead of just surviving the present.

That's why I am passionate about supporting families through GuideWater.

We’re excited to share that over the past several months, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes on something important — a new name that brings greater clarity to our role and better aligns our work with James River Wealth Advisors Brand.

Every family navigating disability benefits and supports deserves more than a stack of forms and a wish for good luck. They deserve someone in their corner who understands the system, knows what's possible, and can help them get there.


Eli's Village is excited to share that we are now GuideWater! The new name reflects what this work has become, and where it's going.

We also have a new home online. A website built to be as clear and accessible as the guidance we provide. No jargon, no guesswork. Just a straightforward picture of how we help, and an easy way to get started. If you've ever wanted to point another family toward the kind of support you've experienced, now there's a link for that.

Visit us at

Special Needs Benefits & Financial Planning in Virginia | GuideWater GuideWater helps Virginia families navigate SSI, Medicaid, waivers, and special needs trust funding. Free 30-minute consultation. You don't have to do this alone.

Navigating disability resources can feel overwhelming but you don’t have to do it alone. At Eli’s Village, we help families understand and access the supports their loved ones need, including guidance through the Medicaid Waiver application process, connecting with community resources, and planning for the future.

Whether you’re just getting started or feeling stuck in the process, we’re here to walk alongside you every step of the way.

Because every family deserves support, clarity, and someone in their corner.

We’re excited to share this upcoming session on Supported Decision-Making, hosted by the Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living (VACIL) and the Disability Law Center of Virginia.

This informative training will explore how individuals with disabilities can make their own choices with the support they need—while maintaining independence and control over their lives.

🗓 Date: May 19, 2026
⏰ Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM
📍 Location: Zoom (registration required)

🎤 Led by Dana Traynham, Senior Attorney with the Disability Law Center of Virginia.

🔗 Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mfCcBn9STzGEmll0QqrY8w

Feel free to share with anyone who may benefit from this opportunity!

📣 Community Training Opportunity 📣

We’re excited to share this upcoming session on Supported Decision-Making, hosted by the Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living VAIL and the Disability Law Center of Virginia.

This informative training will explore how individuals with disabilities can make their own choices with the support they need—while maintaining independence and control over their lives.

🗓 Date: May 19, 2026
⏰ Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM
📍 Location: Zoom (registration required)

🎤 Led by Dana Traynham, Senior Attorney with the Disability Law Center of Virginia.

🔗 Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mfCcBn9STzGEmll0QqrY8w

Feel free to share with anyone who may benefit from this opportunity!

We are excited to spend the evening talking with families from Henrico County Public Schools about both our Financial Planning and Benefit and Support Navigation supports and how we can come along side them. Hope to see you there!

Save the date for this fun and inclusive event! Thank you Friendship Circle of Virginia for all your hard work putting this on each year!

SAVE THE DATE!

⚾May 10, 2026 is our 5TH ANNUAL Disability Inclusion Day!⚾

We are looking forward to hosting this event at Carmax Park!

Stay tuned for details.