This is a story that aired on OETA Public Television's The Oklahoma News Report in Tulsa Oklahoma as reported by Cathy Tatom and photojournalist Tim Carson. For more information or to contact us, please go to www.oeta.tv The verbatim script follows below...
TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES ALMOST COST NEARLY ONE HUNDRED DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED CHILDREN A CHANCE AT SUMMER CAMP.
BUT, ONE DETERMINED MOM HELPED TWO CITIES PARTNER UP WITH PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS TO SAVE THIS YEAR'S DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED ACTIVITIES CAMP.
AS OETA'S CATHY TATOM REPORTS, IT ALSO FORGED PARNERSHIPS THAT COULD PROVIDE A PERMANENT HOME AND FUNDING FOR THE CAMP.
FOR ALMOST TWENTY YEARS, TULSA PARKS HAS OFFERED A SPECIAL SUMMER CAMP FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED SIX TO 21-YEAR OLDS FROM THE CITY... AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
IT INCLUDES LOTS OF ACTIVITIES AND OUTINGS.
Sarah/Camper: "We go swimming and skating and bowling."
THIS YEAR'S DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED ACTIVITIES CAMP - D-D-A FOR SHORT - KICKED OFF WITH KICK BALL.
"They roll it to you and then you kick it."
CT: What happens next?"
nats:" When they get tagged they're out."
THREE WEEKS AGO, IT LOOKED LIKE THE CAMP WAS OUT.
THE RECESSION HAS DEEPLY REDUCED THE CITY OF TULSA'S REVENUES.
CITY LEADERS ARE LOOKING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET BY CUTTING SERVICES IT EASILY FUNDED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
ELIMINATING D-D-A DIDN'T SIT WELL ANDREW STEPHENS' MOM BECAUSE HE'S BEEN A REGULAR FOR YEARS.
Andrew Stephens: "I love this camp."
Susan Stephens: "I was very disappointed when I heard it was going to be cancelled. I was really difficult to accept that because these kids you know they have nothing else to do."
SO SUSAN STEPHENS RALLIED PARENTS TO LOBBY THE MAYOR TO FIND A WAY TO SPARE THE CAMP FROM THE BUDGET AX.
Mayor Kathy Taylor: "We had a great dialogue with Susan and other parents and Nancy Atwater our Parks Director and said, "You know what Susan, you're right."
TO SAVE CAMP THEY CAME UP WITH A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
TULSA PROVIDES SPACE.
PARENTS PAY ONE THIRD OF THE COST.
THE CITY OF OWASSO PONIED UP $5,000 SINCE SOME CHILDREN INCLUDING ANDREW LIVE THERE.
QUIK TRIP DONATED $20,000.
AND CONTRIBUTIONS ROLLED IN FROM OTHER CHARITIES.
Mayor Kathy Taylor: "The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation and the Maxine and Jack Zarrow Foundation."
SO CAMP NOW IS BACK ON... AT LEAST FOR THIS YEAR.
BUT EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO FIND PERMANENT FUNDING.
Nancy Phelps/Camp Director: "We really, really appreciate that the community stepped up and you can look around what they did made this made this possible."
"All the campers get breakfast and lunch with their camp. It's courtesy of the federal child nutrition program summer feeding program - and sometimes when you're out and about in the community some restaurants have even offered to do lunch for you - how's that?"
D-D-A WILL BE OPERATED BY THE BRIDGES FOUNDATION INSTEAD OF THE TULSA PARKS DEPARTMENTS THIS SUMMER.
BRIDGES SPECIALIZES IN WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED.
BUT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WILL STILL HELP OUT BY PROVIDE SPACE FOR THE CAMP IN ITS RECREATION CENTERS.
IN TULSA, I'M CATHY TATOM, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.
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