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Jerry's kid addresses the Cupertino Rotary
Chris Lewis appeals for wheelchair money
By GEORGE MOORE
Jerry Lewis has been helping kids for more than four decades as national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, so it is only natural that one of his own sons, Chris, is involved with charitable organizations.
Chris Lewis gave a presentation to the Rotary Club of Cupertino Aug. 29 at the Quinlan Community Center--a pre-travel seminar for the 50 Rotarian members who are journeying to Texcoco, Mexico, in November to deliver 240 wheelchairs to the disadvantaged.
The club's goal is to raise $18,000 from the benefit, which will be matched by the foundation--enough to purchase the 240 wheelchairs that are bound for Mexico.
Lewis said he received a phone call last year from former Seattle Seahawks owner, Ken Behring, whom he has known for about six years. Behring told him he wanted to start a foundation that would deliver wheelchairs to needy people all over the world, and he would like Lewis to be part of it. Behring is the founder of the Wheelchair Foundation, a nonprofit that was launched in June 2000.
"I never expected for a minute that I would be doing something like this, but he usually gets what he wants," Lewis said. "He drafted me, but I'm glad he did--kind of like the godfather--he made me an offer I couldn't refuse."
Behring has that kind of reputation. In an article published last December in People magazine, a friend of Behring, Jack Drury was quoted as saying, "You don't say no to Ken. He will find a way to get it done."
Drury was referring to the goal of delivering 1 million wheelchairs worldwide over the next five years. Up to this point, almost 30,000 wheelchairs have been delivered to 74 countries around the globe, in just over a year.
Lewis accepted a position as director of marketing/fundraising and is based out of Danville.
"This is the most ambitious relief mission of its kind in history," Lewis said. "We haven't even really started yet."
Lewis said in the first month of operation they had requests for 160,000 wheelchairs--and no one really even knew about them yet.
"It showed us how great the need really was," he said.
Lewis said he believes the five-year million-wheelchair goal is reachable. He said the foundation is still in the early stages and that they are dependent on the manufacturer's to be able to produce them.
"We're finding out that we have a pretty good system set up for buying and delivering the wheelchairs to people who need them," Lewis said. "We've got all the mechanics worked out--now all we need to do is grow."
In order to reach its goal, $150 million is needed--the foundation must raise $75 million and Behring has pledged to match that amount.
Lewis said the foundation is working with Rotarians from all over the world, and Rotary International is the only service group they are working with. There are other corporate sponsors, including the Oakland Athletics, Chevron, Samsung Electronics and the Salvation Army to name a few.
The Wheelchair Foundation estimates 100-130 million disabled people need wheelchairs, but less than one percent own or have access to them. In developing countries, dependence falls heavily on family or friends to get around--others are forced to crawl or simply never leave their homes.
The Rotary Club of Cupertino will be hosting its Second Annual Western Elegance benefit dinner Sept. 9 to raise money for the wheelchair purchases. The event is open to the public and will take place at the Regnart Road home of Dick and Carolyn Randall. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a horse reigning exhibition, followed by a selection of fine wines and a "Best of the West" barbecue dinner.
Tickets are $150 each, and reservations should be made by Sept. 5. Those interested in attending the benefit or donating to the wheelchair project should call Jim Walker at 408.252.5780.
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Cupertino, California Since 1947
