Columnist Susan Snyder: Foundation puts wheels in motion

Tuesday, July 6, 2004 | 8:07 a.m.

Edna Brann got some new wheels last week through the generosity of one of the men who owns the classic-car collection at Imperial Palace.

It wasn't a car, but a wheelchair. And the 85-year-old Las Vegas widow received it absolutely free from the Nevada chapter of the Wheelchair Foundation. The chapter is bankrolled by Don Williams, co-owner of the car collection, and run by his brother John Williams, the chapter's executive director.

John Williams was at the Las Vegas Golf Club on Thursday morning, where members of the Las Vegas Breakfasters Lions Club presented Brann with her new chair. Brann is one of six wheelchair recipients the club has located in the past three months.

"We cannot do this without service clubs," Williams told the group shortly before the presentation. "We have wheelchairs, but we can't get the word out. We need you to get the word out."

The Nevada charity gives free wheelchairs to those who meet three criteria: they live in Nevada; they have a permanent physical need for a chair, and they cannot afford to purchase one, Williams said.

The foundation was started with a donation of 3,000 brand-new chairs from Ralph Englestad, the late Imperial Palace owner.

An occasional $150 donation purchases a new chair, Williams said. But the foundation and its inventory is mostly supported by Williams' brother Don.

"My salary comes out of my brother's pocket," John Williams said. "We're not funded by any grants. All the money was raised by Mr. Englestad and my brother."

On Thursday morning Lions Club President Roy Madison peeled the cellophane from the wheels of Brann's new folding chair and opened the chair up.

Brann took her seat and just beamed. Her old wheeled walker stood against the wall.

"My friend told me I should get a wheelchair. She said she wouldn't mind pushing me around the stores," Brann said. "I'll spend more money because now I can walk up and down the aisles."

And she giggled.

"It's just the look on their faces when they sit in it," Madison said. "They light right up."

Williams said he contacted Gov. Kenny Guinn, who declared Sept. 25 "Wheelchair Foundation Day." The organization will use that day to kick off a two-day fund-raising festival at Henderson's Hot Rod Grille that will include wheelchair races, a silent auction and car show. A local car dealership also is building a "monster wheelchair" with a motor for the event, Williams said.

He hopes the festival will not only raise money, but also the public's awareness. Williams is certain there are people out there who need chairs but don't know they can obtain them for free.

Claudette Madison, Roy's wife and a Lions board member, said it's a great feeling to see someone sit in one of the new chairs and realize they have gained some freedom.

"I remember one lady who sat down, and this grin spread across her face," Madison said. "She looked at her husband and said, 'Take me to Wal-Mart!' "

If you need a wheelchair or know someone who does, call toll-free (800) 851-3706 or log onto www.wheelchairsfornevada.org.