Caprice Carlson and Ford Wilson named Hometown Heroes
Williams Comfort Air and Metzler’s Mr. Plumber are pleased to announce Caprice Carlson of Brownsburg and Ford Wilson of Indianapolis as our 2010 ExtraordinAIRy Treasures Hometown Heroes! These two wonderful people share the enthusiasm of youth… Caprice has youth in years and Ford is young at heart. Both have chosen to serve our communities in very powerful and long-lasting ways. They are without a doubt ExtraordinAIRy Treasures.
We hope that after you read about their passions, you will join us in encouraging Caprice and Ford by posting a few words on our Facebook.
Caprice Carlson
Share in her passion as told by her mother…
“… Caprice is an 18 year old girl 2010 graduate of Brownsburg High School and is now a freshman at Roosevelt University in Chicago pursuing a Pharmacy degree. Caprice is my Hometown Hero because of her work with Sheltering Wings, a center for domestic abuse victims. Caprice began by volunteering with Sheltering Wings and then was asked to attend a DVA (Domestic Violence/Abuse Awareness) conference. After attending that, she was asked if she would like to be on the Youth Council at the Shelter to help spread awareness to her peers in high school about dating violence. Caprice gladly accepted the challenge and worked with Sheltering Wings on the curriculum, as well as with her high school counselors to set up an entire day to teach her peers about dating violence. Caprice did this on May 13th all day and approximately 400 students heard what she had to say. Afterwards, Caprice received letters from many saying they appreciated her taking the time to teach them, and a few girls even broke up with their boyfriends because they recognized they were in domestic abuse relationships based on what they had learned. Caprice felt so much pride to impact not 1, but 3 girls who changed the course of their lives. Caprice has also been helping Sheltering Wings with their capital campaign for the expansion of the shelter. She has gone business to business to solicit for donations of money or in-kind building and landscaping materials. Additionally, Caprice helped with the recent End Teen Violence Battle of the Bands event at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds. … Children are our future, and I am glad this one belongs to me! Caprice is truly a Hometown Hero!
Ford Wilson
Share in his passion as told by Suzanne Mandel (Carmel Dad’s Club Special Sports Committee Officer) …
“The Carmel Dad’s Club Special Sports Program strives to provide an enriching sports experience for physically and developmentally disabled school aged youth, throughout Central Indiana. Our most notable and treasured volunteer is a man who holds no personal ties to the program himself, but rather is motivated by an altruistic passion to bring inspiration and joy to the disabled community.
Ford Wilson, owner of Carmel Trophies Plus, has been a well respected and long standing member of the Carmel business community for many years. However, equally important to him is his role as a friend and supporter of the Special Sports Program. Since the early days of the program, Ford has continually dedicated himself to giving these very special athletes a memorable experience, by creating a variety of unique, commemorative medals and trophies, to celebrate their participation in a particular sport. He felt strongly that all youth should be able to experience the thrill of receiving their own personalized award, and celebrate that proud moment in front of their friends and family.
… In the early 1990′s, Ford took his stepson to Akron, Ohio to participate in the Superkids™ Classic Soap Box Derby. He became hooked on the sport and determined to bring qualifying exhibitions to Indy so area youth could participate as well, and go on to race in the Superkids™ Classic. Ford currently serves on the Board of the Indianapolis Soap Box Derby Association, which sponsors many local youth to travel to Akron each year, including several youth from the Challenger Division as well.
… In 1997, inspiration struck Ford when he presented an idea to the Commissioner of Special Sports about combining his interest in Special Sports with his other great passion, soap box derby racing. The idea he proposed was to create a special Challenger Division of soap box racing for youth with special needs, an event which will celebrate its 14th anniversary this September. Ford knew what a thrilling and unique opportunity soap box derby racing would present to a group of physically and mentally challenged youth, who would not normally be able to participate in such a sport. With enthusiastic fervor, Ford began calling upon and recruiting friends and racing colleagues to assist him in bringing the Challenger Division to life. He met with local engineering professionals to design and build customized soap box cars that allowed for duel seating capacity, so a professional driver could ride along. These cars included a special Tony Stewart car and a new car added last year for the derby’s corporate sponsor, McDonald’s. He worked tirelessly to organize the equipment and volunteers necessary to transport the vehicles, as well as recruited both local and out-of-state drivers, who have come to share Ford’s passion for working with these special youth…
With each passing year, the Challenger Soap Box Derby, and the exciting day of activities which accompany it, have grown exponentially, to include professional announcers from radio stations, bounce houses, games, face painting and a visit from Ronald McDonald, to entertain the participants while waiting for their race. In addition, he also recruited the Tony Stewart Fan Club to donate souvenir bags full of racing memorabilia, which the participants adore. Last year’s derby featured over 63 area youth, who judging by the smiles on their faces, will never forget the wonderful day Ford has given them. These youth return year after year and look forward to the next derby before the current one has even ended.
Ford asks very little in return from the Special Sports Committee, taking on most, if not all, of the organizational responsibilities himself. Needing only the smiles of the kids involved to motivate him, he dives headfirst into planning the next derby before race day is even over.
…It is for his humble and selfless dedication to the Challenger Soap Box Derby, and the area youth he brings such joy to with this event, that we would like to nominate Ford Wilson for the ExtraordinAIRy Treasures Hometown Heroes award. His enthusiasm for giving these young athletes a thrilling and unforgettable day is contagious to all who know him, and will always render him an ExtraordinAIRy Treasure to each of the families whose lives he has touched.”
Caprice and Ford will receive their awards on Saturday, September 25th. Stay tuned to find out which non-profit organizations will each receive $500 on their behalf.
Thanks to all who nominated a Hometown Hero, “Liked” us on Facebook, followed us on Twitter, spread the word about this opportunity, and most importantly are following in the footsteps of enthusiastic service.
Please keep following us as we honor our teachers in the coming months. We will look to you to nominate a teacher who is an ExtraordinAIRy Treasure to our children.
