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A mission of Hope, Mobility and Freedom will depart from the San Francisco Bay Area on January 13th. Ken Behring and the Wheelchair Foundation team will be joined by representatives from LDS Charities to meet the First Ladies of Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and Costa Rica, and deliver the first of 480 wheelchairs to each country co-sponsored by LDS Charities.

“I am just touched to the core of my soul to be able to participate in the distribution of wheelchairs,” said Garry Flake, Director of Humanitarian Services for LDS Charities.

As a valued partner in our mission of changing the lives of disabled children, teens and adults worldwide, LDS Charities has stepped forward and offered a new life to thousands of people and their families, by joining the global Wheelchair Foundation effort.

The Wheelchair Foundation wishes to thank LDS Charities for their generosity, and commitment to the disabled worldwide.

Over 100 million people in the world are in need of a wheelchair but cannot afford one. For only $75.00, a wheelchair can change the life of a person and their entire family. What is mobility worth to you? Please donate online, or call toll free (877) 378-3839.

Thank you.

The Wheelchair Foundation is receiving donations for hundreds of wheelchairs per day to be given in the name of loved ones for the holidays.

The Wheelchair Foundation was established in June of 2000 to deliver Hope, Mobility and Freedom to the disabled people of the world that need a wheelchair and cannot afford one.

At the time of the establishment of the Foundation, we were not aware of what a great holiday gift a wheelchair could be to a loved one.

For each $75.00 donation, a wheelchair is delivered to a person in need, and the donor receives a beautiful gold embossed, black presentation folder that contains the photograph of a wheelchair recipient, and a certificate that tells you the person’s name, age, country and wheelchair number. (Please see the link on our Home Page for an example) This certificate can be inscribed to read that you made this gift, in the name of someone very special to your life.

People around the world have discovered that saving a person’s life with the gift of a wheelchair in the name of a loved one is a fabulous way to tell someone how special they are in their life. We have received donations for a hundred wheelchairs at a time in the names of parents, children, grandchildren, clients, teachers, etc. We have also received the last $75.00 that a person can afford, because this was the only way to tell the most cherished love of their life how special they are.

You really should tell the special people in you life how much they mean to you, this holiday season, and throughout the year. Saving a life in their name is a great way.

Wheelchair Foundation Wheelchair Recycling Round-Up & Sponsorship Event

WHO: The Wheelchair Foundation, Berkeley area Starbucks stores, the City of Berkeley, and local merchants.

WHAT: Holiday gift giving of a new life?Recycle an old wheelchair or sponsor a new Wheelchair.

WHEN: Sunday, November 25th to Sunday, December 2nd, 2001

WHERE: Used wheelchairs and mobility equipment may be dropped off at the Wheelchair Recycling Center, 2136 Center Street, Berkeley between the hours of 7:00 am to 9:00 pm.

New wheelchairs may be sponsored at the following Berkeley area Starbucks Coffee.

Stores: 2128 Oxford Street, 2224 Shattuck Ave, 1799 Solano Ave., and 1600 Shattuck Ave.

A Wheelchair Foundation representative will host each store. 6:00 am to 9:00pm.

WHY: To raise awareness of the problem of immobility and bring hope, freedom, and mobility to those in need. To generate community goodwill.

To support an environmentally friendly program.

To reflect the compassion and humanitarian efforts of the United States on a global level.

To collect used wheelchairs and other mobility equipment such as walkers, crutches, and canes for refurbishment and distribution around the world and to offer sponsorship opportunities for new wheelchairs. Due to a matching funds program, a new wheelchair may be sponsored for only $75.00. This lovely holiday gift may be given in the name of a loved one, or as a tribute to a special person or organization. An elegant gold embossed presentation folder with a photo of the wheelchair recipient; their age, country and wheelchair identification number accompanies the personalized certificate that dedicates each gift.

FOR EACH USED WHEELCHAIR DONATED, OR NEW WHEELCHAIR SPONSORED, BERKELEY AREA STARBUCK’S STORES HAVE GENEROUSLY OFFERED A CERTIFICATE FOR ONE POUND OF FREE COFFEE. ADDITIONALLY, FOR EVERY WALKER, CANE OR SET OF CRUCHES THE DONOR WILL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE FOR A FREE COFFEE DRINK OF THEIR CHOICE!

Individuals, corporations, organizations and associations also have the opportunity to send an entire 40-ft shipping container of 240 wheelchairs to the country of their choice. Due to the unique nature of the foundation, opportunities to establish, expand, or strengthen relationships within a particular country are unparalleled. Impoverished, war torn countries where land mines proliferate are particularly appreciative of this type of generous and unexpected humanitarian gift.

All donations are 100% tax deductible (less the retail value of the coffee) with acknowledgment receipts provided at the time of donation. For additional information on the Foundation please visit our website: www.wheelchairfoundation .org, or call (925) 736-8234 * (877) 378-3839. To schedule a wheelchair pick-up (local East Bay area) during the Round-Up please log onto our website www.wheelchairfoundation.org click the Donation-Comments section and leave contact information where and when can be reached. Thank you in advance for your participation!

The Wheelchair Foundation and LDS Charities have embarked on a goodwill mission of mercy and exploration to Central America. Wheelchair Foundation founder Kenneth E. Behring, President and CEO of LDS Charities Garry Flake, representatives of Rotary International and numerous volunteers traveled on October 8th to El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. The objective of this mission is to meet with heads of state, and establish greater cooperation between organizations and governments to bring mobility into the lives of so many disabled citizens of Central America.

Rotary Clubs and Districts have sponsored over 5,000 wheelchairs in 2001 and are continuing their missions of “doing good” for others by bringing wheelchairs to a remote area of Honduras.

LDS Charities has sponsored numerous wheelchair deliveries and has coordinated this goodwill mission for Wheelchair Foundation representatives to meet with the heads of state in all three countries, and to deliver wheelchairs to disabled citizens.

When asked about the participation of other charitable organizations in the Wheelchair Foundation missions, Mr. Behring replied, “We can’t do it without them. They are our eyes and ears in these countries and we rely upon them to help us distribute the wheelchairs properly. So many kids can now go to school because they have a wheelchair. People can now work and help take care of their families, and maybe just see a little bit of the life they are living. This is why we need to work with groups in every country of the world, so we can help the disabled people there.”

In many instances in Latin America the Wheelchair Foundation, LDS Charities and Rotary Clubs are working in harmony to change the lives of disabled children, teens and adults in a positive and long lasting way, by delivering hope, mobility and freedom.

Please contact the Wheelchair Foundation or the local Rotary Club in your area to find out about how you can help deliver a wheelchair to a person in need for a donation of only $75.00.

For those of us that dedicate our lives to helping the less fortunate people of the world, the unthinkable human sorrow that has been inflicted upon the families of victims from the September 11th New York, Washington,DC and airline disasters is beyond our comprehension.
The Wheelchair Foundation has offered our complete support to the American Red Cross in their efforts to help the victims of the disasters, and we are pleased to learn that of the 250 wheelchairs we delivered to the Salvation Army in New York, many are available for the relief effort.

In conversations over the past few days with relief organizations in various stages of our wheelchair deliveries, we are very pleased to announce that in spite of the hatred and fighting around the world, our missions of mercy will not be altered. From partners in the Americas we have been told of their unwavering support, organizations working in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East have committed to more intense efforts to spread the message of peace and helping others around the world.

We are saddened by the recent dark days in human history, but we continue on our path to bring light and hope into the lives of the disabled members of our world community.