Physical therapist Kristin Tobin accepts a check from Mike Johnson, Past President of the Northeast Shrine Club. Seated are Bill Kutsch, President, and Chad Dennewitz, Executive Director. Standing are Westerville City Schools Special Education Coordinator Jill Fogel, Director of Special Education Geurdie Glass, and Superintendent John Kellogg.
Westerville City Schools Physical Therapist Kristin Tobin had two students on her caseload that needed a little extra help. She knew they could benefit from the use of adaptive seating like Rifton activity chairs, which are perfect for feeding, speech therapy, active learning and sensory processing challenges. On what she describes as a “whim,” Tobin applied for funding from the Aladdin Shriners Hospital Association for Children (ASHAC). They came through in a big way. On Tuesday afternoon, September 11, three representatives from the Northeast Shrine Club showed up to present her with a check for $4,868, enough to buy a Rifton chair. A grateful Tobin said the chair would help a number of pupils for many years to come.
Back in 1925, about the same time as the development of Shriners Hospitals, the leaders of Aladdin Shriners started a plan to provide treatment to qualified children in Central Ohio. This was the start of what was to become the ASHAC, a 501(c)(3) charity. The purpose of ASHAC is to receive, invest and disburse bequests, devises, gifts and donations for the hospitalization, care and treatment of children with physical challenges, irrespective of race, color or creed.