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Canada to Mexico: Rotary Provides Immediate Help

friends_together_large“Rotary, together with the Wheelchair Foundation, brings ordinary people together to accomplish extraordinary things.”

-Rotarian Al Fedoriak

Rotary District 5010, in conjuntion with Wheelchair Foundation Canada, sponsored 280 wheelchairs that were distributed in Rosarito, Mexico, on July 9 to July 11. Like many such Rotary-sponsored distributions, this was a district-wide effort, with 34 clubs involved.

“The Wheelchair Foundation is one of the best humanitarian programs I have ever encountered,” said Al Fedoriak, a member of Canada’s White Horse Rendezvous Club. “The Foundation helps people in an immediate way. When you give someone a wheelchair, you change their life right away.”

Fedoriak’s first contact with the Wheelchair Foundation came during an International Rotary Conference in Spain. At the time he was District 5010’s incoming District Governor, so he decided to not only sponsor wheelchairs himself, but also spread the word throughout his district.

“It was a simple concept,” said Fedoriak. “I asked each club in the district to donate $500 toward the goal of sponsoring a full container of wheelchairs.” The money was quickly raised. The 280 wheelchairs were purchased with the help of the Wheelchair Foundation’s matching funds, and Rotary members in Rosarito were recruited to help with the distribution.

“As we distributed the wheelchairs,” said Fedoriak, “it was very apparent that a wheelchair not only impacts the person who is a recipient, it also impacts the family and friends of the recipient.

“This new independence allows greater freedom for providers. Many of these people were totally dependent on others for their personal transportation, while others would get from point ‘a’ to point ‘b’ by crawling on the ground.

“Now,” said Fedoriak, “with their wheelchairs, they are mobile with considerable independence.

“I feel that I will always be a supporter of the Wheelchair Foundation. I look forward to participating in other distributions in the future.

“The world is very fortunate to have people with the generosity and the compassion that is illustrated by (founder) Ken Behring through the Wheelchair Foundation.”

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Puerto Vallarta: Wheelchairs Make a Difference

“I can’t think of too many things that can make a significant difference in people’s lives, but the Wheelchair Foundation makes a major difference every day.”

With these words, Rick Todd, a Rotarian from California’s District 5300, succinctly summed up a successful wheelchair distribution in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He vowed to return soon with even more wheelchairs for the needy and disabled residents of this seaside community. Arturo Vazquez Serrano and other members of Rotary in Puerto Vallarta assisted with the distribution. When recipients were unable to show up to receive a wheelchair in person because of a disability, the wheelchair was delivered to their homes.  Rotarians also shared in the life-changing impact a free wheelchair provides. “I felt a lot of emotion while seeing the recipients of wheelchairs,” said Ed Biebrich. “I saw children who were emotionally and developmentally disabled who, for the first time in their lives, were able to move around independently. The people were fantastic. It was a gratifying experience.

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Pennies from Heaven

girls_pennies_heavenPennies from heaven into a Pot,
Pennies from heaven we don’t need a lot
The pennies we give will help to provide
Wheelchairs for those who need the ride.

Please save nickels, dimes, and quarters to raise a small contribution towards purchasing 12 wheelchairs to donate to the Wheelchair Foundation in memory of Jean Shumway.
May 8, 2004.

Judy Piquet, President of the Relief Society of Corona California, first heard about The Wheelchair Foundation through The Ensign, the monthly LDS church magazine, “I was intrigued by the Wheelchair Foundation’s mission to fight immobility, so I went on the web site to learn more about the foundation. I read several stories and saw the video ‘The Power of One’, which really moved me, it brought me to tears. I knew I wanted to get involved. Being the President of the Relief Society, I felt the Wheelchair Foundation would be a wonderful project for us to adopt for our annual women’s conference. It just seemed like the right thing to do.”

Judy then put together a committee with Shellie Hunt and contacted the Wheelchair Foundation. “The Wheelchair Foundation was extremely helpful in getting us materials to share with our group. A month prior to the Relief Society conference in early May, Judy with the help of her friends and fellow society members, handed out 600 Chinese take out containers with the “Pennies from heaven poem” on the front as well as a small request: When you find spare change, toss it in the container. Throughout the month, people found change in their car seat, in-between couch cushions and while doing the laundry. Nickels, dimes, quarters and pennies all were added to these small Chinese take out containers.

Judy decided to raise these funds in memory of Jean Shumway, a member of the LDS church who passed away earlier this year. “It is a great project to remember a great person.” The Corona California Relief Society had a goal to raise enough funds to sponsor 12 wheelchairs. One month and 500 pounds of spare change later, $5,625 was raised. This amount was enough to sponsor 75 wheelchairs. The Relief Society of Corona California was able to raise more than six times the amount of their original goal! The Wheelchair Foundation would like to thank Judy Piquet for her fantastic fundraising efforts.

If you would like to organize a fundraiser for the Wheelchair Foundation, please contact us and we will send you marketing material, inspirational videos as well as donation forms and brochures.

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Noah's Bagels is Taking a Bite Out of Immobility

noah_groupDuring the month of June, the 81 Noah’s Bagels stores in California, Oregon and Washington kicked off a fund raising effort to provide wheelchairs to people who need one but cannot afford one.  Soon, the fruits of that effort will be changing the lives of individuals in California, Oregon and Washington.

At an event at the Blackhawk Automotive Museum in Danville, Noah’s Bagels presented a check for $45,000 to Wheelchair Foundation Founder Ken Behring. The money was collected as part of a June promotional fund-raising effort at all 81 Noah’s Bagels locations in the three western states. Thanks to the donation, 600 wheelchairs will be delivered 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)

“This year we have joined in partnership with The Wheelchair Foundation to raise funds for 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.”

“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”

“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.”

The Wheelchair Foundation (www.wheelchairfoundation.org) has delivered over 270,000 wheelchairs to people in more than 129 countries in its first four years. Currently, more than 10,000 wheelchairs per month are being delivered internationally.  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 83 company-owned and two licensed stores, largely in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.

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Board of Advisor, Ed McMahon Raises Funds for Israel

group_mcmahonJack Drury, President of the Southeast Region of the Wheelchair Foundation called on long time friend, Ed McMahon to help raise funds for containers to Israel. Working with the Florida office of the Jewish Foundation, Ed was the featured guest at the kickoff of the six month fund raiser. The first event raised enough for the first container of 280 wheelchairs.

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