Joey Kortiac, left, battles Mario Romero from Michigan's fencing team at Crisler Arena on Friday. (Photo courtesty of Kristin Rueger and the T. Wall Foundation)
Former Michigan wide receiver LaTerryal Savoy poses with Jake and Taylor on Friday. (Photo courtesty of Kristin Rueger and the T. Wall Foundation)
Michigan cheerleaders Lakia Abron, left, and Leslie Tillotsen pose with Dan Koehler on Friday. (Photo courtesty of Kristin Rueger and the T. Wall Foundation)
by ANNARBOR.COM CONTRIBUTOR
annarbor.com
About 375 special athletes from all over Washtenaw County converged in Crisler Arena to meet and learn sport skills from University of Michigan student-athletes.
These 375 kids were given the chance to get close to the “leaders and the best” and to feel what it was like to be a Michigan athlete for the fourth consecutive year in cooperation with the T. Wall Foundation of Ann Arbor.
For two hours the children were able to knock around a volleyball, dribble a basketball, putt, learn a cheer and experienced a host of other sports activities at various stations set up on the Crisler floor. More than 60 Michigan athletes and Michigan Best Buddies gave up a chance to sleep in so that less fortunate kids would have the chance to interact with and experience some of the things a Big Ten athlete does. There were 15 sports skills stations staffed by two to six University of Michigan student athlete volunteers.
Best Buddies helped make sure that the kids, a group that included individuals with physical, as well as mental disabilities, had the opportunity to participate at all of the sports stations. One of the most popular stations was the football station. Michael Schofield, a freshman offensive tackle for Michigan, tossed the ball with participants, and found himself "downed" several times by nimble elementary school gridiron opponents. When asked how he'd been recruited to participate in the Victor's Day, Schofield smiled and said that a friend on the team had told him about the event.
Decked out in new yellow shirts provided by the T. Wall Foundation, the kids collected autographs on their shirts from friends the athletes. At the basketball station, where kids strutted their stuff shooting from the foul line, freshmen point guard and starter Darius Morris, along with sophomore forward Zach Novak, signed shirts, shagged missed shots and talked about their participation in the 2010 Victor's Day event. Novak is a regular volunteer, visiting both Mott Children's Hospital, as well as a local Ann Arbor elementary school. After the morning's sporting activities, the kids enjoyed a pizza lunch.
Mike Sweeney, a special education teacher since 2004 at Ann Arbor's Commerce Square/Central Academy, has known the event's organizer Tom Wall since the two were college students. "I've been doing special Olympic events for 30 years," said Sweeney. "Tom and I go way back. This is what he's doing in his retirement, and it touches the lives of so many kids.
"This is my fourth year at the Victor's Day," said Patty Lawson, a special education teacher from Chelsea and who accompanied the class she teaches. "Tom Wall is an amazing man, and this event is absolutely the high-point of the year for many of my kids."
Tom Wall, CEO and his son, Brent, president of All Star Driver Education, and organizers of the T.Wall Foundation, have co-sponsored this event with the U of M Best Buddies for four years. Pat Lesko, a mayoral candidate, also volunteered for the day. Event organizer for the Best Buddies and representing the U of M was Gabby Einstein-Sim and in kind sponsorships included, Conner O'Neil's , Bushes, Cottage Inn Pizza and photographer Kristin Rueger. (http://kcourtneyphotography.com/blog)
Tom Wall took a couple of minutes to discuss the importance of Victor’s Day and also talked about his foundation. He is proud that almost 95 percent of the monies donated to the T. Wall Foundation go back to the special children and their families. Last year the T. Wall Foundation received over 19 hardship letters in mid-November from the teachers of special education children. Although many of these special families are hurting, they have a lot of pride and will not ask for help. The teachers know better then anyone who is suffering during the holidays though so they write to the foundation. This past December, the Foundation purchased beds for several children, who were sleeping on a hard floor, provided gifts and other holiday items in order to make The T. Wall Foundation mission statement, “to make one day a very special day in the life of special children” come true.
In addition to the Victor’s Day, the T. Wall Foundation also organizes an event called T. Wall. B. Ball in the late fall at Greenhills High School. This year will be its 18th anniversary. All of these events are made possible by two primary events; selling pre-game hot dogs at the All Star Hot Dog Stand on Main Street at the intersection of Pauline, and a golf outing at Travis Pointe Country Club on Monday, July 19. Go to the Twallfoundation.org website or contact Tom Wall at tom@twallfoundation.org or 734-665-7374 Extension: 204 if you want to volunteer, donate or sign up to play golf. The T.Wall Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization.
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