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Happy 5th Birthday to the Wheelchair Foundation!

birthdayThe Wheelchair Foundation has just turned 5-years-old today and is the world leader in delivering mobility into the lives of physically disabled citizens in 135 countries.  The brain child of founder Kenneth E. Behring, the Wheelchair Foundation has delivered more than 370,000 wheelchairs, and changed the lives of an estimated 10 people with each wheelchair delivered.  Children can now go to school, adults can go to work and provide for their families, and the elderly can get out of a bed that they may have been in for up to 20 years and rejoin society. 

Thanks to our network of global partners and supporters that make our mission possible, we are able to immediately improve the lives of thousands of people every month around the world.  Thank you for joining us in our mission to help people realize their dreams and abilities and live a more independent and dignified life.  Together, we are changing the world one wheelchair at a time.

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Knights of Columbus Join Their Brothers and Sisters Across the Border to Bring Mobility to Those in Need

koc_groupOn April 5th, several members of the Knights of Columbus crossed the border into Mexico to deliver wheelchairs to people who needed them but could not afford them.  The 4-day trip was a celebration of social and intellectual fellowship.  The journey was well received by local organizations that helped locate and distribute the donated wheelchairs.

Several locations were visited including the Red Cross of Tijuana Mexico, Retirement homes, clinics for the mentally retarded, hospitals as well as individual homes.  The Knights of Columbus were instrumental in not only donating the funds to sponsor these wheelchairs but also in hand delivering the wheelchairs throughout Mexico.

The distribution locations included Tijuana, Mexicali as well as Rosarito. Chris Lewis, the vice president of Public Education for the Wheelchair Foundation, accompanied the Knights on their trip to Mexico.

“It was a wonderful experience for everyone involved. The Knights of Columbus were able to experience first hand what it is like to give someone the gift of mobility” The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men’s fraternal benefit society that was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.

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Noah's Bagels and Contra Costa Firefighters Make a Difference

firefighters_by_truckNoah’s Bagels, the Wheelchair Foundation and members of Contra Costa Firefighters Local 1230 gave hope, mobility and freedom to those less fortunate in Walnut Creek, CA during a wheelchair distribution and press event on Tuesday, March 15th.

Noah’s Bagels raised funds through its 81 stores in California, Oregon and Washington, which will provide over 650 wheelchairs to physically disabled individuals in these three states.  Local firefighters in all three states are involved in the distribution, along with local organizations that assist the physically disabled.

On hand for the ceremony were representatives from the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, Marin Ventures and the Alameda County Medical Center.  These organizations among others will help place the free wheelchairs into the hands of people in need of mobility but without the means to acquire a wheelchair.

Some front line firefighters in California estimate that up to 2/3 of their calls are medical related, and many of those people are without mobility.  Now with the ability to get free wheelchairs for those people found in the course of duty, firefighters are able to help improve the quality of life for these people and feel great about it.

Wheelchair Foundation Director, Chris Lewis (son of Muscular Dystrophy Association National Chairman Jerry Lewis) hosted the event on the 15th.  Since 1954 the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) has raised over $200 million for the fight against muscular dystrophy.  During his tenure as the former president of Contra Costa Firefighters Local 1230, California Professional Firefighters (CPF) President Lou Paulson has forged a committed relationship with Chris Lewis and the Wheelchair Foundation over the last few years. 

“These are good people doing good work, and it is a natural fit for us,” said CPF President Paulson.  “Firefighters are exposed to people every day that are in need of mobility assistance, and we are very proud to be involved with the mission of the Wheelchair Foundation. We look forward to helping as many people as we can throughout North America, and being able to see lives of families changed in an immediate and positive way.”

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Noah's Bagels and California Professional Firefighters Join Forces to Provide Mobility in East Bay

noahsLast June, the 81 Noah’s Bagels stores in California, Oregon and Washington kicked off a fund raising effort to provide free wheelchairs to people who need one but cannot afford one. 

Noah’s presented a check for over $50,000 to the Wheelchair Foundation, which will provide more than 600 wheelchairs to physically disabled individuals in these three states. The wheelchairs will be distributed by front line firefighters through a partnership with California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

There will be a wheelchair distribution and press event Tuesday, March 15th at 11:00am in Walnut Creek at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant.  Attendees will include representatives from Noah’s, front line firefighters, the Wheelchair Foundation and local organizations involved in assisting the physically disabled in our community.

“This year we have joined in partnership with The Wheelchair Foundation to help people without mobility in and around the neighborhoods where we do business,” said Dan Dominguez, Senior Vice President of Operations with Noah’s Bagels. “I am extremely proud of our employees who gave so much of themselves, and our fabulous customers who very generously supported this humanitarian effort.”

“As first responders, our firefighters understand the devastation caused by immobilizing injuries and also understand the meaning of commitment to our communities,” said Lou Paulson, President of California Professional Firefighters. “It is a privilege for us to be involved in an effort that will have such a profound impact on the quality of life for our neighbors.”

“We are very happy to have Noah’s joining our partnership to end immobility in our local communities,” said Wheelchair Foundation founder Kenneth Behring. “Working with us and the firefighters, Noahs’ dedication will make a difference to hundreds who need a wheelchair, but cannot afford one.”

The Wheelchair Foundation (www.wheelchairfoundation.org) has delivered over 300,000 wheelchairs to people in more than 130 countries in its first four years. Currently, up to 10,000 wheelchairs per month are being delivered worldwide.  Each $75 donated sponsors the delivery of a wheelchair that would sell for over $500 in a medical supply store. Noah’s Bagels, (www.noahs.com) a part of the New World Restaurant Group, operates 81 company-owned and two licensed stores, largely in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.

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Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Celebrating the Opening of the Wheelchair Foundation Gallery

The Wheelchair Foundation is the world’s largest wheelchair relief organization, delivering up to 10,000 free wheelchairs each month worldwide to physically disabled children, teens and adults that are in need of a wheelchair but have no means to acquire one. 

Since its inception in June of 2000, the Foundation has delivered over 315,000 wheelchairs to more than 130 countries. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of our new Wheelchair Foundation gallery at the Blackhawk Museum, 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville on April 7, 2005 at 5:30 pm. Scotts Seafood Restaurants will be providing refreshments for the event.

The new gallery and the adjoining boardroom will be open to the public and available for corporate or private functions through the Blackhawk Museum.

To view a flier with more information about this event, please click here.

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