Article Contributed on: 9/16/2009 9:59:36 AM
Evergreen's Oktoberfest, scheduled for Sept. 20 at Evergreen Lake House, is the brainchild of Tom Hushen, owner of Bedrock Properties and Brad Bednar, Evergreen Lake House supervisor.
"We wanted to come up with something that would boost funding and sponsorships for the rec center and the special needs program. We are still accepting sponsors," Bednar said.
Hushen and Bednar said volunteers were still needed and sponsorships open.
Bednar said five different bands will play from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and designated driver tickets cost only $5.
For Maren Schreiber, fundraisers are a way of life. As special populations coordinator for Evergreen Park and Rec District, she said seeing the smiles of kids the district reaches through adaptive education keeps her going.
Adaptive education is designed to help kids and adults with developmental disabilities participate in sports and other activities.
"You can't believe how much these kids are able to do," Schrieber said.
The special needs classes offered at EPRD include as golfing and waterskiing in the summer and bowling and horseback riding in the fall.
New this year will be the Exceptional Excursion program, geared to both special needs population and typical kids as well. Trips to an aquarium and an indoor sky diving arena are planned. Details, including cost, are online at www.evergreen
recreation.com.
Besides treks with her special needs group that often includes up to 30 people of all ages, Schreiber often has fundraisers back to back.
On Sept. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m., the annual Dancing Under the Stars event will be at Evergreen Lake House, 29614 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen.
Admission is $25 and babysitting will be available at Wulf Recreation Center for $5.
Schreiber said it was a fun way for parents to get a night out, plus a ticket purchase will include a ticket to the Oktoberfest event.
Schreiber asked for people to bring crutches, walkers, canes and wheelchairs to both events to donate to the Crutches for Africa program that is sponsored by the Mountain Foothills Rotary.
EPRD Recreation Manager Ellen Stephan said due to the ratio of staff to special needs participants, the district always needed help to support the program.
"We always need money for scholarships for special needs. The district also is trying to promote a sense of community," said Stephan.
Schreiber said of the 30 families who are regulars at special needs camps and activities, nearly 25 percent had been hit with job loss this year, which caused some to cut back on visits to the program.
Schrieber said although fundraisers were time consuming, the joy that came from watching 17-year-old Kristina Halstead, who has cerebral palsy, sit on a horse and ride around a hillside made it all worth it.
Halstead's mother Susanne Orth, said, "We don't know what we'd do without Maren and her programs. For a small community, it's amazing. "
Kristina's father Bob said, "People don't understand the safety net that Maren's programs provide. We need help. A lot of people don't have family around here. We're fortunate to have her."
For more information about the special needs program at EPRD, visit www
.evergreenrecreation.com. For ticket price information at Oktoberfest, visit www
.evergreenoktoberfest.com.