The Advocate Summer 2012

The
ad vo c ate
a publication of
E
volume 1 issue 1
Summer 2012
nsuring Success One Person at a Time
Gatesway’s Transition Program provides necessary skills to high school students, enabling them to be
independent after graduation
When Marcus Orr wakes
up each morning to go to
work at Western Sizzlin’, he
is on top of the world. Not
because it’s the most
glamorous job, or one that
pays the most; he’s happy
because he earned the
position, and is using it to
better himself.
Marcus recently completed
a work adjustment program,
a program that Gatesway
has had since January.
“I’ve learned lots of good
things from the program,”
said Marcus.
Marcus is just one of the
many success stories this
particular Gatesway
program has produced.
“I’ve worked at Big Lots and
when I started working at
Western Sizzlin’, they let me
cook the stuff for the buffet,”
says Marcus.
I needed more hours
because I’m saving up for
welding school so they put
me in charge of the stock
room,” he said, smiling.
“Before Marcus was in
charge of the stockroom
it was a disaster,” said
Western Sizzlin’ owner
Roy Reed, “I was
ordering things I didn’t
need and couldn’t find
anything. Now everything
has its place and it’s 100%
better. He’s done a fantastic
job.” Thanks to the work
adjustment program,
Marcus now has the skills
needed to live
independently.
Gatesway offers numerous
outstanding programs to
help those with
developmental disabilities
live more productive lives.
“Before Marcus was in charge of
the stockroom it was a disaster...
now everything has its place
and it’s 100% better.”
-Roy Reed, owner Western Sizzlin’
TRANSITION: SCHOOL TO WORK
The Transition: School-to-Work
Program helps students with
disabilities who are eligible for
vocational rehabilitation services to
prepare for employment and life after
high school. This program is funded
by the Department of Rehabilitation
Services (DRS) and is a partnership
between DRS, schools, and community
based providers like Gatesway.
Gatesway provides:
- Work adjustment training to provide
students with skills to help them prepare
for employment.
- Supported employment to help students
in the second semester of their senior year
transition into permanent employment.
-Job development and placement
specialists to help students make job searches
more successful.
(above) Marcus Orr getting
food prepared for the
Western Sizzlin’ Buffet.
www.gatesway.org
Volunteer Spotlight
2
R
ick Chambers, Honorary Staff
As Rick Chambers walks
the Gatesway campus
each day, he is usually
greeted by friendly waves
and the occasional
“hellos” from staff.
Many believe he’s worked
at Gatesway for years;
however Rick has never
received a paycheck from
the organization. He
dedicates his time and
talents as a faithful
volunteer.
For three years, Rick
has volunteered at the
Adult Day Center on the
Gatesway campus playing
games, talking and
helping out wherever
there is a need.
“Rick has been a fantastic
volunteer,” says Kimberly
Deardorff, Director of
Marketing and
Volunteers, “he’s even
asked if he could take
specialized training such
as CPR so he would be
prepared in the event
anything ever happened
to a client; as far as I
know, he’s the only
volunteer to request such
training in the history of
the organization.
with the people here and
it makes me feel like I’ve
accomplished something,”
But why Gatesway? There
are dozens of nonprofits
in the Tulsa area that offer
volunteer opportunities,
what was so special about
Gatesway?
Chambers, a glass cutter
for over 25 years,
recently became disabled
and couldn’t bear the
thought of sitting home
doing nothing.
“I have a neighbor who is
developmentally
disabled,” said
Chambers, “It just seemed
like the place to go, and I
was right. I really enjoy
spending time here
laughing and joking with
the clients.
“I had to get out and do
something,” he said, “and
there really isn’t
anything on daytime TV,”
he laughs.
“There’s good days and
bad days,” he explained,
“but there’s a whole lot
more good ones,” he
chuckled.
“I love spending time
“I just love it here. It fills
a spot in my heart I didn’t
know I had. I was scared
to death the first couple
of days,” he said smiling,
“but I got over that real
quick. It makes me feel
good when I’m here.
If you would like to
become a Gatesway
volunteer, please call
Kimberly Deardorff at
(918) 259-1473 or visit
www.gatesway.org.
“I just love
it here. It
fills a spot
in my heart
I didn’t
know I
had.”
– Rick
Chambers
(left) Rick Chambers
volunteering with a
Gatesway client.
B
Fundraising
irdies for Gatesway
Izzy Gives Back to Improve the Quality of Life of Gatesway Clients
Isabelle “Izzy” Beisiegel is a special kind of
golfer. Not only did she qualify for the Canadian Men’s
Tour, she also is making a remarkable comeback from
Graves’ disease which sidelined her golf aspirations for
several years.
What makes Izzy so special however, is her kindness
and her faith in God. Many professional athletes are
selfish and wrapped up in themselves. Izzy is not.
While she is fighting to overcome her illness and rejoin
the LPGA Tour, she still wants to give back and help
others.
member she naturally wanted to support Gatesway. “I
see the need. State funding doesn’t meet the need so I
wanted to find a way to give to improve the quality of
life for some very deserving people”.
We wish Izzy great success in her comeback and we
hope she makes a bunch of birdies.
If you are interested in donating to the Birdies for
Gatesway program please contact Barry Maxwell at
(918) 259-1405 or visit our website at
www.gatesway.org.
Her faith and desire to help others is why Izzy
created the Birdies for Gatesway donation program.
Birdies for Gatesway started last year and she has
extended the program through this year’s Symetra
Tour, an LPGA qualifying tour.
Izzy is donating $5 for every birdie she makes on the
tour to Gatesway and she has invited other people to
do the same. The program is promoted on her
website www.isabellebeisiegel.com. Izzy got the idea
from other golfers like Cristie Kerr, and as a board
Photo by S
cott
Miller
Gatesway Feet on Fire 5k
Results
1st- Garret Morton 20:01
2nd- Gabe Sams 20:29
3rd- Jeff Lindsay 21:32
4th- Hunter Clabo 22:45
5th- Tom Linihan 23:41
Sponosrs
Presenting Sponsor:
Scott’s Trailer Sales
Other Sponsors Include:
John Brown Farms
Custom Gardens
Cherokee Casino
(left) Participants of the Feet on Fire 5k line up at the
starting line as balloons lift off in the background.
3
BalloonFest 2012
G
atesway Balloon Festival 2012
“Breaking Barriers” for 17 Years
Gatesway wrapped up the 17th Annual Balloon Festival, at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs the first
weekend of August. Thanks to you, our generous donors, more than $133,000 was raised to support the
programs and services offered to individuals with developmental disabilities served by Gatesway. Photos
provided by This Land Press.
Sponsors for the 17th Annual Balloon Festival include:
Presenting Sponsors:
Ameristar Fence Products
Fleming Building Company, Inc.
Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs
Activity Sponsors:
Saint Francis Hospital South
International Insurance Brokers
Zarrow Families Foundation
George Kaiser Family Foundation
CB Richard Ellis
Balloon Sponsors:
BlueScope BuildingsNorth America
Manufacturing Services & Innovations, LLC
Schwickerwrath Dirt Sales
Western Fire Protection
Valley National Bank/ Bank of the Lakes
Contributing Sponsors:
Senator Bill Brown
Don Carlton Honda
Reasor’s
ONB Bank
Coretz Family Foundation
Spirit AeroSystems
Samson Energy Co.
Other sponsors
include:
Scott’s Trailer Sales
TD Williamson
Langdon
Publishing Co.
American Waste Control
Premier Collision
Robertson Tire
Barbara Sicka-Hercules Tires
Mid-Continent Concrete Company
Pharmacy Alternatives
KraftTours
Envirotech Pest Elimination
In Kind sponsors:
Admiral Express
Urgent Care of Green Country
Rural Water District
Go Fresh
Highland Dairy
Martha’s Health Foods
TD Williamson
Hammett House
QuikTrip
Walmart
O’Rielly’s Auto Parts
Dick’s Sporting Goods
H
Client Successes
ank Denny - A hand above the rest
Never letting a disability stop you from realizing your goals
Breaking a horse is never an easy task, but for an individual with developmental disabilities, it can be especially
daunting.
Gatesway client Hank Denny is the proud owner of a blonde hair, blue eyed five year old Palomino horse named
Summer. Summer came to Hank halter broken, or able to wear a halter and walk beside someone calmly. Hank,
however wanted more.
Over the last three years, Hank patiently worked with his horse teaching her simple commands such as stop, go
and walk around the rider essentially breaking his horse.
Ask Hank about his accomplishment, and he beams with pride, “This is how I broke Summer,” explains Hank,
“First you lay down a blanket so that she gets used to something being on her back, then you put on the saddle
and finally you lay yourself across the horse so she can get used to the weight,”
Hank goes to feed, water and spend time with his horse weekly. He also enjoys purchasing the supplies needed
to properly care for his companion animal, achieving beyond what most have expected. Hank is an excellent
example of someone not allowing your limitations to stop you from realizing your goals.
Hank Denny riding his horse
Summer
5
6
News
W
hy I Give
2012 Board of
Directors
Ray Miller, President Fleming Building Company, Inc.
I believe in Gatesway because I’ve seen how this program
establishes hope and promotes joy in the lives of
individuals who strongly desire to contribute in their own
way to society. Gatesway provides the opportunity and
atmosphere for their clients to experience the tremendous
feeling that accomplishment of a job well done gives.
I give because state funding is not the answer.
I give because I have been blessed and because I can!
Gatesway’s Got Talent
Open casting call coming up soon!
Gatesway’s First Annual We’ve Got Talent was held on
Sunday, January 29th at the Broken Arrow Performing
Arts Center. There were ten acts, six of which included
members of Gatesway. Over 500 people attended the
performance and although admission was free,
audience members were given the opportunity to
make donations and several hundred dollars was
raised.
We’ve Got Talent 2 is tentatively scheduled for an
evening performance in January, 2013 and will once
again be held at the beautiful
Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center on the Kristen
Chenoweth Stage. A showing of the We’ve Got Talent
Show video along with refreshments will be offered on
an upcoming Saturday afternoon for $5. This will also
be the first opportunity to audition and get
information regarding the commitment of participants
including Talent Show stars and their staff.
For more
information
contact Will
Mott at (918)
286-7027
or wmott@
gatesway.org.
JOE COOK – President
Hope Church of Broken Arrow
JIM PACULA – Vice President
Manufacturing Services &
Innovations, LLC
KENT E WARKENTIN –
Treasurer
Quik Trip
SHAROLYN
WHITING-RALSTON –
Secretary
McAfee & Taft
GARY ARMSTRONG
Cherokee Nation
Businesses
DR. FREDERICK ARTIS
Tulsa Community College
BILL BIARD
The Hammett House
ISABELLE BEISIEGEL
Professional Golfer
TRAVIS BIGGERT
Nueterra
JIM BOZE
AVB
ELIZABETH CARROLL
Samson Energy
Company, LLC.
CURTIS GREEN
Broken Arrow Public Schools
RAY MILLER
Fleming Building Co., Inc.
SHELLEY CADAMY MUNOZ
Workforce Tulsa
DAVID PARRISH
Parrish Realtors
DEBBIE RUGGLES
Tulsa Transit Authority
A
Notes
letter from the C.E.O.
Hello Gatesway’s Friends and Family,
Across the years of our history Gatesway has periodically
published newsletters to help keep the people we support,
their families, our patrons and staff “in the loop” about the
great things underway at Gatesway.
I believe it is very important as we prepare for our 50th
year to regenerate that practice. The spirit that led our founder to step up and make
the world a better place for Oklahomans with intelectual disabilities is alive and
well. Incredible things are accomplished at Gatesway and I believe it is important to
share those with you.
What I am hoping you will take away from our newsletter is celebration of our
successes, joy in the accomplishments of the incredible people we support,
recognition of the dedicated staff who help make those accomplishments possible
and information about upcoming events and opportunities. As we continue our
journey toward best practices, please accept my sincere thank you for your ongoing
input, your support and you commitment to help us become the very best we can
be.
Sincerely,
Judi Myers,
C.E.O.
Holiday Season
The Holiday Season is quickly approaching and that
means Gatesway’s annual Holiday gift giving project is
gearing up to ensure the people we serve receive gifts and
a holiday party and dinner to celebrate the season.
If you or someone you know would like to contribute to
this worthwhile cause, please contact Gatesway’s
Executive Director of Resource Development Barry
Maxwell at bmaxwell@gatesway.org by phone at
(918)259-1405 or visit our website at www.gatesway.org.
ADDRESS
SERVICE
REQUESTED
Nonprofit Org
US Postage
PAID
Broken Arrow, OK
Permit No 1092
1217 E. College
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012
www.gatesway.org
Gatesway Events
Mark Your Calendar
Tuesday, September 11
12pm-1pm
Second Tuesday Lunch & Learn
Gatesway Auditorium
Broken Arrow, OK
RSVP Kimberly Deardorff
(918) 259-1473 or
kdeardorff@gatesway.org
The mission of the Gatesway
Foundation is to establish and
maintain programs and facilities
that improve the quality of life
and independence for the
intellectually disabled.
Saturday, September 22
Gatesway Chili Cookoff
Will Rogers Downs, Cherokee Casino
Claremore, OK
Gatesway Foundation
1217 E. College
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012
(918) 258-3900- Main
(918) 259-1493- Fax
www.gatesway.org
/gatesway
/gateswayFNDN