September 16, 2007
When it rains, it pours! We have three announcements to make, and all are equally exciting...
* DELTA SPOTLIGHTS DARIUS! Delta Airlines has created a giant poster, entitled "Your Words, Our Image," that will go in every Delta employee break room. Its powerful message reads: "You are in a unique position to shape the public image of people with disabilities. Your words can create a sensitive, negative image or a straightforward, positive view of people with disabilities." The poster then lists 21 "Do say" and "Don't say" tips. And guess who's picture is on the poster? Sitting front and center, and surrounded by a handful of Delta employees, including our favorite, David Martin, is DARIUS WEEMS...in his pimped out chair! We are so proud to be a part of this. Thanks, Delta!
* DARIUS IS A HERO! Darius has just been named a recipient of the prestigious Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes! Each year, the Barron Prize honors ten outstanding young people nationwide. The winners, ages 8 to 18, are selected for "demonstrating leadership, courage and unselfishness to make the world a better place." You can check out the Barron Prize at www.barronprize.org. Thank you so much to Jenny Manders, who nominated D for this prize last spring, and to Mark Johnson and Martin Bashir, who sent letters of recommendation.
* DARIS GOES HOME! Hope you're sitting down for this one, cause it's BIG! An anonymous donor has given the Darius Goes West project a donation of $30,000 so that we could purchase Darius's family a house! Originally, this donor wanted to pay to have an accessible shower put in for Darius, but we told her that since his mom was renting, this wasn't economically feasible. Meanwhile, Daniel Epting stumbled upon a great house for Jamie, Darius, and Maraneesha (D's sister) while doing some work with the Athens Land Trust, so the donor gave us a sizable downpayment that has enabled the Weems family to be homeowners! Before moving in, Daniel and other local professionals will spend a weekend widening doors and making the bathroom totally wheelchair accessible.
This house is small (just one bedroom), so we have plans to add a second bedroom ASAP. Long-time DGW supporter Margo Barbakow (Santa Barbara) has sent a nice donation to help cover this, and another anonymous donor has provided most of the rest of what we should need to reach this goal. Of course, to keep these expenses to a minimum, we will need some of our "fans" to roll up their sleeves and help us get this addition built. If you have skills you think we can use, if you know someone in the building supply business willing to donate supplies we need, or you want to send a donation to this cause, please send an e-mail to knowaboutit@gmail.com.
Here's to good news, something we never get tired of ...and are ALWAYS grateful for!
Know about it!
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