Sat Feb 11 2012
by Phil Keren
Cuyahoga Falls News-Press Editor
Cuyahoga Falls -- Zane's Foundation will host its first "Awareness for Special Needs Walk & Fun Day" on Sept. 4.
This event is being sponsored by Zane's Foundation, many businesses who have pledged sponsorship or baskets, the Cuyahoga Falls City Schools and the city of Cuyahoga Falls. The event will begin at Cuyahoga Falls High School and then festivities will take place at Laybourne Field at Bolich Middle School. There will be games, a basket raffle, lunch, face painting, inflatables and more.
Zane's Foundation was founded by Cuyahoga Falls resident Stacy Youssef in 2008. It provides financial assistance to families with children with special needs through grants and fundraising efforts for items like medical equipment, therapies and respite care/baby-sitting.
"We decided to have this event because there isn't an event that is for children and adults and their families with special needs in mind," said Youssef, who noted she hopes more than 300 people attend.
She added she hopes the event will bring about "some learned awareness from the general public."
Registration will begin at 8 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Falls High School parking lot located on Stow Avenue off Fourth Street. At 9 a.m., the walkers will be led by the police department with a walk up Portage Trail to Laybourne Field at 2630 13th St. The tail of the parade will be the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department.
Games and activities at Laybourne Field will include tattooing, corn hole, duck pickup, basket toss and ring toss, said Youssef.
"For the families that come, I hope they can come and have a safe and fun day," said Youssef. "I hope many leave with happy faces and that they want to come back next year."
Youssef said there are 24 corporate and personal sponsors, and there will be more than 50 baskets and gift certificates. She noted that there will be volunteers from Cuyahoga Falls and Walsh Jesuit high schools, but "we can always use more."
Anyone interested in volunteering should e-mail Youssef at stacy62@sbcglobal.net.
Pre-register early to secure free T-shirts at cjrmhanna@aol.com or call Cheryl at 330-928-5880. For more information on Zane's Foundation, go to www.zanesfoundation.org.
The foundation sponsors a monthly community meeting at Journey Covenant Church, 2679 North Haven Blvd., on the second Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. An educational speaker, the opportunity for networking and resource books are featured.
"Too many people look at special needs individuals as a drain on society and with the right education many can be contributing to society as everyone else," said Youssef. "This is why the educational community meetings were begun and have been ongoing."
To apply for assistance, write to Zane's Foundation at 2995 Bailey Road, Cuyahoga Falls 44221 or visit www.zanesfoundation.org.
E-mail: pkeren@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3940
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