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Articles from the Wheelchair Foundation headquarters in Danville, CA and major news source outlets.

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"Say YESS to Helping Haiti's Disabled" Wheelchair Campaign

Participants in Young adult Enrichment Support Services (YESS) Ask for Wheelchair Donations

News Release:
2/1/2010
From: Zeigler Habilitation Homes, Inc.
Contact: Geneva Chapman, Marketing Consultant
Number: 419-902-5807 (cell), 419-535-5603 (YESS House)
Fax#: 419-536-3835, Zeigler Administrative Office Say YESS to Helping Haiti’s DisabledReading about the plight of the Haitian people in The Toledo Blade during their daily morning “brews & news”© coffee and newspaper activity, the young adults in Zeigler Habilitation Home, Inc.’s YESS House were moved. They started getting concerned about disabled people in Haiti whose lives have been changed by the hurricane that devastated the nation’s capitol. What happened to their wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility equipment? And what about the newly disabled people who’ve had limbs amputated?These young adults who all have various types of developmental disabilities decided they needed to something. Thinking about the mobility equipment and other adaptive equipment that may have damaged or lost in the rubble left by the hurricane, the participants in the Young adult Enrichment Support Services (YESS) program decided they need to get wheelchairs donated to send to Haiti. First, they formed a committee and decided that calls would have to be made to companies providing mobility products. YESS, the only day program specifically designed for young adults with developmental disabilities in Northwest Ohio, provides a transition from youth to adult living through skill development training taught in a youthful recreation/enrichment environment utilizing games, fun habilitation activities, and community involvement to teach skills such as adult daily living, social interaction, problem solving, decision-making, organization, time management, focusing and staying on task, and communication, as well as vocational skills that are applied in actual employment answering telephones, cleaning and janitorial work, and doing other jobs at Zeigler.One of the components of the program is also community service and volunteerism. Therefore, it is only natural that the young adults want to help people in Haiti who, like them, have a disability. The young adults were so excited about helping Haiti’s disabled, they wanted to start right away. However, initial contacts were made by staff to find contact persons at several companies in the area and across the nation for the young adults to later make follow-up calls to and get commitments to assist in the campaign.“They’ll only ship palettes of items,” said owner of local company Patriot Products, Inc., Steve Grudziun who immediately returned the call when YESS staff left him a voice mail. Grudziun explained that in order for things to be shipped that far there would have to be a large enough number because it would be too costly to ship a few items at a time. After hearing about the desire of the young adults at the YESS House to send donated wheelchairs to Haiti, he offered to sell wheelchairs at a loss of profit for his business for only $100 each. The Wheelchair Foundation, an international organization that provide wheelchairs to impoverished people in poor nations, is sending wheelchairs to Haiti for $150, so Patriot Products, Inc. price is competitive. Instead of sending money outside our community, people in the Toledo area can help people in Haiti by purchasing a wheelchair right here in our area at a local business and save $50. On their website, the Wheelchair Foundation whose goal is to send 2000 wheelchairs to Haiti says they’ve already sent 560. But Grudziun says due to the lack of infrastructure those wheelchairs are probably not reaching the people yet and that it will take some time before that happens. In the meantime, it is important to start getting wheelchairs and other adaptive equipment ready to send to Haiti so that when roads are accessible they can be delivered. A valuable local resource, Grudziun offered needed expert advice on the YESS campaign and will, hopefully, continue to provide his assistance. Anyone who wishes to buy a wheelchair from Patriot Product, Inc., should make sure to tell the store representative that the wheelchair is being purchased as part of the “Say YESS to Helping Haiti’s Disabled” and call to the YESS House to let the young adults know the wheelchair has been purchased (see contact information below). Pick-up will be arranged. Also, donations of used wheelchairs will be accepted. Please call for more information.The owner of National Seating and Mobility, Inc., another local company, is checking his stock to see if he has any wheelchairs to donate to the effort. A third local company was contacted, but the contact person has not yet called back. A representative from Care Medical Products in Portland, Oregon, is also checking to see what they can do.“We had a local request, so we’re going to help them first,” she said. Calls were also made to Walgreens, which has an online grant application for non-profit organizations, which Zeigler Habilitation Homes, Inc. is, but due the lengthy grant process, this may not be viable. However, all possible avenues are being explored.One of those avenues is the Clinton Foundation, which has been contacted about shipping all wheelchairs donated in the YESS campaign to Haiti. If other individuals, groups, or organizations can help with shipping, their assistance is welcomed. Also, other advocacy organizations of the disabled are invited to assist Zeigler Habilitation Homes, Inc’s YESS program in this effort.Due to the number of wheelchairs needed in order to facilitate shipment, the young adults at the YESS House are inviting all organizations and entities serving the developmentally disabled and physically disabled to join them in their campaign. Anyone wishing to help get wheelchairs donated for Haiti’s disabled persons should use the following contact information to express interest in becoming part of a regional effort. Send all inquiries and requests to participate in the campaign or to notify that a wheelchair has been purchased at Patriot Products, Inc. to Geneva Chapman, gjcinc!@att.net or call (419) 902-5807(cell) or (419) 535-5603 (YESS House). A visit to the YESS House can be arranged by calling Michael Zeigler, Jr., YESS House Administrator, Louis Turley, Zeigler Day Hab Executive Director at (419) 536-3825 or Tanya Lee, YESS House Director at (419) 535-5603.

SOURCE: Toledo On The Move

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Plane To Haiti Founder Dan Catullo Thank You to David Archuleta Fans

Daniel Catullo in Haiti

Thank you very much to every David Archuleta fan that has donated so far to the charity relief “Plane to Haiti” We have received an update from the Founder Dan Catullo. It is not easy to read, it is heartbreaking to say the least but it is reality. Many of us have already donated and are “tapped out” and we ask if a $10.00 donation can really make a difference. Please know that it does, every dollar counts! When we work together, we truly can help our neighbor in need.

CONTINUE BELOW TO READ MORE OF THIS STORY AND SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THE PLANE “ON THE GROUND” IN HAITI.

Haiti was insanely touching and the most touching thing I have ever been a part of. It was also one of the most frustrating things I have ever experienced. What you see on the news isn’t exactly accurate.

Before we left, we were getting all of our information by watching the news. We saw tons of footage of chaos, dead bodies everywhere and people looting stores and supply areas.

When we arrived, it was not like that at all.

The destruction was beyond belief trust me. Buildings were in pieces and the entire infrastructure of the Country is gone. It seemed very unorganized and no one knew who reported to whom. Even our military who was based at the airport had no clue what they were doing there.

On the news there are pleas for Doctors and Nurses. We brought down 12 Doctors and Nurses on the first plane and an additional 15 on the 2nd. When they got there and went to University Hospital they were turned away, told that they were not needed and were not “Federalized”. Even though there are thousands of people dying each day and thousands waiting in line for medical help at these hospitals, they did not want our medical supplies or help from our Doctors. It was unreal.

When we arrived we camped out at the airport. The next morning Scott Stapp arrived with his own car (he bought one in Dominican Republic and drove himself into Haiti), a large bus and a convoy of cars. He assembled a team of locals who knew where help was needed the most. One of them was a local Minister who was really respected in the community.

Since the hospitals did not take our supplies or Doctors, we decided to go with Stapp and the local team outside of the airport to villages to bring help to these people.

We convoyed to Leogane, where the epicenter was about a 2 1/2 hour drive. It was beyond devastating there. We were the FIRST people to go there and this was 15 days after the earthquake! Not one relief mission, military force, UN group, NGO, etc was there before us and this is where the most devastation was. Everybody was scared to go there and even though we have tons of military troops on the ground and the airport is overflowing with supplies, none of it is getting to these people.

We set up our own mini hospital/ triage unit in a village. People scurried out of bushes and came from everywhere when word spread that finally help was there and we had doctors. It was mind-boggling. They kept lining up. We treated over 600 patients at that location in 6 hours with 2 Doctors, 3 Nurses and 6 volunteers. It was heart breaking. We saw horrible infections and some massive injuries. We ended up evacuating some people and bringing them back with us to the airport to the University of Miami Medical Center tent. Our evacuations included a 6 year old girl with a crushed finger that needed to get amputated, a 6 year old girl with Tetanus ( she ended up dying later that night), a 3 month old girl with a skull fracture, a 12 year old boy with a bad leg infection, etc.. It was like the Apocalypse. We couldn’t believe how many people had such serious injuries and were unattended to for over 2 weeks.

We never felt threatened at all. They were all polite and patient, even though they had no food, clean water and were in pain. They waited in line to see us and were all emotional that we came. Very touching.

We will all never forget the smell. They were burning their garbage, that included plastic and rubber. It was horrific. Masks didn’t help and we all ended up getting sick from inhaling the fumes for 3 days. I am still coughing up black chunks from the smoke.

The system is broken down there and they need LOTS of help. There is no system to distribute any of the relief supplies that were donated and the NGO’s are overwhelmed. The people are desperate and need help NOW. Everything just sits there while people die. The hospitals are overwhelmed and US hospitals who have gone to help such as the University of Miami Medical Center, have great set ups, but run their hospital like it is a normal day in Miami and an HMO controls them. They would shut down to rest or felt too crowded and turn critical patients away (including the 3 month old girl with the skull fracture), even though people were dying across the street and they had tons of nurses and doctors standing around. We started grabbing all these people and bringing them to our tent city and treated them around the clock.

We found it fascinating that even though time is of the essence and people are dying every minute, they all closed at night for new patients. We treated people 24/7. We turned no one away and worked until we were ready to drop dead. The red tape and politics in place there is so messed up. It seriously is like our US insurance companies are running the show. We met several people (filmed them all) who walked 15 miles over 3 days critically injured to get medical treatment, only to be turned away because the staff needed “rest” or they were “over crowded”, even though the staff we spoke to wanted to take them. The head doctor turned them away and then when we grabbed the patients, he tried to stop us because we weren’t “official”. He said they should go home and come back in 1-2 days when it is slower! It was mind boggling.

Why is it that a group of musicians, led by me a DVD producer & director were more effective than our government and major medical companies? In 3 days we treated over 1,000 people, saved at least 100 lives, administered tons of antibiotics, distributed thousands of pounds of food and water, etc.. We became the “Robin Hood” gang of the airport base. After we saw that the supplies were not being distributed and were sitting there for days, including 1000’s of cases of water from the UN and tons of meals from the Indian Army, we took it all and brought it to the people. Never once did they riot or get out of hand. I think the way food is being distributed by the Army and UN is sad. They throw the food at them from the back of a truck. That is why they act like animals. Treat them like animals and people will act that way. Hand them the food like humans and they are all gentle and beautiful people.

We cried everyday and all want to go back now. We want to raise more money and go down immediately (within the next 1-2 weeks). People are dying from wounds as simple as a cut on their leg because no one is even giving them band aids and antibiotics. I can not believe it.

Everybody from The Wheelchair Foundation and Medshare were absolutely amazing. Scott Stapp, his sister Dr Janette Nesheiwat and her brother Daniel Nesheiwat were UNBELIEVABLE. True heroes and really rose to the occasion. It was a trip I will never forget and the first of many down there.

Daniel E. Catullo III
DC3 Music Group, LLC
Founder

SOURCE: Archuleta Fan Scene

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Disabled cashier helps others get around

Like OTHER cashiers at Nob Hill Foods in San Ramon, Josh Routh stands behind his counter and scans groceries for shoppers. What’s unique about Routh, though, is that he uses a wheelchair when he’s not working.

When working, “I stand up and hold the counter with my left hand,” said Routh, 30.

Routh was initially hired in 2000 to bag groceries, but showed such promise that he was promoted to cashier. Working at Nob Hill Foods allows him to live an independent life that his parents never imagined for him when they first learned he had cerebral palsy, a condition that in Routh’s case was caused by lack of oxygen to the brain during or just after his birth.

Don Routh, Josh’s father, said his son was adopted before any signs of the condition appeared.

“Ironically, we chose to adopt because my ex-wife had a genetic predisposition to having a disabled child,” he said.

Don recalls how doctors had predicted that his son would be a quadriplegic and unable to talk. With years of therapy and education, Josh progressed beyond expectations and even excelled at certain sports, including basketball.

To support his ability to work and live independently, Josh keeps in touch with a job coach provided through the Lafayette-based nonprofit Futures Explored. The agency’s mission is to provide life skills and work-related training to adults with developmental disabilities, as well as help those adults reach their fullest potential.

Outside of work, Josh finds time to help deliver wheelchairs in partnership with the Wheelchair Foundation and the Rotary Club of Pleasanton North, of which his father is a member.

“We’ve traveled together eight times to six countries,” said Don. “We’ve seen people arrive for their wheelchairs by truck, bus, on horseback, in a wheelbarrow, sometimes crawling, but most often carried by parents and siblings.”

The Rouths have traveled to Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru. This year they plan to travel with other Rotarians to Brazil and Chile, and bring the total of wheelchairs that Josh has helped deliver to 2,800.

“It’s a life-changing experience to help someone into a new wheelchair,” said Josh, who was named an honorary member of the Rotary Club.

The Rouths point out that as many as 100 million people worldwide need wheelchairs, though less than 1 percent have access to one. Through its partnerships, the Wheelchair Foundation purchases and delivers a wheelchair for a donation of just $150, a very affordable cost, said Don, who notes that a comparable wheelchair in Bolivia costs about $1,000.

Josh and his father also have accompanied Rotarians five times to support an orphanage in Baja California.

In fact, for Josh’s 30th birthday, his dad asked if he wanted to do something special, perhaps fly to Las Vegas.

But, “he said he had everything he needed and wanted to do something for the kids at the orphanage,” said Don.

As Don gathered the birthday money from family members, a friend in Rotary heard about Josh’s wish and donated $600. Soon the Rouths received more money and a check from the Rotary Club itself. By the time they were finished, they collected $3,600, which Josh recently delivered in person when Rotarians traveled to install a solar-powered well for the orphanage at Christmas.

Both Josh and his dad encourage anyone who would like to support their upcoming delivery of wheelchairs to consider making a $150 donation.

For details about donating, e-mail Don Routh at do******@co*****.net.

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Reach out with David Archuleta and his fans to raise awareness for planetohaiti.org

Reach Out with David Archuleta and his fans to raise awareness for the “Plane To Haiti” project and receive a gift of an Angels For A Cause awareness bracelet that reads “David Archuleta/Prayer of the Children.“

Grammy award nominated music and TV producer Daniel Catullo has created the opportunity for David and his fans to reach out and help those in need. In 7 short days, Mr. Catullo’s organization Plane To Haiti set up the frame work for this impressive humanitarian accomplishment.*

In the same spirit, Angels For A Cause is offering, as a gift, their recognizable sky blue awareness bracelet similar to the one David wore at the recent Salt Lake City concerts but now updated with the wording: “DAVID ARCHULETA-PRAYER OF THE CHILDREN.”

 

Please reach out with us to raise awareness for this honorable cause.

Here is how you can help now!

  • 1. Go to www.planetohaiti.org to give your contribution.
  • 2. When prompted to respond to the question “How did you hear about this fund drive?” please type in ‘David Archuleta.’
  • 3. You will be emailed a donation receipt confirmation from the WheelChair foundation**
  • 4. Donations of $10.00 or more will receive one sky-blue Angels For A Cause awareness bracelet.
  • 5. TO RECEIVE YOUR GIFT – YOU MUST- email your donation receipt that is emailed to you from the wheelchair foundation to Angels For A Cause at: an***********@ya***.com.
  • 6. The address on your donation receipt will be used for mailing the bracelet. Please allow at least 1 to 2 weeks for delivery.

Only donations made directly through Plane To Haiti will be eligible to receive the awareness bracelet.

* Planetohaiti.org was started by Daniel Catullo. Catullo is very active in working with charities including The Wheelchair Foundation, The Thalians and various Children’s charities. In 2010 after being saddened by the Earthquake in Haiti, Catullo organized a relief mission to Haiti and in 7 short days raised over $1 million in medical supplies and wheelchairs and a donated jet. He recruited his celebrity friends and associates to help him with this mission including David Archuleta.

** A special website for this mission has been set up to receive donations directly through the Wheelchair Foundation at www.planetohaiti.org.

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DC3 Music Group Mounts Urgent Artist Relief Mission to Haiti

dc3global-300x82Scott Stapp, New Kids on the Block, Creed, Alter Bridge, Tom Morello, Godsmack, Julianne Hough, Eve, David Archuleta and many others help cause to deliver over 10,000 pounds of medical supplies, doctors and staff to earthquake victims…

DC3 Music Group Mounts Urgent Artist Relief Mission to Haiti

When Award-winning director/ producer Daniel E. Catullo III saw news reports of Haiti’s suffering, it wasn’t enough to just pick up the phone and donate money. Instead, the noted concert video producer has spent the past week rallying the music community to mount a million-dollar relief mission poised to depart this week for Port-au-Prince.

On January 27, 2010, through the humanitarian efforts of Catullo’s multi-media company, DC3 Music Group, LLC, an MD-80 aircraft left Long Beach, CA, bound for Port-Au-Prince, ready to provide over 10,000 pounds of medical supplies (donated by MedShare), doctors, and medical staff.

Scott Stapp and the members of Creed, New Kids On The Block, Alter Bridge, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Godsmack, Julianne Hough, Eve, and David Archuleta head the initial wave of musicians helping the cause, with more joining by the moment. Together, they’ve helped the staff of DC3 Music Group raise over $1 million in supplies and donations. The PLANE TO HAITI effort will continue with as many return trips as needed. The Wheelchair Foundation is accepting donations through the mission’s new website, www.planetohaiti.org. No donation is too big or too small.

“I couldn’t just sit there watching anymore,” said Catullo. “So I started calling and e-mailing all of the artists I know and work with and asked for donations and help spreading the word. After five straight 20-hour days, we now have everybody from Scott Stapp to New Kids On The Block to Godsmack helping make this happen. I am so grateful to everybody who stepped up and for the overwhelming amount of support we have received so far. I am pleased to announce that our departure to Haiti with all these supplies is imminent.

“As long as the money and support keeps coming, we will keep the supplies going down. The Wheelchair Foundation is planning many trips to Haiti in the coming months. The need for wheelchairs and medical supplies will not just be this week, but for many, many months. It is quite overwhelming.”

Catullo first teamed with the Wheelchair Foundation in 2004 on a trip to deliver wheelchairs to Panama and has been a huge supporter ever since. It was only natural that he reached out to the organization’s founder, Ken Behring, to partner in PLANE TO HAITI.

“Panama was one of the most amazing experiences I ever have had in my life,” said Catullo. “Giving someone the gift of mobility is life-changing and something that we all take for granted. I am honored to be friends with the Behring’s and everybody involved at the Foundation. They truly are a special bunch of people”

Added Wheelchair Foundation spokesman Jeff Behring: “Our mission to Haiti is about assembling volunteers with a passion to help those in desperate need and then provide. Dan Catullo and his group have been instrumental in assembling this mission and making it happen.”

Scott Stapp was the first musician on board, aligning with “Plane to Haiti” through the With Arms Wide Open Foundation, which brings hope to children “with arms wide open.” Stapp already is on the ground in Haiti awaiting for the arrival of Catullo and the medical supplies. The Creed lead singer is scheduled to return on the “Plane to Haiti” flight back to Ft. Lauderdale on Friday night.

Sully Erna, lead singer of multi-platinum rock band Godsmack, was another early Catullo supporter and has rallied his fans to help raise more money.

“I really care about human lives in general,” said Erna. “A soul is irreplaceable and should never be taken for granted. We’re only here for a blip. And we must cherish this life, because none of us are truly qualified to say whether or not we come back. And even if we do, we don’t know if we’d remember who we were.

And since I can’t be there to help in person, I want to make my contribution as a fellow human being to give what I can while I’m in the fortunate situation that I am to help those that are so unfortunate in this time of tragedy. My heart and prayers go out to all of those families and children that they get through this as quickly and painlessly as possible.”

Morello was next. Though he couldn’t go along for the ride, the Rage Against the Machine guitarist was pivotal in starting a network of e-mails that led to doctors, supplies and donations, including a group of Haitian doctors and nurses headed to Haiti later to stay for up to one month.

Another charity, MedShare (medshare.org), donated over 8,000 pounds of much needed medical supplies for the trip.

“Mr. Catullo was inspired to immediately help bring health and hope to the Haitian people and asked MedShare to collaborate on this important project,” said Chuck Haupt, executive director of MedShare Western Region. “MedShare has a 10-year history of shipping medical supplies and equipment to support non-profits in the country. We were delighted to learn that PLANE TO HAITI was willing to get urgently needed triage supplies flown directly to the Partners In Health hospitals in Port-au-Prince. After a disaster of this magnitude medical supplies are in high demand by caregivers, and MedShare couldn’t be more pleased with partnering with Mr. Catullo and PLANE TO HAITI to help save lives.”

Shortly thereafter, AGP Management, which manages such superstar artists as Godsmack, Creed, Smashing Pumpkins and New Kids On The Block, offered support and rallied its client roster to help. The first act to jump on board was New Kids On The Block. Not only did the multi-platinum group start by making a substantial donation, the members immediately began Twittering fans to get additional donations and other support.

On the ground in Haiti, DC3 has made plans to utilize its skills as video producers to build an infrastructure that will allow people to leave video messages to their loved ones and check in on them. DC3 also will be able to transmit images of Haiti, focusing on areas underserved by the media, and shoot public service announcements to help the Wheelchair Foundation raise additional funds for future shipments. Additionally, the ground team plans to meet with troops and relief workers to help raise morale, and visit the Hands & Feet Project, the orphaned children’s village in Jacmel started by the band Audio Adrenaline. Over 40 computers, two satellite dishes and 100 video cameras have been donated to the ground efforts, made possible through partnerships with CNN, Bing Maps, Kuzzon Media and Wexler Video.

Others involved in the mission include AGP Management, Dr. Nancy Sobel, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Rockpit.com, and Rodney Bowes Design. So far, three charities, 10 companies and 100 people are working together on the mission to get people directly to Haiti to help.

“It’s been an amazing week,” said Catullo. “As a small group of people with a mission we are going to help a lot of people.”

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