Alpha Eta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order Teams With Veteran Non-Profit to Present Wounded Veteran With All-Terrain Wheelchair on Oct. 22
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fulton, Mo. ‒ Oct. 18, 2022:Life as Eric Jordan knew it changed forever in 2004 while serving in Iraq as an infantryman with the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division: The 2.5-ton vehicle he traveled in that day drove over an improvised explosive device, causing severe injuries he would never fully recover from.
A generous donation is about to make some aspects of Jordan’s life a little better.
Members of the Alpha Eta chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity at Westminster College will present Jordan with an all-terrain wheelchair on Oct. 22, 2022, during halftime when the Blue Jays take on the University of Northwestern – St. Paul Eagles at Blue Jay Field on Westminster’s campus. Kickoff is at 12 p.m.
The halftime presentation is part of Westminster’s Second Annual Military Appreciation Day, which centers on the football game and begins with a pre-game coin toss by alumni veterans serving as honorary team captains.
An ROTC swearing-in ceremony of sophomore Blake Fischer from Tipton, Missouri, will take place at halftime in conjunction with the all-terrain chair presentation.
The fraternity brothers are excited the College arranged for them to honor Jordan in a meaningful way in front of a crowd that includes Westminster’s President and Chief Transformation Officer Donald P. Lofe, Jr., and his wife, Lorraine, as well as individuals who have served or currently are in the military.
Alpha Eta chapter advisor Al Jenkins of St. Louis says the students earned the money for the all-terrain wheelchair entirely by themselves in less than a year.
The wheelchair, provided by a mobility program through The Independence Fund, cost approximately $20,000.
“They pounded the pavement, set up a GoFundMe and basically bugged the heck out of people,” Jenkins explains.
With oversight provided by Operation KARE, the fraternity brothers not only raised the necessary amount to purchase an all-terrain wheelchair. They also raised an additional $10,000 they are donating directly to various veterans’ programs through The Independence Fund.
Alpha Eta chapter President Enrique Fuentes says the Westminster KAs embraced fundraising for veterans as one of its primary philanthropic activities.
“Nationally, the Kappa Alpha Order believes in helping veterans, which is why Operation KARE was established in the first place,” Fuentes says. “Locally, we believe this effort shows how dedicated and hardworking our members are. We really wanted to do something bigger than ourselves to serve others.”
For Jordan, who will be traveling to the ceremony with his wife, Stephanie, from their home in Firestone, Colorado, an all-terrain wheelchair will allow the couple to go on hikes in the mountains together as well as go fishing ― activities Jordan has found difficult for nearly 20 years with his traditional manual wheelchair.
Fuentes says the KAs are all excited to meet Jordan for the first time and to witness what they have made possible. He adds, “We’re really looking forward to making a difference in Mr. Jordan’s life.”
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ABOUT WESTMINSTER COLLEGE: Founded in 1851 and home of Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech, Westminster College in Fulton is ranked prestigiously by U.S. News & World Report as the only National Liberal Arts College in Missouri. Westminster is listed as one of the top institutions in the country for economic mobility and return on investment, placing in the top 16 percent for graduate earnings with a more than 90 percent placement rate. Westminster also is a Forbes Best Value College that focuses on educating and inspiring students to become the world leaders of tomorrow. To find out more about Westminster, please visit the College’s website.
