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Mississippi RiverKings celebrate St. Patty’s day with United Cerebral Palsy of the Mid-South
UCP of the Mid-South is turning over a new leaf in terms of our community events, and the RiverKings game is just the beginning.
The Mississippi RiverKings will share an evening of hockey and an Irish celebration with the families of United Cerebral Palsy of the Mid-South during the Tuesday, March 17th game against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.
United Cerebral Palsy (U.C.P.), the RiverKings’ featured nonprofit organization for the 17th game, is a community-focused, not-for-profit agency dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with various disabilities and their families. Currently in the Mid-South, over 130,000 individuals are challenged each day by disability. As the primary source of information, programs and resources for this group, U.C.P. of the Mid-South is dedicated to providing these individuals a life without limits.
Such has been the case for 9-year-old Kabel Grammer, who will be the face of U.C.P. of the Mid-South at the St. Patrick’s Day game. Grammer was born 16 weeks premature and developed a brain bleed from the amount of oxygen doctors had to give him in order to help him breathe. This bleed is what caused Grammer to have cerebral palsy—he was diagnosed when he was four-and-a-half.
“Kabel wasn’t ‘officially’ diagnosed with CP until he was 4 ½ years-old,” said Erika Grammer, Kabel’s mother. “At this point, we were ‘in between’ insurance coverage’s, and though Kabel could crawl ‘like lightning,’ I was looking for a way for him to have some support to be able to walk. I asked the doctor if he knew how I could find some armband crutches or anything of the sort, and this is when we were first introduced to U.C.P.”
U.C.P. of the Mid-South works hard to ensure that all people with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in lifestyles that enable them to live in their own community—for Kabel Grammer that meant assistance in finding the means in which he could walk.
“I wish I had thought to bring my camera to capture the moment when Kabel first received his crutches from U.C.P.—though I will never forget the look on his face when he was able to take multiple steps without me holding him up for the first time,” remembers his mother. “That day I told those from U.C.P. who had helped me get the crutches that they had given him wings.”
In addition to helping families with disabilities with day-to-day challenges, U.C.P. of the Mid-South offers a variety of programs to serve both the needs of children with disabilities and also the needs of their parents or caregivers. These programs include Camp Livitup, a 6-week day camp for children ages 5-18 with different types of disabilities; Magic Moments, a program designed to assist children with a variety of disabilities gain confidence and improve gross and fine motor skills while experiencing the visual and performing arts; and a parent support group.
“At U.C.P. we deal with any age group and any possibility,” said Jordyn Matthews, Special Events and Marketing Coordinator. “Oftentimes, we are overshadowed by the larger child-focused nonprofits in the area, but U.C.P. is an agency that doesn't only focus on the needs of children; we also have several programs geared toward adults. The older age groups definitely need the community's support as well.”
For example, United Cerebral Palsy of the Mid-South has their very own Employment Training Center in which they help clients in the areas of job readiness, work assignments, job applications, job searches and job survival skills. Other adult programs include facility-based services, community-based services, personal assistance services and the A.C.E. Socialization Club that meets once a month for group interaction and a chance to build meaningful relationships in a fun and safe environment.
The RiverKings game will serve as A.C.E.’s group outing for the month of March.
“UCP of the Mid-South is turning over a new leaf in terms of our community events, and the RiverKings game is just the beginning. In May we are launching a new disability awareness campaign, ‘Don’t Dis My Ability.’ We are really asking people to support this unique population.”
For more information on volunteer opportunities with U.C.P. of the Mid-South or more information on the organization, check out the Web at www.ucpmemphis.org or call 901-761-4277.
The Mississippi RiverKings are supported by their community partners, season ticket holders, fans, and by program-related investments of Maddox Foundation, an independent private foundation based in Hernando, Miss., to lessen the burden of the Desoto County government by increasing the viability of the Desoto Civic Center and promoting the long-term economic development of the community. The Foundation now uses the team in a variety of programs that increase investments in area charities and their causes.
Upcoming RiverKings games include Feb. 28, Mar. 13, 14, 17(United Cerebral Palsy of the Mid-South Night) and 21. For more information, call 662-342-1755 or visit www.riverkings.com.
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