From Kid Cancer Battles to Bedroom Sanctuaries: Kimberly Thomas Named Special Spaces Nebraska Director
In a time when pediatric cancer diagnoses turn entire families upside down, a Nebraska nonprofit is flipping the narrative one bedroom at a time. Special Spaces, the national nonprofit behind more than 1,900 dream bedroom makeovers for kids with cancer, has just announced longtime Omaha nonprofit leader Kimberly Thomas as Chapter Director of Special Spaces Nebraska.
A seasoned nonprofit leader with nearly two decades of experience in the Omaha metro, Thomas brings deep community roots, proven organizational leadership, and a heart for service to this transformative role.
“Kimberly brings the perfect blend of empathy, vision, and strategy to Special Spaces,” said Christopher Swain, executive director of Special Spaces. Inc. “Her commitment to the families she serves is already evident, and we’re confident that under her leadership, the Nebraska chapter will expand its impact, deepen its local partnerships, and reach even more children in need of comfort and care.”
Special Spaces creates custom dream bedrooms for children ages 2–19 who are battling cancer, rooms that reflect their personalities and provide comfort, creativity, and peace during treatment.
Thomas steps into the role after nearly two decades of leading service-focused organizations in the Omaha metro. She will now guide all aspects of the Nebraska chapter’s operations: from family referrals and volunteer recruitment to fundraising and room design.
With twelve active chapters across ten states, Special Spaces has provided dream bedroom makeovers since its founding in 2004. The Nebraska chapter was started in 2017 by Ronnie and Amy Thomas (no relation), who brought the program to Omaha after seeing it on national television. For eight years, they ran the chapter as volunteers while raising a family and working full-time. The transition to professional leadership marks a new milestone.
“To make growth possible, we needed to bring in a new leader, someone with a caring heart, nonprofit experience, and the energy to run with the mission in bold new ways. And I’m excited to say: we found that person,” Ronnie Thomas, founding director of the Nebraska chapter, said.
When a child is fighting cancer, their bedroom becomes more than just a place to sleep, it becomes their sanctuary, their safe zone, their world, Kimberly Thomas said. “At Special Spaces, we believe that healing isn't just medical, it's emotional and environmental too. By transforming a child’s room into a personalized haven of comfort and joy, we give them a space where they can rest, dream, and just be a kid again. The impact is immediate, powerful, and deeply human; it reminds the child and their family that they are seen, supported, and not alone.”
About Special Spaces
Founded in 2004, Special Spaces is a national nonprofit that creates dream bedrooms for children battling cancer, turning their personal spaces into places of healing and imagination. Learn more at www.specialspaces.org.
To request an interview or learn more about Special Spaces Omaha, please contact Josefina Loza at office@lozafina.com or visit their website at specialspaces.org/our-chapters/nebraska