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From left: Former Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch poses with Casey Putnam, middle, and mom, Vicki Rinne. |
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From left: Dear Heart the clown (Judy Quest), paints the face of Kate Klemmensen, daughter of Julie and Mark Klemmensen. |
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From left: Marco Lara, Veronica Diaz Vera, Julissa Lara (with baby, Diego Lara), Yolanda Diaz and Enero Dominguez. |
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Members of the UNMC College of Nursing Leadership Academy attended the event. |
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No Frills Supermarkets’ Lonnie Eggers, vice president of marketing, presents a check for $10,000 from the Round It Up campaign to Rick Boldt, president of the C. Louis Meyer Foundation and Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey. |
Both numbers were records realized at the 3rd annual Munroe-Meyer Institute and the C. Louis Meyer Foundation “Walk & Roll for Disabilities,” held in February at the Westroads Mall.
The event benefits recreational therapy programs for adults with developmental disabilities.
“We’re just so pleased that every year the community has turned out for us and every year the event has grown,” said Michael Crawford, Re.D., director of recreational therapy, Munroe-Meyer Institute. “We have more commercial sponsors this year, more walkers this year and we just hope we continue to grow. We’re privately endowed and it’s events like this that ensure a future of quality recreational services for our adults with developmental disabilities.”
Casey Putnam, 19, has been participating in Munroe-Meyer recreational programs for five to six years and loves it, said mom, Vicki Rinne. She and her family value the programs and wants to see increased funding in the adult programs so Casey can continue to participate when he turns 21.
“It’s important for Casey. He is very, very social,” Rinne said. “He loves interaction with his peers. The Munroe-Meyer programs have meant the world to us. We sign him up for every activity they offer. There’s other things in the community, but I’m not comfortable them because he needs help walking. Munroe-Meyer offers one-on-one programs. It’s wonderful, it’s an awesome program.”
Veronica Diaz Vera, whose son Alex was treated at MMI before dying a few years ago, is so appreciative of MMI that she and her family attend every “Walk and Roll” event.
“We enjoyed being associated with MMI,” Diaz Vera said. “They’re not many other recreational programs for adults in Omaha.”
Board members of the C. Louis Meyer Foundation also came out to support the event, including Board President Rick Boldt and new member Jan Leuenberger, who experienced the event for the first time.
“The need for community support, the need to constantly increase awareness for the need for funds in order to support things like the recreational activities, it just never goes away,” Leuenberger said.
Serving as captains of the event were former Nebraska quarterback and 2001 Heiseman Trophy winner Eric Crouch, Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and KETV Channel 7 reporter Mike’l Severe.
Crouch has been involved in the event since its inception 3 years ago.
“I want to do as much as I can to help out this great cause,” he said. “I come here and I see the smiles on the kids’ faces. That’s really what it’s all about.”
Sponsors of this year’s event included Omaha’s KGOR radio, No Frills Supermarkets, Crouch Recreation Design, Westroads Mall, KETV Channel 7 television, C. Louis Meyer Rehabilitation Foundation, Munroe-Meyer Institute Parent Recreational Strategic Planning and Advisory Council and the Munroe-Meyer Institute Department of Recreational Therapy.
No Frills, the event’s newest sponsor, provided a gift in excess of $10,000 from its “Round It Up” campaign,” which consisted of customers rounding their grocery bills up to the next dollar amount and giving the leftover change to MMI.
The Munroe-Meyer Institute Recreational Therapy Department provides recreational services in a safe, supervised setting and allows respite for families and caregivers of those with developmental disabilities. Activities include arts and crafts, music, sports activities, swimming, dining club, day and overnight trips and recreational and leisure events in the community.