antiquity
01-23-2003, 12:33 PM
Rotarian praises wheelchair donors
BY ROBERT J. SMITH
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
SPRINGDALE The immediate past president of Rotary International said Tuesday he thinks Rotary clubs worldwide have taken remarkable steps by providing wheelchairs to thousands of people who cant afford them.
Richard King, at a luncheon attended by members of eight Rotary clubs in Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas, said clubs such as the one in Springdale could have turned their attention toward diseases such as cancer or AIDS. Instead, buying wheelchairs became a doable, tangible option, he said.
The Springdale Rotary Club is among 1,000 Rotary clubs worldwide helping the Wheelchair Foundation provide wheelchairs to the poor. "We discovered giving a wheelchair to someone who crawls around in the dirt solves a problem," said King, a trial lawyer who lives in California. "It gives him mobility."
The Springdale club will deliver 280 wheelchairs to Tepic, Mexico, in late April. The 204-member club has the money for another 300 chairs to deliver later, Noel Morris, the Springdale clubs president, said. "Its a life-changing experience," Morris said of the trip hell make to Tepic.
King talked Tuesday about what Rotary clubs nationwide have done for the Wheelchair Foundation, the organization started by philanthropist Ken Behring that hopes to provide one million wheelchairs to the poor over five years.
The organization has provided 89,000 wheelchairs to people in 100 countries so far, said Chris Lewis, the Wheelchair Foundations public education director. Since March 2001, Rotary clubs and Behrings foundation have split the cost of 35,000 of the $150 wheelchairs made at four factories in China, Lewis said.
Its estimated there are 120 million people worldwide who need wheelchairs, King said.
Lewis, who traveled to Springdale in October to promote the program, said the Rotary Club of San Diego has raised money for the most wheelchairs.
The 550-member club provided $144,000, enough money to pay for 1,900 chairs that will be shipped in April to the African country of Malawi. "That club is a whole lot bigger than the one at Springdale," Lewis said. "Springdale has provided a wonderful amount. We deal with over 1,000 Rotary clubs and only the top 2 percent of clubs sponsor an entire container," which holds between 240 and 280 wheelchairs.
King, who has been on trips where wheelchairs are delivered, said it will be a good experience for Springdale club members who make the trip to Mexico. "With all my heart and soul, Ive never been able to give as much as I receive," King said of his experience. "We are making their lives better."
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/story_arkansas.php?storyid=19246
BY ROBERT J. SMITH
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
SPRINGDALE The immediate past president of Rotary International said Tuesday he thinks Rotary clubs worldwide have taken remarkable steps by providing wheelchairs to thousands of people who cant afford them.
Richard King, at a luncheon attended by members of eight Rotary clubs in Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas, said clubs such as the one in Springdale could have turned their attention toward diseases such as cancer or AIDS. Instead, buying wheelchairs became a doable, tangible option, he said.
The Springdale Rotary Club is among 1,000 Rotary clubs worldwide helping the Wheelchair Foundation provide wheelchairs to the poor. "We discovered giving a wheelchair to someone who crawls around in the dirt solves a problem," said King, a trial lawyer who lives in California. "It gives him mobility."
The Springdale club will deliver 280 wheelchairs to Tepic, Mexico, in late April. The 204-member club has the money for another 300 chairs to deliver later, Noel Morris, the Springdale clubs president, said. "Its a life-changing experience," Morris said of the trip hell make to Tepic.
King talked Tuesday about what Rotary clubs nationwide have done for the Wheelchair Foundation, the organization started by philanthropist Ken Behring that hopes to provide one million wheelchairs to the poor over five years.
The organization has provided 89,000 wheelchairs to people in 100 countries so far, said Chris Lewis, the Wheelchair Foundations public education director. Since March 2001, Rotary clubs and Behrings foundation have split the cost of 35,000 of the $150 wheelchairs made at four factories in China, Lewis said.
Its estimated there are 120 million people worldwide who need wheelchairs, King said.
Lewis, who traveled to Springdale in October to promote the program, said the Rotary Club of San Diego has raised money for the most wheelchairs.
The 550-member club provided $144,000, enough money to pay for 1,900 chairs that will be shipped in April to the African country of Malawi. "That club is a whole lot bigger than the one at Springdale," Lewis said. "Springdale has provided a wonderful amount. We deal with over 1,000 Rotary clubs and only the top 2 percent of clubs sponsor an entire container," which holds between 240 and 280 wheelchairs.
King, who has been on trips where wheelchairs are delivered, said it will be a good experience for Springdale club members who make the trip to Mexico. "With all my heart and soul, Ive never been able to give as much as I receive," King said of his experience. "We are making their lives better."
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/story_arkansas.php?storyid=19246