May 20, 2025

Kids on the Move Recognized Across Multiple Categories with Four Best of State Awards

Posted May 20, 2025

Kids on the Move Recognized Across Multiple Categories with Four Best of State Awards

OREM, UTAH — [4/28/2025] —  Kids on the Move (KOTM) is honored to receive multiple 2025 Best of State Awards, recognizing excellence in Special Education, Employer/Employee Relations, Charitable/Service Organization, and Disability Services. This marks the eighth consecutive year KOTM has been awarded in Special Education, underscoring its ongoing commitment to empowering children with developmental delays and disabilities while fostering a workplace culture and community impact that sets the standard for service in Utah.

For 40 years, Kids on the Move has filled critical gaps in Utah’s disability services, growing from a small parent-led initiative into a transformative organization that now serves more than 3,100 children annually. With a mission to help children worldwide reach their full potential, KOTM provides a wide range of specialized programs — including Autism Services, Early Intervention, Early Head Start, Respite Care, and inclusive Preschool & Childcare. In 2024, KOTM expanded its reach with the launch of Family Support Services, offering Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Therapy under one roof. This comprehensive care model ensures that children and families receive the support they need at every step of their journey.

“Every achievement is a reflection of the people who stand with us,” said Rachelle Rutherford, CEO of Kids on the Move. “This award belongs to the parents who never give up, the therapists who give their hearts, and the supporters who believe in a future where every child has the chance to thrive.”

With over 250 compassionate professionals and an ever-growing network of donors, volunteers, and advocates, KOTM continues to lead with innovation, integrity, and inclusion. This award is not just a recognition of past achievements — it’s a celebration of the future we’re building together.

About Kids on the Move (KOTM)

Kids on the Move is a nonprofit organization based in Orem, Utah, dedicated to helping children with developmental delays and disabilities reach their full potential. Since 1984, KOTM has filled critical gaps in Utah’s disability services, now serving more than 3,100 children annually through programs including Autism Services, Early Intervention, Early Head Start, inclusive Preschool & Childcare, and Respite Care. In 2024, KOTM expanded with Family Support Services, providing essential therapies such as Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Therapy.

Our Mission: We inspire the world to reshape perspectives and drive solutions that empower families. We revolutionize education and care to ensure that vulnerable children and children with disabilities live their best lives.

Learn more at www.kotm.org.

Mat Dastrup, CFO

Mat Datstrop, Chief Financial Officer at KOTM, truly embodies a blend of expertise and visionary leadership. Joining Kids on the Move in September 2019, Mat brought a rich history of accomplishments, having served as CFO for manufacturing and software companies. His successful track record includes starting and selling three businesses, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and strategic insight. As a licensed CPA and a Six Sigma Black Belt, Mat’s skill set is uniquely suited to driving innovation and accuracy within financial processes. His passion for integrating technology and developing robust accounting systems positions KOTM for long-term success. In his role, Mat is deeply dedicated to creating sustainable impacts that will echo throughout KOTM for decades. His presence in the organization is marked by a steadfast commitment to fostering an environment of lasting change, ensuring families benefit from his transformative work well into the future.

Ryan Erickson, COO

Ryan Erickson, the Chief Operating Officer of KOTM, brings extensive experience and a passionate commitment to nurturing innovation and growth. With over two decades spent as a thought leader and innovator across leadership roles in the medical, software start-ups, technical consulting, and information technology sectors, he has steered successful technology companies to new heights.

Ryan’s expertise is unparalleled. His dedication to mentoring entrepreneurs and CEOs in transforming ideas into reality speaks to his compassionate nature and deep-seated commitment to growth. Serving on several software and technical company boards, Ryan consistently helps these companies reach new heights.

At KOTM, Ryan is uniquely positioned to guide the organization into its next 40 years. His diverse skill set enables KOTM to not only meet current challenges with agility but also to strategically position itself for future growth under his committed leadership. Ryan continues to inspire hope and innovation, reinforcing KOTM’s status as a beacon of support and transformation for families everywhere.

Rachelle Rutherford, CEO

Rutherford is the strategic visionary and Chief Executive Officer of Kids on the Move (KOTM). A multifaceted and sophisticated businesswoman, she has led the trailblazing multimillion-dollar non-profit in its commitment to providing essential and comprehensive support, education, and therapies for children with delays and disabilities.  Rutherford has now spent 20 years in executive leadership roles within the telecommunications, genealogy, real estate, health care services, and education industries. Her notable contributions lie in her perseverance to find impossible and impactful solutions. Rutherford is skilled at reverse-engineering goals by mapping out exactly what is required for a successful outcome.

To help raise $150M to expand KOTM’s support services and establish a state-of-the-art center, Rutherford has partnered with Forbes Books to author and publish Chasing The Impossible, a captivating exposé delving into Kids on the Move’s transformative work. With it, she uncovers the compelling stories of resilience and hope from children, families, doctors, and community members who tenaciously pushed forward when faced with impossible odds or challenges.

Her profound understanding of what it takes to overcome the impossible stems from her own journey as a survivor of abuse and trauma, which has shaped her philanthropic missions, her intuitive nature, and her steadfast leadership. As a CEO, mom, speaker, and philanthropist, Rutherford believes discipline is one of the highest forms of self-love, consistently putting in the necessary work every single day to provide impactful solutions for others, promote a balanced and holistic lifestyle, and create opportunities for continuous growth and empowerment around the world.