Knights of Columbus Newsletter Vol. 2

this issue • US Veterans • Philippines • Mexico • Haiti • Wheelchair Sunday • Photo Gallery

Answering Prayers with the Gift of Mobility

California State Chaplain, Fr. John Neneman carries a young man to his new wheelchair in Davao City, Philippines

Left: “We Care for You” by Fernanda, 3rd Grade, St. Raphael School, Springdale, AR. Right: Alex Bennett, 18, joining the Knights of Columbus at St. Mark’s Wheelchair Sunday parish drive in Tampa, Florida.

Wheelchair Sunday

Our Mission The American Wheelchair Mission is a non-profit organization with a goal to deliver brand new, free wheelchairs and mobility aids to physically disabled children, teens and adults throughout the world who are without mobility or the means to acquire a wheelchair. The American

Wheelchair

Mission will continue to change the lives of entire families with the gifts of hope, dignity, freedom

The most successful fund raising event for the delivery of wheelchairs is a “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drive. Please visit the Knights of Columbus page of our website at www.amwheelchair.org to download the “Wheelchair Sunday” booklet for the complete instructions on how to conduct a “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drive.

You can help make a difference in someone’s life.

Wheelchair Sunday “Easier than a pancake breakfast!”

We are changing lives, and answering prayers!

These parish drives are also the most successful membership tool you will ever experience. After seeing our video during Mass and hearing our presentation, parishioners will have a new understanding of the charitable work being done around the world by the Knights of Columbus.

We then invite the gentlemen to join us, and the rest is done by personal contact outside at the information tables.

You will change lives with the delivery of wheelchairs, and you will increase membership in your council.

and independence.

It is easier than a pancake breakfast!

The Need

Since 2007, Knights across the U.S. have been having “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drives to raise funds for the delivery of wheelchairs. These drives have sponsored tens of thousands of wheelchairs to the Bahamas, Chile, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, the Holy Land, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, Vietnam, and to Veterans across the United States, while adding hundreds of new Knights to the councils involved.

We estimate more than 100 million people worldwide are in need of a wheelchair but cannot afford one.

Our gift

immediately changes the lives of entire families by answering prayers and making true.

dreams

come

Please visit our website to watch videos of Knights delivering wheelchairs around the world, read articles or donate.

For more information or to mail donations: Dan Moberg Director of Public Education 2600 E. Seltice Way, Suite A-172 Post Falls, Idaho 83854 USA dmoberg@amwheelchair.org (208) 457-0745 American Wheelchair Mission

$150 Sponsors the delivery of a brand new wheelchair

AMERICAN

WHEELCHAIR MISSION Program Highlights

The

Our Program

The American Wheelchair Mission delivers free wheelchairs to children, teens and adults without mobility.Wheelchair Since 2003, Knights have the delivery of more than 30,000 The American Mission issponsored a non-profit organization that delivwheelchairs around the world.

ers free wheelchairs to children, teens and adults without mobility or the We deliver brand new, quality wheelchairs by entire sea containers. means to acquire a high wheelchair.

The brand new wheelchairs we deliver in 5 sizes (12, 14, 16, 18 & 20 inch seat widths) would

Since 2003, Knights of Columbus sponsored of more sell for over $500 in a medical supply store,have but because we ship bythe 110delivery to 280 wheelchair containers fromwheelchairs the factories directly to the country of delivery, we can do in this dire at an average than 40,000 around the world to people need of price of $150 each. mobility.

For entities interested in delivering an entire container of wheelchairs to a specific country or destination, a giftnew, of $16,500 deliver wheelchairs a shipping container 100 pneumatic, mountain Welocal deliver brand highwill quality by ofentire sea containers. bike or 110 solid rubber tire wheelchairs to a country specified by the donor, from our list of approved destination countries. A gift of $42,000 will deliver a container of 260 pneumatic, The wheelchairs we deliver in 5 sizes (12, 14, 16, 18 & 20 inch seat widths) mountain bike tire or 280 solid rubber tire wheelchairs. A logo or short text of the donor’s would over $500 a medical supply when store, but because weAt purchase choicesell will for be stitched onto theinback of each wheelchair sponsored by container. retail them bulk andofship them by to at 280 wheelchair containers fromsizes theorfactheseincontainers wheelchairs are 100 valued $55,000 and $140,000.

(For special delivery locations may vary) of destination, we can do this at an average price tories, directly toprices the country

of The $150 each. we deliver allow children to go to school for the first time, adults to go to wheelchairs

work to provide for their families and the elderly to get out of a bed that they may have been confined to for yearsinatdelivering a time. We are the prayers entire families.to a speFor entities interested an answering entire container ofofwheelchairs

wheelchair

deliv-

ered by the American Wheelchair

Mission

would sell for more than $500 in a medical supply store.

Yet because

we purchase wheelchairs directly from the manufacturer, and ship them 100 to 280 wheelchairs at a time by ocean freight containers

directly

to

the country of destination, we can deliver this $500

wheelchair

with

each $150 donation we

cific local adestination, a gift of will indeliver a who shipping conOurcountry mission isor to deliver wheelchair or mobility aid$16,500 to every person the world is in need but cannot afford one. Overmountain 100 millionbike people worldwide needwheelchairs a wheelchair but tainer of 100 pneumatic, or 110 solid tire to acannot country afford one! delivers Hope, Dignity, Freedom and Independence. specified

by Our thegift donor, from our list of approved destination countries. A gift of We $42,000 will deliver a container of 260 pneumatic, mountain bike tire or 280 estimate that each wheelchair delivered changes and improves an average of 10 lives! solid tire wheelchairs. A logo or short text of the donor’s choice will be stitched onto the2007, back of each wheelchair when by container. retail, Since Knights across the U.S. have been sponsored having “Wheelchair Sunday” At parish drivesthese to raise funds of for wheelchairs the delivery of wheelchairs. drives have wheelchairs to containers are valued These at $55,000 andsponsored $140,000.

(For special Guatemala, Haiti, locations, The Holy Land, Honduras, Mexico, Philippines, United States and Vietnam. sizes or delivery costs may vary)

receive.

The we deliver allow to go to school for the first ForWheelchairs more information about our mission, pleasechildren visit www.amwheelchair.org, or contact: time, adults to go to work to provide for their families and the elderly to Chris Moberg getDan out of a bed they may have been confined toLewis for years at a time. We Director of Public Education President are2600 answering the prayers of entire families.

2505 Anthem Village Drive, Suite E 602 E. Seltice Way, Suite A172

distributions around the

Knights and clergy participate in the distributions and parishioners are welcome to join us!

Henderson, Nevada 89052 USA Post Falls Idaho 83854-7991 USA dmoberg@amwheelchair.org clewis@amwheelchair.org Over 100 million people worldwide need a wheelchair but cannot afford (702) 580-0705 (208) 457-0745 one!

Our gift delivers Hope, Dignity, Freedom and Independence.

VISIT OUR SITE Amwheelchair.org On our website you will see videos of wheelchair world, photos of people and their families who had their lives changed by the gift of a wheelchair, and stories of our mission

that

touches

lives in a very tangible

We estimate that each wheelchair delivered changes and improves an average of 10 lives!

and immediate way.

Since 2007, Knights across the U.S. have been having “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drives to raise funds for the delivery of wheelchairs. These drives have sponsored tens of thousands of wheelchairs around the world, while adding hundreds of new Knights to the councils involved.

Join Us!

For more information, to watch videos and download the “Wheelchair Sunday” handbook, please visit the Knights of Columbus page of our website at: www.amwheelchair.org.

1

email Dan Moberg at:

www.amwheelchair.org

Join us on a wheelchair distribution trip – Please dmoberg@amwheelchair.org for details.

In Support of Our Veterans chair Chairman, Jack Cleary, and the Knights in some 20 parishes who conducted fund raising drives to raise $80,000 toward the sponsorship of these wheelchairs.

Knights of Columbus across the United States support our nation’s veterans in many ways. Since 2007, Knights have provided some 7,000 wheelchairs to veterans who are in need of just a little more help.

Additional wheelchairs are being delivered by the Orange County Knights, and other groups are coming forward to offer assistance in continuing this program for all of Southern California.

Veterans who were interviewed on Memorial Day commented, “The unselfWorking closely with the De- ish nature of the Knights partment of Veteran’s Affairs, and their families has really and specifically the Volun- touched our hearts. We stick tary Service Chiefs at VA fa- together because we have cilities in many states, local to, but the Knights make us Knights are going above and feel like we are part of a bigbeyond to do what they can ger family. God bless you for for our veterans. who you are.” A World War On Memorial Day 2013, the II vet commented, “You guys Orange County Chapter of really know what we need. the Knights of Columbus Thank you for always being conducted a wheelchair there for us.” distribution day at the Long Beach, California VA Hospital, delivering 400 wheelchairs to veterans and their families in need of mobility assistance.

2

Orange County Chapter President, Steve Bolton was awarded the American Wheelchair Mission’s first annual “Emilio B. Moure Spirit Award” in recognition of the incredible effort put forth by Chapter Wheel-

American Wheelchair Mission

Numerous VA facilities consider Knights to be among the best “go to” supporters for voluntary needs, and we are proud to provide mobility for veterans through the Wheelchair Sunday events coordinated by Knights across the country.

Everyone joined in honoring the vets

A Cub Scout helps the Knights welcome a veteran at the Long Beach, VA

The 4th Degree Color Corps honors our nation’s veterans

Local Girl Scouts helped deliver wheelchairs

400 wheelchairs were given to veterans on Memorial Day

Orange County Chapter President Steve Bolton (right) greets vets receiving wheelchairs

A vet saluting our flag and the Knights

This Vietnam vet was happy to be a part of the event in Long Beach, CA

A veteran of our “Greatest Generation” getting his new wheelchair

3

www.amwheelchair.org

Loving the Poor in the Philippines

4

home base of Naga City. Additional partners include Fr. Joel Tabora, President of the Ateneo de Davao University, assisted by Jeremy “Bong” Eliab who expertly coordinated our distribution efforts in Davao City. In Bulacan, Bernardita “Bien” Mendoza To date, in 2013, the Ameri- and her family coordinated can Wheelchair Mission has all of the distributions with provided more than 1,000 the local parishes, hospitals, wheelchairs, 412 pairs of and social outreach for the crutches, 406 canes, and poor. We could not do what 200 walkers to needy re- we do without these valucipients in Bulacan, Manila, able partners, who we owe Naga City on the Island of our deepest gratitude.

Luzon and Davao City on the Island of Mindanao.

On the distribution trip in April and May that took us All of the wheelchairs and to four cities on two islands, mobility aids were spon- Fr. John Neneman, Califorsored by the efforts of Cali- nia State Chaplain for the fornia Knights of Columbus, Knights of Columbus, and their local parishes, and by brother Knight Fr. Gaylord 2012-2013 California State Reyes joined us and particiDeputy Ray Warriner and pated in the distribution of his wife Purita, with their the wheelchairs.

“Project Mobility for the Philippines.” This project raised We were invited to dinner by funding for 560 of the wheel- Bishop Mylo Vergara in Machairs, and half of the mobil- nila, and met with Archbishity devices delivered. op Rolando Tirona in Naga City. They were both very “Wheelchair Sunday” par- interested in helping us furish drives at St. Joan of ther our mission in the PhilArc in San Ramon, Califor- ippines. nia, among other parishes around the state, sponsored Mother Joan and her sisters the rest of the mobility aids. operate the Queen of Peace Orphanage and Formation Mother Joan Clare Chin Loy Center in Naga, as well as of the Compassionate Fran- a community center, school ciscan Sisters of the Poor and chapel in the dumpsite is our primary distribution village in Naga. They also partner for Manila and her operate a day care and feed-

American Wheelchair Mission

ing center for the children in the Malabon dumpsite near Manila, which has a population of 40,000.

“This experience in the Philippines opened my eyes to the true meaning of the word poor,” said Fr. John after our visit to the dumpsite near Manila, “We are changing lives with mobility, and answering prayers of entire families with the gift of these wheelchairs. We have to just keep doing it as much as we can.”

The American Wheelchair Mission thanks the California Knights, their families and all of the parishioners who have supported our missions to the Philippines. You are allowing us to be tools in God’s hands doing His work on earth, and we will work harder to do even more.

This boy lives in the city dumpsite near Manila

Mindanao Territorial Deputy Bal Fanui and Fr. John celebrate this happy little lady’s first wheelchair

Fr. Gaylord and Fr. John celebrate mass in Bishop Mylo’s private chapel

Wheelchairs were distributed in the slums of the Naga City dumpsite

This young man got all the miles he could out of his old wheelchair

It often takes several family members to move a person without mobility

Mother Joan introduces a young wheelchair recipient to California State Deputy, Ray Warriner

5

www.amwheelchair.org

Fr. John and Ray delivered wheelchairs to homes in Naga City in three-wheeled transportation

Cloistered Carmelite nuns in Naga thank us for the gift of a needed wheelchair

Bulacan distribution partner, Bien Mendoza, greets her friend who was blessed with a wheelchair

6

This special mass in Bulacan celebrated the gift of the new wheelchairs

American Wheelchair Mission

Prayers are answered with the gift of a wheelchair

Peter’s new wheelchair will allow him to go to college

A new life starts with the gift of mobility

Parents carry adult children everywhere if they don’t have a wheelchair

A wheelchair allows the elderly to once again attend mass

Fr. John takes a wheelchair into a shanty town near Naga City

Spontaneous tears of joy mean hope for a better life

Territorial Deputy Bal gets a tearful embrace from a grateful lady

7 www.amwheelchair.org

Wheelchair Sundays help children in Mexico St. Raphael in Springdale, AR, helped distribute 280 wheelchairs to children of all ages at the Teleton center in Guanajuato.

Knights of Columbus at Prince of Peace Church in Plano, Texas, and St. Raphael Church in Springdale, Arkansas held “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drives to sponsor the delivery of brand new wheelchairs to people in need of mobility.

Between the two congregations, $42,000 was raised to sponsor a 280-wheelchair container to the Teleton Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRIT) in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico.

The Teleton organization operates 22 world-class rehabilitation centers for children throughout Mexico, and is one of the most valuable distribution partners of the American Wheelchair Mission. Through their medical and holistic approach, children who would otherwise be sentenced to a life of inactivity can now go to school and have a more independent lifestyle.

8

Visiting Knights from Plano and Dallas, Texas, and elementary school teacher Cathy Crouch, representing

American Wheelchair Mission

Parents carried heavy teenagers to their first wheelchairs, and the relief on their faces was immediate. Each child receiving a wheelchair gave a thank you note to one of the visitors.

Children on crutches and with walkers sped around in their new yellow “Ferraris” with big smiles on their faces.

Irapuato, and San Miguel de Allende, and came home with many wonderful stories to tell.

The Global Wheelchair Mission has delivered over 4,000 wheelchairs to the Teleton Centers for Children in the past three years, and is continuing to expand the program in cities throughout Mexico, with the support of Knights and “Wheelchair Sundays” across North America.

The following day, the team visited four homes of teenagers unable to come get their wheelchairs the previous day. Three were immobile from birth, but one boy suffered a spinal chord injury when his friends jumped on his back, and now relies on a wheelchair for mobility.

Dallas Knight, Paul Fehmel helps a Bill Weber from Plano, TX said, “This is the most wonderful experience I can ever remember. So many people told us that we answered their prayers. If that isn’t doing God’s work on earth, I don’t know what is. I am so proud to be here representing our parish and the Knights of Columbus.”

new friend into his wheelchair

The team saw the beauty and safety of the towns of No words are necessary for this young Guanajuato, Silao, Leon, man to tell us how happy he is

Cathy Crouch of Springdale, Arkansas claps as she watches a child experience mobility for the very first time

Cathy helped coordinate the Wheelchair Sunday at her church

Texas & Arkansas Knights held Wheelchair Sunday parish drives to sponsor 280 wheelchairs for these children

Children at the Teleton Center are always attended by a parent and staff member

Children who get a wheelchair can start school for the first time

This mom carries her teenage son to his first wheelchair

Plano, Texas Knight, Bill Weber lifts a child into her wheelchair, held by Paul Fehmel of Dallas

9

www.amwheelchair.org

Hope for the People of Haiti dren, made in the production facility funded by the Knights of Columbus’ “Healing Haiti’s Children” program.

During our most recent wheelchair delivery to the Port au Prince area of Haiti, children, teens and adults received 280 wheelchairs and 200 pairs of steel forearm crutches, sponsored by the Knights of Puerto Rico and the State of Iowa.

Attending the distribution was Puerto Rico State Deputy Luis Rivera and Program Director Angel Ruiz. The mission was a long time coming from the initial fund raising in Puerto Rico and Iowa, to the final delivery of the sea container filled with mobility aids. Haiti continues to be a very challenging place to deliver humanitarian aid.

Approximately 8 million of the 10 million Haitians are Catholic, and they all need our prayers. 80% of the country lives below the poverty line because they suffer from corrupt government on all 10 year old Jean Ronald loves his yellow wheelchair levels. The hope delivered by the Knights of Columbus to young and old with physical disabilities, is setting a course for a better future for all Haitians, and warms the hearts of those who know the value of unconditional love, shown by the Knights while doing God’s work on earth.

Roselande laughs with a friend

Project Medishare is our official distribution partner for Haiti, who arranged a number of wheelchair distributions in places such as a local school for children with physical and intellectual disabilities, the Bernard Mev Medical Center, and the homes of people in need of wheelchairs.

10

Medishare provides state of the art prosthetics for chil-

American Wheelchair Mission

L to R - Program Director Angel Ruiz and State Deputy Luis Rivera of Puerto Rico meet 7 year old Roselande, who is very happy to have her new wheelchair

Inside the Healing Haiti’s Children Prosthetic lab in Port au Prince

Fritz Gerald is very happy to move all by himself

Jojo is an accomplished artist who was born without arms or legs

Learning to use his wheelchair is a new experience

New friends all celebrate the gift of mobility together

12 year old Fritz Gerald is excited to get his new wheelchair

11 www.amwheelchair.org

Photo Gallery

Ricardo never believed he would get his very own wheelchair

Bara can now go to school on his own in Jerusalem

Now Ricardo can “run� with his friends in Guanajuato

12

Knights and veterans have a deep respect for each other

American Wheelchair Mission

Many people in Vietnam must crawl along the floor to move

Mountain bike tires with aluminum brakes make this boy feel the need for speed

California State Chaplain, Father John Neneman blesses the wheelchairs at the Long Beach VA hospital

This young boy in Guanajuato tells Bill Weber and Tia Lewis about his new wheelchair

Veterans of all ages received wheelchairs at the VA Hospital in Long Beach, California

Miriam lives on Lemuy Island in Southern Chile, and was disabled by a car accident

This mother was in tears for what the wheelchair means to both her and her son

13 www.amwheelchair.org

Knights of Columbus and Wheelchairs Since 2003, Knights of Columbus have sponsored the delivery of tens of thousands of wheelchairs around the world, and right here at home to veterans and their families in need of mobility.

Since

2007,

Knights

across the U.S. have been having “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drives to raise funds for the delivery

of

wheel-

chairs. Beginning with Blessed Church

of

the

Virgin in

California,

Mary

Pasadena, where

Fr.

Gerard O’Brien coined the phrase “Wheelchair Sunday,” this program has spread across the country and sponsored thousands

of

wheel-

chairs.

The first 5 parish drives

A beautiful stained glass window in the Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City, Philippines

in Southern California raised enough money to sponsor the delivery of 1,000 brand new wheelchairs and added more than 150 new Knights to the local membership.

Please visit the Knights of Columbus page of our website to learn how you can host a “Wheelchair Sunday.”

Please visit our website to watch videos of Knights delivering wheelchairs around the world, read articles or donate.

For more information, please contact: Dan Moberg Director of Public Education 2600 E. Seltice Way, Suite A-172 Post Falls, Idaho 83854 USA dmoberg@amwheelchair.org (208) 457-0745

Chris Lewis President 2505 Anthem Village Dr., Suite E-602 Henderson, Nevada 89052-5505 USA clewis@amwheelchair.org (702) 580-0705

Copyright 2013 American Wheelchair Mission | Photos by: Randy Hale, Chris Lewis & Contributing Photographers

Assumption