Jeff Behring

Sully Sullenberger Honored At The Wine For Wheelchairs Ball!

The Wheelchair Foundation is honored to have Wines For Wheelchairs partner with them in providing mobility for those in the world who cannot walk.

Saturday night several hundred people joined the Wine for Wheelchairs  group in honoring Sully Sullenberger  for his heroic landing of the US Air jet in the Hudson River.  A member of the group was so moved by Captain Sully’s heroics that she purchased an entire container of wheelchairs to be delivered to East Bay veteran facilities to assist with those who cannot walk.  Jeff Behring and The Wine For Wheelchairs Annual Black Tie Ball invited Captain Sully and his wife Lorrie, to be their honored guests in presenting this gift in his name.   What a night of moving stories and celebrating “Service Above Self”.

In June of 2000, Ken and Pat Behring, announced to the world that they were committing their time and resources to create mobility for those in the world who cannot walk.  They created the Wheelchair   Foundation as their way of giving back to the world that has been so good to them. From that moment, what has evolved is a partnership with Rotary International  to create matching grants for anyone who would like to donate a wheelchair to those less fortunate.  David Behring, Ken and Pat’s son, now is the president of the foundation and leads it’s efforts to provide a wheel chair for every person in the world who needs one.  It only takes a donation of $150 to purchase a wheelchair and the remainder of the cost is paid by the Wheelchair Foundation and Rotary International.  Today, over 750,000 wheelchairs have been delivered all over the world!

Over 150 million children, teens and adults worldwide are in need of a wheelchair but cannot afford one. In many developing countries, the only way for a person with physical disabilities to be mobile is to crawl along the ground or be carried by family or friends. An all-too-common reality is that many people stay in bed or the corner of a room for years at a time.

Wine for Wheelchairs was co-founded by Gordon Holmes of LookOut Ridge Winery, uses wine as a medium to purchase wheelchairs for those in need. They work with wineries including Lookout Ridge Winery  to host events, offer specials, and draw attention to the worldwide need for wheelchairs. On Valentine’s Day 2008 for example, Arrowood Winery  hosted a wine tasting, and all $6,000 in proceeds were donated to purchasing wheelchairs.  In cooperation with Lookout Ridge Winery and The Wheelchair Foundation, Wine for Wheelchairs donates wheelchairs to needy individuals around the world when you purchase their wines.

California’s most recognized winemakers have teamed up with Lookout Ridge Winery and The Wheelchair Foundation to use their winemaking skills to donate wheelchairs for needy individuals.  You know my love of great wines.  What a great way to enjoy great wines and also give back to this critical world need in such a dramatic way.  If you would like more information as to how you and/or your community can get involved in the Wheelchair Foundation project please contact me  and I will provide you all the information you will need.