We were honored to sponsor the 19th Annual Drive “Fore” Mobility to Benefit the Wheelchair Foundation on August 22, 2022 at Blackhawk Country Club.
The Wheelchair Foundation has been near and dear to my heart for years. They are a nonprofit organization leading an international effort to create awareness of the needs and abilities of people with physical disabilities, to promote the joy of giving, to create global friendship, and to deliver a wheelchair to every child, teen, and adult in the world who needs one, but cannot afford one. For these people, the Wheelchair Foundation delivers Hope, Mobility, and Independence.
Here are some facts about wheelchairs and the foundation:
Q: How many people need wheelchairs but cannot afford one?
A: It is estimated that at least 100 million children, teens, and adults worldwide need a wheelchair but cannot afford one. Some international organizations believe that the number could be as high as 6% of the population of developing countries. The number in Angola is 20% of the population of 12 million people. Other “landmine” countries such as Afghanistan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bosnia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique have extremely high physical disability rates.
Q: Where are the wheelchairs manufactured?
A: We purchase wheelchairs from several manufacturers in China that build a quality product designed to be easily maintainable in developing countries.
Q: How much does a wheelchair cost?
A: We can purchase and deliver a wheelchair to our distribution partners worldwide for an average of $150. This wheelchair would normally cost $500 in the U.S., but the large quantities that we purchase allow us to deliver each one for roughly $150, by a 280-wheelchair sea container. This same type of wheelchair sells for up to $1,700 US in some developing countries.
Q: How much do I have to donate to deliver a wheelchair to a physically disabled person?
A: $150 helps purchase, ship, and deliver a new wheelchair to a person in need and supports the mission of the Wheelchair Foundation. To sponsor a container of 100 to 280 wheelchairs, please see our Sponsorship Program page.
Q: How do you decide who gets a wheelchair?
A: We distribute wheelchairs worldwide through a network of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that have ongoing humanitarian relief missions in the countries of wheelchair destinations. These distribution partners handle all aspects of the importation and distribution of the wheelchairs to children who can now go to school, adults who can now go to work, and seniors who can once again become an active part of family life and society.
Q: Can I designate which country I want my donation to go to?
A: We collect donations and then send containers of 100 to 280 wheelchairs each to our distribution partners in countries identified as in great need. For sponsoring a container, you can pick a developing country from our list of approved destinations where we enjoy established and successful distribution relationships. There are currently 152 countries on the list.
Q: How will my donation be acknowledged?
A: For every $150 tax-deductible donation, you will receive a personalized certificate of appreciation with a color photograph of a wheelchair recipient, a person who had their quality of life greatly improved by the gift of a wheelchair.
Q: Are all of the wheelchairs going to countries other than the United States?
A: No. The Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries, Catholic Charities, and other relief organizations are working with us here in the U.S. to distribute wheelchairs to people who need one but cannot afford one. Some groups and organizations do sponsor 280 wheelchair containers to the US, for $42,000 per container.
Q: Are these wheelchairs designed for rough, third-world conditions?
A: Yes. The wheelchairs that we distribute are specifically designed for the rough conditions of developing countries. Extra heavy wheels, tires, front casters, sealed bearings, and nylon seating make these wheelchairs the best possible solution for most conditions.
Q: What is the goal of the Wheelchair Foundation?
A: Our goal is to distribute 1 million wheelchairs in the next 5 years and to further the awareness that a wheelchair is no longer an unaffordable item for delivery in developing countries throughout the world.
Q: How can I help?
A: You can help in the following ways:
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Get the word out! Tell your friends that you are now a part of the most ambitious relief mission of its kind in the history of our civilization!
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Have a fund-raiser! A dinner or cocktail party in your home can serve as a venue to tell people about helping others. Local businesses, organizations, and schools can all help. We will supply everything you need to help us change the world.
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Corporate Sponsorship. Help us find corporations that have interests in countries that need our help. We can target their sponsorship to specific countries and needs, and we will put their logo on the wheelchair identifying them as sponsors of an entire wheelchair container. They will be heroes, and so many people will be given a new lease on life.
Q: How can I attend a Wheelchair Foundation event or distribution?
A: Please visit the “Events” page of our website by clicking here.