2011 Winning Team Saint Mary's University Cardinal Virtue

Winona ORC Spelling Bee was a Buzz-tacular Event!

Nineteen teams vied for the championship title at the 18^th annual Winona ORC/Winona Radio Corporate Spelling Bee held at Bubs Brewery on March 23rd. Saint Mary’s University battled it out with Hiatt Manufacturing in a dueling spell-off; for the sixth year running, Saint Mary’s won the Bee. Awards were given to Peerless Chain for the Best Team Costume and Winona Radio for the Best Team Name with Team Bee-Ber Fever. The event raised over $3,000 for Winona ORC’s mission of providing job opportunities to people with disabilities.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) awarded $85,000 to Winona ORC as part of the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program for Capacity Building. Over a one year period, Winona ORC will develop a safety training program to more effectively reach their diverse employee population.

Winona ORC Director of Development, Mandi Householder, states; “This grant will allow us to develop trainings specific to the population we serve; people with disabilities. Lack of resources has hindered our ability to develop a specialized program, but this grant will give us the resources we need to build on what currently exists. We are very excited and grateful for this opportunity!”

Winona ORC is a non-profit organization that provides job opportunities to over 310 people on a daily basis in Southeast Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.

In 1996, Kevin was 28 years old, married, and had two small children. He worked as a farmer, volunteered as a firemen, and was a licensed EMT. One accidental fall that year changed his life forever.

Kevin was climbing up to the roof of his home to repair a satellite dish when he fell off the ladder. This fall resulted in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and he was given a 1% chance of living. After surviving the initial injury, he languished in a coma for seven months. If he overcame the coma, the doctors expected total memory loss without the ability to walk.

Fourteen years later, Kevin has overcome overwhelming odds. Kevin not only walks but has the ability to drive a car. He does have slight memory loss, but Kevin has learned to make adjustments to compensate. Winona ORC has played a role in Kevin’s recovery, helping him expand his vocational skills and providing him work opportunities. Kevin now works four days a week at Winona ORC, always eager to work and proud of his contributions. As a result of the TBI, Kevin will always face challenges. He will continue to strive to overcome them through hard work, determination, and from the support he receives from Winona ORC.

TBI Statistics

Traumatic brain injuries have a broad base of symptoms and are very complex. Of the 310 people Winona ORC serves, 5% of the population have a TBI. Our services help people succeed at employment when their disabilities hinder their abilities.

From the Center of Disease Control and Prevention:

• 1.7 million people sustain a TBI annually
• TBI is the third largest contributing factor of injury-related deaths
• Males are more commonly diagnosed with a TBI - 59%
• Falls are the leading cause of a TBI - 35%

A Record Golf Outing Fundraiser

Pictured here is Mandi Householder with Donna Kleinschmidt, winner of the GPS.

Fifteen volunteer community members, led by Kevin O’Reilly of Peerless Chain and Shelly Leaf of Bub’s Brewery, helped organize and raise over $30,000 for Winona ORC for their 11th annual golf outing. Major sponsors included five local companies; Fastenal, MBM Logistics, McDonald’s of Winona, Peerless Industrial Group, and Winona National Bank. The Fastenal team took first place with a score of (12) under. Highlights of this year’s event included a margarita booth and a ‘throw the club’ hole game. Proceeds support Winona ORC’s mission of providing job opportunities to people with disabilities.

Raffle

The Winona ORC 3rd annual Kayak and More Raffle raised $3,600 and will support job opportunities for people with disabilities.

Congratulations to the following winners!

• 1st prize)We-No-Nah Kayak; Rinaldo DiCenzo
• 2nd prize) Timberwolves tickets; Kjersti Anderson
• 3rd prize) Car Starter with Installation; Marty Darst
• 4th prize) GPS; Donna Kleinschmidt