Special Spaces Redesigns Racine Child's Bedroom
Volunteers from Northwestern Mutual transformed three bedrooms for a 7-year-old Racine child with leukemia, with plans for another makeover in 2027.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Philanthropy
Special Spaces and Northwestern Mutual Downtown Milwaukee redesigned three personalized bedrooms for a 7-year-old Racine child with leukemia. Sixty volunteers completed the project over two days, and the family returned home on Oct. 28, 2026 to a welcome message.
Why it matters
The project shows how nonprofit partnerships can bring comfort to families dealing with childhood cancer in the Racine area. Northwestern Mutual recently expanded to the region with an office in Mount Pleasant, and it plans to sponsor another makeover with Special Spaces in 2027.
Sixty volunteers built three personalized bedrooms in two days for the family, which marks Northwestern Mutual's second Special Spaces project. Special Spaces serves children with cancer ages 2 through 19 across eight states, including Wisconsin, but the grant amount and total project cost were not disclosed.
The players
Special Spaces
Special Spaces is a nonprofit that creates dream bedrooms for children with cancer ages 2 through 19, operating chapters across eight states including Wisconsin.
Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual is a Milwaukee-based financial services company that sponsored the bedroom makeover through its Downtown Milwaukee office and recently expanded to the Racine area.
The details
Each bedroom was designed from vision boards and themes provided by the children, and features a raised bed, the child's name in lights, a new rug, a mounted TV, light fixtures and themed decor. Northwestern Mutual provided a grant to support the project, while Special Spaces coordinated the vision and carried it out with volunteers.
Timeline
Oct. 28, 2026: Family returned home to the redesigned bedrooms and a welcome message.
Two days before Oct. 28, 2026: Volunteers completed the bedroom redesigns.
2027: Northwestern Mutual plans another bedroom makeover with Special Spaces.
Philanthropy Context
The project follows Special Spaces' model of corporate-sponsored makeovers, which it has operated for more than 20 years across eight states. Northwestern Mutual's second project and its planned 2027 makeover extend that partnership model into the Racine and Milwaukee area.
Families of children with cancer in the Racine area may learn about Special Spaces and how to nominate a child for a bedroom makeover. Local residents can also see how corporate sponsors like Northwestern Mutual are supporting these projects in their own community.
The takeaway
Corporate partnerships with nonprofits can turn volunteer effort into lasting, personal support for families facing serious illness. Readers interested in similar projects can look to local businesses that sponsor community giving.
What happens next
Northwestern Mutual plans to sponsor another bedroom makeover with Special Spaces in 2027.
Further reading
Explore more Racine philanthropy stories and community giving efforts across the region.
