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Answering Prayers with the Gift of Mobility this issue Mexico Philippines Haiti Holy Land Vietnam United States

American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

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This newsletter highlights the various partnerships and wheelchair distributions that the American Wheelchair Mission has made over the course of the last year to people around the world without mobility. Because of the charitable efforts of the Knights of Columbus, we are touching lives and answering prayers!

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Page 1: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

Answering Prayers with

the Gift of

Mobility

this issue

• Mexico

• Phi l ippines

• Hai t i

• Holy Land

• Vietnam

• Uni ted States

Page 2: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

American Wheelchair Mission

Our Mission

The American Wheelchair

Mission is a non-profit

organization with a goal

to deliver brand new, free

wheelchairs and mobil-

ity aids to physically dis-

abled 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

and independence.

The NeedWe estimate more than

100 million people world-

wide are in need of a

wheelchair but cannot

afford one. Our gift

immediately changes the

lives of entire families by

answering prayers and

making dreams come

true.

Page 3: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

$150 Sponsors the delivery of a brand new wheelchair

The wheelchair deliv-

ered by the American

Wheelchair Mission would

sell for more than $500

at a medical supply store.

Yet because we purchase

wheelchairs directly from

the manufacturer, and ship

them 100 to 280 wheel-

chairs at a time by ocean

freight containers directly

to the country of destina-

tion, we can deliver this

$500 wheelchair with each

$150 donation we receive.

VISIT OUR SITEAmwheelchair.org

On our website you will see

videos of wheelchair distri-

butions around the 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 and

immediate way.

Join Us!

Join us on a wheelchair

distribution trip – Please

email Dan Moberg at:

dmoberg@amwheelchair.

org for details.

1

The American Wheelchair Mission is a non-profit organization that deliv-ers free wheelchairs to children, teens and adults without mobility or the means to acquire a wheelchair.

Since 2003, Knights of Columbus have sponsored the delivery of more than 35,000 wheelchairs around the world to people in dire need of mobil-ity.

We deliver brand new, high quality wheelchairs by entire sea containers.

The wheelchairs we deliver in 5 sizes (12, 14, 16, 18 & 20 inch seat widths) would sell for over $500 in a medical supply store, but because we purchase them in bulk and ship them by 100 to 280 wheelchair containers from the fac-tories directly to the country of destination, we can do this at an average price of $150 each.

For entities interested in delivering an entire container of wheelchairs to a spe-cific country or local destination, a gift of $16,500 will deliver a shipping con-tainer of 100 pneumatic, mountain bike or 110 solid 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, mountain bike tire or 280 solid tire wheelchairs. A logo or short text of the donor’s choice will be stitched onto the back of each wheelchair when sponsored by container. At retail, these containers of wheelchairs are valued at $55,000 and $140,000. (For special sizes or delivery locations, prices may vary)

The Wheelchairs we deliver allow children to go to school for the first time, adults to go to work to provide for their families, and the elderly to get out of a bed they may have been confined to for many years at a time. We are answer-ing the prayers of entire families.

Over 100 million people worldwide need a wheelchair but cannot afford one! Our gift answers prayers and delivers Hope, Dignity, Freedom and Independence.

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

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 wheelchairs to Guatemala, Haiti, the Holy Land, Honduras, Mexico, Philippines, United States and Vietnam. These drives are also extremely suc-cessful tools for recruiting new members.

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

Program Highlights The American Wheelchair Mission delivers free wheelchairs to children, teens and adults without mobility. Since 2003, Knights have sponsored the delivery of more than 30,000 wheelchairs around the world. We deliver brand new, high quality wheelchairs by entire sea containers. The brand new wheelchairs we deliver in 5 sizes (12, 14, 16, 18 & 20 inch seat widths) would sell for over $500 in a medical supply store, but because we ship by 110 to 280 wheelchair containers from the factories directly to the country of delivery, we can do this at an average price of $150 each. For entities interested in delivering an entire container of wheelchairs to a specific country or local destination, a gift of $16,500 will deliver a shipping container of 100 pneumatic, mountain 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, mountain bike tire or 280 solid rubber tire wheelchairs. A logo or short text of the donor’s choice will be stitched onto the back of each wheelchair when sponsored by container. At retail these containers of wheelchairs are valued at $55,000 and $140,000. (For special sizes or delivery locations prices may vary) The wheelchairs we deliver allow children to go to school for the first time, adults to go to work to provide for their families and the elderly to get out of a bed that they may have been confined to for years at a time. We are answering the prayers of entire families. Our mission is to deliver a wheelchair or mobility aid to every person in the world who is in need but cannot afford one. Over 100 million people worldwide need a wheelchair but cannot afford one! Our gift delivers Hope, Dignity, Freedom and Independence. We estimate that each wheelchair delivered changes and improves an average of 10 lives! 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 wheelchairs to Guatemala, Haiti, The Holy Land, Honduras, Mexico, Philippines, United States and Vietnam. Knights and clergy participate in the distributions and parishioners are welcome to join us! For more information about our mission, please visit www.amwheelchair.org, or contact: Dan Moberg Chris Lewis Director of Public Education President

2505 Anthem Village Drive, Suite E 602 Henderson, Nevada 89052 USA

[email protected] (702) 580-0705

A M E R I C A N

WHEELCHAIRM I S S I O N

2600 E. Seltice Way, Suite A172Post Falls Idaho 83854-7991 [email protected](208) 457-0745

www.amwheelchair.org

Page 4: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

Distribution Partners: Teletón Rehabilitation Centers for Children / Knights of Columbus

A wheelchair allows a child to go to school, go outside to play with friends, and enjoy some independence in their daily lives.

There are more than 500,000 children in Mexico who need a wheelchair but cannot af-ford one. This number is higher than other countries in Latin America, and is the subject of much study on the part of international health organizations.

Knights of Columbus have delivered many thousands of wheelchairs into the lives of children, teens and adults throughout Mexico. Working hand in hand with Knights from the United States and Canada, Mexican Knights have brought life chang-ing mobility into their local church communities and be-yond.

The Teletón Rehabilitation Centers for Children oper-ate 22 world-class facilities

across Mexico and tend to the needs of children with all forms of physical disabilities.

Their medical and holistic approach to treating children has allowed them to literally bring children back to life, after a devastating illness or injury. Some 70,000 children have been treated since the start of the organization in 1996, and families across Mexico swear that God’s miracles are performed by the Teletón staff and volun-teers on a daily basis.

Knights in the U.S. and Can-ada have been working with Teletón centers for a number of years and have shipments of wheelchairs being sent on a regular basis.

The American Wheelchair Mission is very proud to work closely with the Teletón cen-ters and hopes to expand our participation in their life-changing mission.

“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14)

To join us on a wheel-chair distribution in Mexico, please send us an email at [email protected] for details.

Wheelchairs for Children in Mexico

Without a wheelchair, people crawl along the ground

Michigan Knight Bill Gardner was very touched by his experience in Mexico

Entire families celebrate the gift of a wheelchair

2

American Wheelchair Mission

Page 5: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

3

A national symbol of love and caring for children

Angela, 3 moves herself for the first timeNevada State Deputy, David Ryan and a new friend

Marissa can now go to school with her new wheelchair

Rodolfo, 12 is so happy to have his new wheelchair

Elise loves her new yellow wheelchair

Rodrigo Figueroa, 2 moving himself for the first time everBrother Knight, Bishop Rutilio del Riego blessses a wheelchair recipient in Mexico City

www.amwheelchair.org

Page 6: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

Distribution Partner: The Compassionate Francis-can Sisters of the Poor

The Mission of the Com-passionate Franciscan Sis-ters of the Poor and their founder, Mother Joan Clare Chin Loy, is to feed hungry children, care for orphans, teach school, respond to ur-gent needs of families, and now bring mobility into the lives of people near Manila, Naga City and throughout the Philippines.

Since early 2011, Mother Joan and her sisters have imported more than 1,100 wheelchairs, and hundreds of canes, crutches and walk-ers donated by Knights of Columbus to help the physi-cally disabled people in the areas they serve.

The Sisters run schools, feeding and day care cen-ters around the city dumps in both Manila and Naga, where more than 50,000 people live off the refuse. They also have an orphan-age that provides loving care for abandoned children from all walks of life.

In what is known as a squat-ter’s area in Naga City, a 6-month-old boy named James was somehow able to crawl out of his house and onto the narrow gauge rail-road track that runs down the middle of his street. The train did not stop and James lost his leg. At the age of 2, James received his first mode of transportation in the form of a wheelchair. Moth-er Joan explained, “He is a smart little boy and is able to hop for short distances, but he cannot go anywhere with-out being carried or dragging himself along the ground. This wheelchair will allow him to go to pre-school and start learning.”

Near the Naga City dump-site, a mother provides for all of her children and hus-band by scavenging the trash from dawn to dusk for food or anything sellable. Her youngest child was born without the ability to walk and she cannot afford even the time off to take him to a free clinic. Mother Joan gave the young boy a wheelchair so his siblings could bring him to the school and church the sisters created within the dumpsite settlement.

The California Knights of Columbus have initiated “Project Mobility for the Phil-ippines,” which will deliver 560 wheelchairs to the Ma-nila and Davao areas of the

country. Mother Joan and her sisters will coordinate all aspects of the distribution.

“The needs of the people here are great,” said Mother Joan, “but with continued prayer and the blessings we have received from the Knights of Columbus, we will be able to improve the lives of many families. God bless you all for your compassion!”

“May our love be the remedy that will make our world a better place. May we see all people as our brothers and sisters. Let us reach out to everyone with compassion!”

The Answer to Prayers in the Philippines

Camille, 15 has had to crawl or be carried her entire life

Antonette, 10 lives at the orphanage and is very happy about her wheelchair

4

American Wheelchair Mission

Page 7: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

5

James, 2 is hopping to get his new wheelchair, near the track that cost him his leg

Squatter’s house in the city of Naga, Philippines

Erica’s entire school came to see her and two oth-ers get wheelchairs

Erica has never had a wheel-chair before

Camille can now go to school for the first time

The Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor deliver wheel-chairs at the city dump in Naga City

Mother Joan bringing a wheelchair to a waiting family

www.amwheelchair.org

Page 8: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

Naga City Knights carry a man to his new wheelchair

James’ brother helps him with his new wheelchair

This lady told us her prayers had been answered

Knights from Naga City help a man to his homeMother Joan’s warehouse in the city of Naga, Philippines

Everyone is so happy with their brand new wheelchairs - they have been given the gifts of mobility and independence

6

American Wheelchair Mission

Page 9: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

7

Distribution Partner: Project Medishare Hospital

The most recent trip to Haiti by the Knights of Columbus and the American Wheel-chair Mission took place in late February of 2012. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, where most people barely survive on the equivalent of 2 U.S. dollars a day. Compounding the poverty, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck on Janu-ary 12, 2010, near Port au Prince, Haiti’s most popu-lated city. It is estimated that 220,000 people were killed and more than 300,000 were injured. 1.5 million people were rendered homeless.

Founded in 1994 at the Uni-versity of Miami, Project Me-dishare mobilized the first medical team on the ground in Haiti, just 12 hours after the earthquake.

The first stop for the team was the Project Medishare Rehabilitation Hospital in Port au Prince. In-country physical therapist Jason Miller explained that more than 1,000 people have

been served with prosthet-ics and orthotics through the clinic, provided entirely by the Knights of Columbus.

The next day, the team drove to the most remote village in the Haitian central plateau. The road is inaccessible five months out of the year be-cause of heavy rains. There is no electricity, and the vil-lagers live in extreme pover-ty. After a grueling five hour ride in an SUV, inching its way over ruts, sharp boul-ders and mud, the team ar-rived with a truck full of new wheelchairs, donated by the Knights of Columbus.

At the same time, a young Haitian mother named Mo-nique started her day. She lives in the Haitian central plateau region. She awoke and took care of household chores and perhaps pre-pared a meal for her moth-er, five siblings and daugh-ter. These simple tasks are painful for Monique because she does not have the use of her legs. They atrophied long ago as a result of an illness during infancy. She drags herself on her hands and knees, slowly and de-liberately, but always with a beautiful, shy smile on her face.

Monique’s neighbors knew that the wheelchairs had arrived. They came to her home that morning and of-

fered to carry her to the distri-bution. “It’s difficult for me to ask people for favors to get me around,” she explained through an interpreter. “I was carried here by many peo-ple. One passed me off to another until I got here.” As Monique’s neighbor added, “She is my friend . . . When I see her working so hard, crawling all by herself, she doesn’t have any strength . . . As a man from her neigh-borhood, I just try to help her. I carry her because of my faith in God.”

Monique tentatively crawled to the wheelchair that was assigned to her. With her shy smile, she climbed into it, looked into the eyes of those around her and smiled. “Thank you . . . thank you . . . thank you.” Later she said, ”Now I’m out of my misery. I can get around. I am more independent. When I need to go somewhere, I can go on my own.”

The team agreed with the sentiment of Monique’s neighbor as he said: “She is my neighbor . . . I cannot leave her along the way.”

A Lenten Journey to Haiti

www.amwheelchair.org

Page 10: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

8

Being carried is this man’s only means of transportation

Monique being carried to get her wheelchair

Devastation from the 2010 earthquake can still be seen

Florida PSD Bob Read helps a lady into her wheelchair in the Central Plateau

Florida PSD Bob Read in the Central Plateau delivering wheelchairs sponsored by Florida Knights

Monique is very happy to have her new wheelchairHundreds of canes, crutches and walkers were also delivered by the Knights

American Wheelchair Mission

Page 11: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

Distribution Partners: Caritas Jerusalem / Catholic Relief Services

His Beatitude Fouad Twal is the Latin Patriarch of Je-rusalem and represents the Vatican in the Holy Land. He is also the President of Cari-tas Jerusalem and oversees much of its humanitarian outreach.

Supreme Knight Carl An-derson wrote a letter to His Beatitude to ask for guid-ance as to the best way to get wheelchairs distributed to the Christians of the Holy Land, as well as others in need.

The response was enthu-siastic, so the American Wheelchair Mission began working with Caritas Jerusa-lem and Catholic Relief Ser-vices to ship a container of 280 wheelchairs to the Holy Land, sponsored by Knights of Columbus in California, Texas and Florida.

After months of waiting for clearance from Israeli cus-toms, the wheelchairs were delivered to Jerusalem.

The race was now on to dis-tribute the wheelchairs be-fore the rainy season set in, so Knights from California, Texas and Florida flew to Jerusalem to take part in the distribution.

Caritas operates and sup-ports day care centers for the elderly, affordable hous-ing, job training programs and educational support ser-vices throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The majority of the people involved in their programs are Palestinian Christians, but all groups are welcome.

At the Caritas Center in Ra-mallah, a wheelchair like the one we deliver would sell for more than $1,200 U.S. Dol-lars! This is the wheelchair we can deliver with each $150 donation. The staff and volunteers do as much as they can for the aging population, but much help is needed from us.

One lady told us that her fam-ily has secured the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas in Beit Jala since it was built in the 1850’s and her ancestors go back much farther than that. She said, “We are the descendants of the first followers of Christ, and we deserve to be able to live in our homeland without fighting for our existence.”

Hala Yousef Totah, a reg-istered nurse at the Caritas Center in Ramallah said, “The gift of wheelchairs pro-vided by the Knights of Co-lumbus has had a major im-pact on the quality of life for many Palestinian Christians. Wheelchairs are so far out of reach for most people that they leave the country to find relatives who will care for them. I know of several hun-dred right now who will find their lives better because of you, and not want to leave after all. God bless you.”

9

The altar at the site of Jesus’ crucifix-ion in the church of the Holy Sepulcher

12 year old Bara attends rehabilitation classes at the Princess Basma Cen-ter in East Jerusalem. Paul Fehmel watches him try out the first wheel-chair he has ever owned

A Major Impact in the Holy Land

www.amwheelchair.org

Page 12: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

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A view of the grey dome of the Church of the Holy Sep-ulcher in the center of the photo

Dallas Knight, Paul Fehmel helps Jeff Robertson carry a wheelchair in the old city of Jerusalem to a woman con-fined to her home

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, meets wheelchair recipients at the Patriarch-ate in Jerusalem

Issa had tears of joy in his eyes when he got into his new wheelchair

The Franciscan Wedding Church in Cana

Paul Fehmel sits with Sr. Maria Cecilia from the Wedding Church in Cana, at the home of Effa, a Palestinian Christian woman who lives down the street and was in dire need of a wheelchair

Within minutes, Effa moved herself through the house and out onto the back porch to talk with her sister-in-law next door

American Wheelchair Mission

Page 13: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

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Distribution Partner: Caritas Vietnam / Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries in South-east Asia with more than 9 million Catholics, who make up the second largest reli-gious group behind the Bud-dhists.

Catholic churches and strong parish communities are everywhere in the south-ern half of the country, but the central and northern ar-eas have well established parish councils who volun-teer tirelessly to help meet the needs of the very poor populations.

Caritas Vietnam has recent-ly been granted permission by the government to oper-ate its charitable mission throughout the country, and is the official distribution partner of the Knights of Co-lumbus.

Under the supervision of His Eminence, Cardinal Jean Baptiste Pham Minh Man, Fr. Vincent Vu Ngoc Dong is the Director of Caritas Viet-

nam and has been respon-sible for distributing more than 1,000 wheelchairs sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.

The KofC/Wheelchair Mis-sion team traveled most re-cently to Ho Chi Minh City, Qui Nhon, Danang and Hue to deliver wheelchairs to res-idents who have never been able to afford a wheelchair. Caritas offices in each city identify the recipients, and Bishop Joseph Chau Ngoc Tri of Danang has taken a strong interest in expanding our mission.

A man in Danang named James Phung was waiting for us at his local church with Caritas Danang Direc-tor, Fr. Minh. James walks by using two red step stools to shift his weight from one to the other and move him-self along the ground. This is how he “walks” to church. James lost his legs in a fire-fight that took place in his village in 1972 when he was only 7 years old. For the past 40 years he has needed a wheelchair and is so happy to be on Fr. Minh’s list of re-cipients. He will work hard to help others with physical disabilities and volunteer more often at the church.

There are many misconcep-tions in the U.S. about the country and people in Viet-nam. In our extensive expe-

rience, we are welcomed by so many like-minded people who want only to help those in need, that the hands on collaboration with Caritas Vietnam has become one of the most efficient and ef-fective distribution relation-ships we enjoy anywhere in the world. The Catholic churches are the centers of the communities, and the local priests work with ex-treme dedication to their parishioners when helping us identify those who can best benefit from the gift of a wheelchair.

This happy young man at the My Trung parish is so happy he will be able to go to church more often

This happy lady could not believe the wheelchair was really hers

Mobility Aid for Vietnam

www.amwheelchair.org

Page 14: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

12

Caritas volunteers help a lady at the Than My Parish to get her wheelchair

Children at the My Trung parish thank the Knights of Columbus

James Phung “walking” with his step stools This woman believes she had polio as a child and now has a wheelchair for the first time

Fr. Vincent blesses a wheel-chair recipient at the Cardi-nal’s private chapel

A man is carried from a sampan on the Kinh Xang River to get his wheelchair at the My Trung Parish from Fr. John Baptiste Ciung

His Eminence Cardinal Jean Baptiste Pham Minh Man meets wheelchair recipients in Ho Chi Minh City

American Wheelchair Mission

Page 15: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

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Distribution Partner: VA Medical Centers and related facilities

The Knights of Columbus across the United States support the opportunities to assist our nation’s veterans whenever possible. The De-partment of Veteran’s Affairs and especially the Voluntary Service directors understand that there is always a need for additional support for our veterans.

One of the most visible ways Knights have been able to assist the VA and veterans across the country is to de-liver brand new wheelchairs to be used by the vets.

On a blustery June morning at the Audie Murphy VA Hos-pital in San Antonio, Texas, two dozen brand new yellow wheelchairs were delivered by a contingent of Knights from Boerne and San An-tonio. Texas Knights have raised money for wheel-chairs to help veterans, re-tired clergy and local needs as well as international proj-ects to countries around the world.

A wheelchair user named Karen, who is also a Navy veteran said, “The thought and development you have put into these wheelchairs is inspiring. Being able to raise and lower the arms for ease of transfer is so important. The bright yellow color made me think of sunshine and happiness. It might seem like such a small thing, but these gifts are truly lifesav-ers for the thousands of peo-ple you have helped through the years.”

Later that same day, the Knights traveled to the hill country, and the Kerrville VA Center to deliver anoth-er load of wheelchairs. The truck carrying the wheel-chairs was escorted by the Texas “Knights on Bikes,” who always make a grand entrance on large mostly Harley Davidson motor- cycles.

At Kerrville, Marine Corps veteran James was so tak-en by the generosity of the Knights and the wonderful presence of the Fourth De-gree Color Corps, that he was inspired to salute the Knights in thanks. It was an emotional moment for every-one present.

Knights Councils in Mary-land, Florida, California, Tex-as, Arizona and Tennessee have provided thousands of wheelchairs for veterans

over the years and many states are holding “Wheel-chair Sunday” parish drives to increase their support of our nation’s heroes.

It is with great pride that we are able to Serve Those Who Served and bring some “Sunshine and Happiness” into their lives with the gift of brand new yellow wheel-chairs.

Karen is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and loves the yellow wheelchairs

James salutes the Knights in gratitude

A patriotic welcome at the VA center in Kerrville

Serving Those Who Served

www.amwheelchair.org

Page 16: American Wheelchair Mission Touching Lives Around the World

Chris Lewis, President [email protected] (702) 580-0705

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lumbus. 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 mem-bership in your council. It is easier than a pancake breakfast!

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 wheelchairs to Guatemala, Haiti, the Holy Land, Honduras, Mexico, Philippines, United States and Vietnam and added hundreds of new Knights to the councils involved.

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

For more information or donations:

Dan Moberg Director of Public Education 2600 E. Seltice Way, Suite A172 Post Falls, Idaho 83854-7991 USA [email protected] 2505 Anthem Village Dr., Suite E602(208) 457-0745 Henderson, Nevada 89052-5505 USA

Wheelchair Sunday

Wheelchair Sunday“Easier than a pancake breakfast!”

We are changing lives, and answering prayers!

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

If you want the most successful fund raiser possible for the delivery of wheelchairs, then please visit the Knights of Columbus page of our website at www.amwheelchair.org to down-load the “Wheelchair Sunday” booklet for the complete instructions on how to conduct a “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drive.

These parish drives are also the most success-ful membership tool you will ever experience. After seeing our video during mass and hear-ing our presentation, parishioners will have a new understanding of the charitable work being done around the world by the Knights of Co-

Knights on Bikes escort the truck-load of wheelchairs

James thanks the Color Corps Commander

Maryland Knights delivering wheelchairs to the VA facility on Veteran’s Day

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” par-

ish drives to raise funds for

the delivery of wheelchairs.

Beginning with Assumption

of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Church in Pasadena,

California, where Fr.

Gerard O’Brien coined

the phrase “Wheelchair

Sunday,” this program has

spread across the country

and sponsored thousands

of wheelchairs.

The first 5 parish drives in

Southern California raised

enough money to spon-

sor 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,” or contact Dan

Moberg, Director of Public

Education at dmoberg@

amwheelchair.org or (208)

457-0745.