Volume 10 • 2016 from the President
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ACTIVITY RESEARCH ADVOCACY SOARING SPIRIT VOLUME 10 • 2016 FROM THE PRESIDENT Abraham Lincoln once said, “If you want to predict your LAKESHORE FOUNDATION future, create it.” These are BOARD OF DIRECTORS profound and powerful words William P. Acker III that describe our attitude, culture Walter M. Beale, Jr. and everyday work here at Slade Blackwell Duncan Blair Lakeshore Foundation. Jay Brandrup Dell Brooke We constantly work to use our time, Robert O. Burton energy, expertise and resources to be a leader Thomas N. Carruthers, Jr. in addressing the needs of people within our Linda Coleman-Madison mission while developing new opportunities for a lifelong path to wellness. We want that Rob Couch experience to extend beyond our doors and our campus, and we want that experience to be Derrol Dawkins, M.D. grounded in clear evidence that we are indeed having a positive impact on those we serve. Garry L. Gause There was a time when the majority of Lakeshore’s work was thought to be contained Brenda M. Hackney within our beautiful campus. Now, with the vision to “Improve the lives of people with William K. Hancock physical disability around the world,” our opportunity, our reach and indeed our obligation Bill Horton goes beyond our walls and our grounds. There are no limits. Amie McLain, M.D. While we are more expansive in our three pillars of Physical Activity, Research and Greg Johnston Advocacy and Policy, it is essential that we not forget the core of who we are, our very Catherine Sloss Jones roots as an organization. In this issue of Soaring Spirit you will find an article on wheelchair Wayne W. Killion, Jr., M.D. Gen. James E. Livingston basketball, which we recognize as our first example of using physical activity as a route Frank H. Long, Jr. to an overall healthier lifestyle. Before there was a specific organization called Lakeshore Scott McBrayer Foundation, before there was a gym on campus, and for certain before Paralympic athletes Mark S. McColl came to Birmingham to train, there was wheelchair basketball. Robert McKenna A word you hear more and more around Lakeshore is “inclusion.” For us, this Aubrey S. Miller term represents the opportunity for someone with a disability to enjoy and pursue life as Anne Marie Oberheu, M.D. everyone else does. We have long understood that an inclusive society is one that truly Michael L. Patterson benefits everyone, and we are committed to doing the hard work that it will take to make Maj. Gen. N. Lee S. Price that a reality. For those we serve, Lakeshore cannot be an isolated island but rather a Ann Purdy gateway or starting point where someone can get on the path to a healthy life. Whether Don A. Scivley they continue their journey at Lakeshore or somewhere else, we have succeeded whenever Tom Shufflebarger someone gets on that path and stays there. Graham Sisson Through Physical Activity we get people moving, and through Research we provide Robert Spotswood evidence on the benefits of that physical activity while developing new technologies and Michael E. Stephens methodologies. Finally, through Advocacy and Policy we put research and our expertise Andre Taylor into action hoping that it leads to a more inclusive society, while improving the lives of Robert A. Wason IV people with physical disability. Joel Welker We cannot do this work alone. Our participants, donors, volunteers, Board and Linda Wilder Junior Board, partnering organizations, the community as a whole and the amazing Terri Q. Williams staff of Lakeshore Foundation are all essential ingredients of what we do. To you all, a Peter T. Worthen, Chair heartfelt thanks. Fred Sington (in memoriam) Jeff Underwood President, Lakeshore Foundation ACTIVITY RESEARCH ADVOCACY FROM THE PRESIDENT SOARING SPIRIT VOL 10 2016 is published by Lakeshore Foundation to WHAT’S INSIDE promote opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities to live healthy, active ACTIVITY and independent lifestyles and participate Wheelchair Basketball Renaissance ..................................4 fully in the life of their community. For Lakeshore Life ......................................................................8 more information, call 205.313.7400. Paralympic Preview.............................................................18 CONTRIBUTORS: RESEARCH MARY ALLISON COOK A Conversation with Dr. James Rimmer ...........................11 DARCIE PLOWDEN JEN REMICK ADVOCACY DAMIAN VEAZEY Jerry Allred’s Perspective On Advocacy ........................... 14 LAURA WATKINS Stewardship & Sustainability...............................................7 Pillars of Support............................................................... 22 Make a Difference ............................................................33 LAKESHORE FOUNDATION 4000 Ridgeway Drive • Birmingham, AL 35209 www.lakeshore.org • 205.313.7400 Lakeshore Foundation WWW.LAKESHORE.ORG 205.313.7400 1 ACTIVITY RESEARCH ADVOCACY Although there are many facets to Lakeshore Foundation, we are woven together by a shared mission and purpose — to serve individuals with physical disability through physical activity, research and advocacy and policy. We continually strive to maintain balance among our programs, honoring our past while welcoming the opportunities of the present and future. Lakeshore Foundation WWW.LAKESHORE.ORG 205.313.7400 3 WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL Renaissance a multi-functional facility home to walkers, everyone in between. Still Thriving runners and cyclists during the day; In 1974, before the birth of Lakeshore after-school youth recreation programs Foundation, a local wheelchair basketball at 40 Years and athletic teams in the evenings; and team named the Birmingham Chariots was national team training camps on the founded. The team practiced at UAB’s Bell Lakeshore Foundation has always weekends. But at first glance, and at its Gymnasium and other recreation centers been a mission-driven organization. core, the Fieldhouse is a three-court, throughout Birmingham. Most venues were For 40 years we have created fitness, sunlit basketball haven. It is where the inaccessible and not welcoming to athletes recreation and athletic opportunities for Paralympic agitos and Olympic rings hang with a disability. Mike Stephens, the individuals with a physical disability or above the hardwood and 37 nations’ flags executive director of Lakeshore Hospital, chronic health conditions. While keeping face Lakeshore’s championship banners was one of the Chariots’ first players and our focused mission, we have remained across court. coaches. He understood the importance multi-dimensional in our approach. Our of sport in the rehabilitation process and facilities and programs are as diverse as our fought to create a sport and recreation members and offer a vast array of new and IT ALL STARTED WITH facility designed specifically for individuals ever changing opportunities for physical WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL Wheelchair basketball laid the with a disability. In 1978 Stephens met activity. foundation for Lakeshore - not just the with Governor George Wallace, who had Inside Lakeshore’s main facility, there facility, but our mission. Now, more than recently sustained a spinal cord injury, and is one prominent space that reminds us 40 years since inception, Lakeshore’s secured the funds to build Lakeshore’s first where Lakeshore began and how far it wheelchair basketball program continues sport and recreation facility. has come. The HealthSouth Fieldhouse, to grow and provide opportunities for our On June 15, 1981, the George C. Wallace named in recognition of a generous gift youngest to our most veteran athletes and Recreation Center opened and ushered in from HealthSouth Corporation in 2009, is 4 SOARING SPIRIT 2016 ACTIVITY athletes moved to Birmingham, and youth Miles Thompson, long-time coach of the programs developed young, local players. Lakeshore Lakers, as head coach. Four By the late ‘90s, Lakeshore had four years later, former Lakeshore player Jared wheelchair basketball teams. The Pioneers, Rehm, began a wheelchair basketball now called the Storm, had enough players program at Auburn University. By 2010, to field two adult teams. The National Lakeshore was infused in all levels of Wheelchair Basketball Association wheelchair basketball in the state, and (NWBA) Junior Division gained two teams young players saw an opportunity to take in the Prep (6 to 12 year-olds) and Varsity their game and their education to the next (13 to 18 year-olds) Division with the level. Lakeshore Sharks and Lakers. Rashad Bennett was one of those With the completion of the new athletes. Bennett rolled into the Lakeshore Lakeshore facility in 2001, Lakeshore Fieldhouse in the fall of 2008, and the wheelchair basketball was on top and wheelchair basketball coaching staff continued hosting the Pioneer Classic, grinned widely. Big enough to compete on the longest running wheelchair basketball the 10’ Varsity roster but age-eligible for tournament in the nation. In 2001 Prep, he was a perfect fit for wheelchair the Lakers and Storm won the NWBA basketball. Even larger than his physical National Championship in their respective presence was his passion for basketball. divisions. The year 2003 brought another Bennett spent every Saturday in the gym national championship for the Storm working on his shooting and chair skills, and the Sharks’ first title. Once again, a but he quickly realized that his basketball talented roster led the Lakers to a national skills alone would not help him achieve championship in 2006. his