MTB Special Report: Students Overcome Challenges, Receive Awards at UCP's Diamond Dinner

The Diamond Dinner, even when it's held on perhaps the dreariest night of the year, makes you feel warm all over.



On Friday, April 8, my husband Dave and I traveled to the Wilmington Elks Lodge to attend the 6th Annual Diamond Dinner, hosted by United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware (UCP). The cozy main room was filled with pastel balloons, an array of colorful tablecloths, and jelly bean centerpieces. Our friend, Don Moore (Director of the Client Assistance Program of UCP, Delaware), saved us seats near the food. He invited me to cover the Diamond Dinner as a My Ten Bucks Special Report.



Tashay (middle) with Coach Gail
(left) and Betty Pinkett (right)



As I looked around the room, I watched people embrace, smile, laugh, and ask about family members. I saw a few familiar faces - some of Delaware's biggest disability advocates - and easily got caught up in the excitement. Pictures of athletes ran on a slide show at the front of the room, and a podium, emblazened with the words "Brotherly Love", seemed poignant in the context.


The Diamond Dinner is an annual event hosted by UCP to honor local high school student athletes and bestow upon them awards and (in some cases) $500 scholarships. The event costs just $25 per person. Students nominated for the Diamond Dinner receive awards for their hard work through challenging situations - whether they be related to a disability or a family tragedy - or in some cases, both. 

Bob Reed and our friend, Don Moore
(Executive Director of CAP, a UCP program)

Before the dinner, I descended upon guests at random to find out why they were there. Kenn Gardner, a gray-haired gentleman, husband to board member Trina Gardner, told me that he had been a member of UCP's board for more than 15 years. He told me that UCP "really supports people with physical disabilities" and he is proud to be a part of the event as it honors outstanding achievements.

  

UCP Executive Director (right)
Bill McCool and Kaz Sortino

I used the last two minutes of cocktail hour to talk to Betty Pinkett, whose gold scarf caught my eye. What does the Diamond Dinner meant to her? I thought I saw a tear in her eye. "This is my first time at the dinner," she said, "I'm here with my granddaughter Tashay [Shay], nominated by her coach, Gail Morris. She's had a hard past two years. In 2009, Shay lost her grandfather, then her mother within the month." Ms. Pinkett said she's been raising Shay and her younger sister. Shay has two brothers, being raised by their father. "Basketball's so important to her." I asked Shay, "Where are you going to college?" Shay's eyes lit up, "Del Tech," she said, "I'm going for nursing." I wished her good luck in her studies as I heard the master of ceremonies begin.



Mark VanderHaar of WDEL/WSTW mc'd the event. He soon introduced Donna Hopkins, President of UCP, and afterward, we were treated to the Delaware Military Academy Color Guard and a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner sung by Vernita Dorsey. Next came Kaz Sortino, himself an alumnus of the Diamond Dinner, a senior student at the Delaware Military Academy, and a counselor at UCP's Camp Monito. Kaz was an excellent speaker, especially for his age. I was jealous, having struggled with a terrible fear of public speaking since I can remember. Kaz, a cross country runner with cerebral palsy, has volunteered with UCP for more than five years. During his speech, he encouraged the nominees "to take the same drive you have for sports and pour it into something else... and the world will be a better place." He looked around the room, "You're special, you're uniqure and you have what it takes."



Five of the seven Award Winners





 Here's a list of the 2011 Award Winners. 

$500 Victory Scholarship Award

Ian Day, 12th grade, Sussex Tech HS

Amanda Gustafson, 9th grade, Christiana HS

Sarah Hoye, 11th grade, Smyrna HS

Profile in Courage Award

Zachary King, 12th grade, Appoquinimink HS
Tonisha Murray, 9th grade, Newark HS

Nichole Thomas, 12th grade, William Penn HS

Tashay Wilmore, 12th grade, Newark HS


Later, as I interviewed Kaz, I wished that I had been half as smart and intuitive at his age (18). He's been accepted to York College in PA to study early childhood and special education. He's the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. I asked him to tell me what UCP meant to him. "I learned a lot from the campers [at Monito], I learned patience." Kaz has a big goal. "I've watched over the years how the camp is shrinking, from eight weeks to six, then to four." At 16, he sat down with the Assistant Director at UCP and started working out how they could strengthen the camp. He and his friends were able to get a heater for the camp's pool. "I have CP, [with that comes] spastic diaplegia." I wasn't sure what that meant. He said, "I get shaky when I'm cold. Imagine the kids that are worse than I am." He's working on his own personal goal: to raise $5,000 for UCP's camp.



Immaculata University's
Christian Zwickert



UCP is doing big things. They have worked to raise $1.8 million for Garrett House, which is affordable, accessible housing for people with disabilities. UCP's motto is "Life without limits for people with disabilities." They want people to live their lives fully - with or without disabilities.

 

 

Christian Zwickert and the
Immaculata Lacrosse Team



The final speaker, Christian Zwickert, is the Head Coach of Men's Lacrosse at Immaculata University. Christian had a massive showing from his team; the whole right side of the room was wearing blue pullovers with the university's emblem. Christian spoke about his experience as the father of Collin, who has cerebral palsy. He and his wife struggled to care for their child with a severe disability with very little in the way of professional advice. He began a lacrosse tournament to raise money to help pay for his child's medical care. A most memorable donation came from a boy that sent $25.00 - two weeks' allowance - to help. (You know I loved that one.) Christian received great support from the lacrosse community, and dedicated a portion of the proceeds to UCP. He's been a board member of UCP since 2008 and is working to increase the tournament's fundraising income. He knows the value of UCP.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to cover the Diamond Dinner as part of My Ten Bucks. My husband and I met amazing people who overcame really difficult obstacles. Until you hear their stories for yourself, you cannot comprehend the strength that these individuals have needed to live a life without limits.



Esther & Katherine McCool



I personally feel that this is a worthwhile organization to donate to, and was glad to pay $50 for our tickets. Dave and I will probably attend every year. The best way to make you donation is to send a check to UCP at 700A River Road, Wilmington DE 19809.

Thank you, Don Moore and Bill McCool (the coolest name ever), for inviting us to meet the people who make UCP so special.

My ten (or fifty) bucks matters, and so does yours.
 
Photos by Corey S. Burris of "Picture That". Go to http://www.picturethatfilms.com/.