| The
Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility Funds Committee presented a check
to Teddy's Star — A Foundation for Hope at the BB&T Bank building in
Anniston on Tuesday. Participating in the check presentation were, from
left, Teddy's Star Advisory Committee member Jack Thrasher, foundation
board member George H. Deyo, foundation President Mary M. McLaughlin, Steve
Bragg of Westinghouse Anniston, foundation Executive Vice President of
the Board of Directors David E. Lindquist and Chip Burson, associate director,
Corporate Research & Development Alliances, Office of Research, Vanderbilt
University. Photo: Special to The Star
Ten
years after its launch, an Anniston-based foundation to improve the lives
of paralyzed and other disabled persons, has received a financial shot
in the arm.
Teddy's
Star — A Foundation for Hope received $2,500 from Westinghouse, operators
of the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility.
Mary
M. McLaughlin, president of the foundation and mother of the young man
for whom the group is named, accepted the check in the offices of BB&T
bank Tuesday morning. Teddy died in an automobile accident in July 1999;
the foundation was launched in November of that year.
Presented
on behalf of 850 employees of the chemical weapons incinerator, the gift
is being counted as something of a "re-infusion of energy" for the foundation
after some years of relative inactivity.
Foundation
officials concede that at the moment their strong suit is their network
of expertise, not a sizeable bank account. The foundation's advisory committee
is national in scope, but the donation Tuesday was seen as the kickoff
to a million-dollar goal that will enable the foundation to fulfill its
mission.
"That's
why this first new gift is so important," said Chip Burson of Vanderbilt
University Medical Center. Burson is an advisor to the foundation, having
become acquainted with the McLaughlin family around five years ago through
his work with Auburn University's canine training program at McClellan.
Representing
Westinghouse, Steve Bragg said his company usually doesn't get involved
with charitable foundations, but "was very impressed" with the foundation's
mission and leadership.
Edward
D. McLaughlin Jr., Teddy's father, is chairman of the 501(c)3 foundation,
which is incorporated in Delaware with offices in Anniston. It has a volunteer
staff and intends to keep administrative costs at 10 percent.
Its
donations will be used for specific known cases, Burson said.
"We're
not going to call upon resources until we have some demand from clients,"
he said.
The
foundation's mission is to provide assistive technology to people with
disabilities who are unable to afford them. The devices and systems help
people with paralysis or similar physical disabilities live more independently. |
