| What do
Costa Rican tropical rainforests; refugees, cerebral palsy patients,
David Hasselhoff of Bay Watch fame, and Cuesta College have in
common? In December, our very own publications coordinator/staff
photographer Stephan Gunsaulus was a volunteer for the International
charity Wheels for Humanity. The organization provides custom fitted
wheel chairs, for primarily pediatric cerebral palsy patients
throughout the world. |
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Gunsaulus lent his talents as an accomplished still and video
photographer to Wheels for Humanity to help develop promotional
media for print and television. "This trip changed my life, I
had no idea what these wheelchairs meant to the recipients, or how
much work is involved in this type of effort," said Gunsaulus.
Working with an international team of physical and occupational
therapists, Gunsaulus documented the often-long process of
evaluating and fitting a high-tech wheelchair to address the unique
needs of the patients. He additionally filmed the actor David
Hasselhoff, a new board member of Wheels for Humanity, for PSAs that
will be used by the charity. Additionally, Gunsaulus has scheduled a
series of image intensive presentations for local service groups to
extol the virtues of volunteerism and the nature of the work
performed by Wheels for Humanity.
As a member of the Hispanic community, Gunsaulus feels strongly
about helping developing countries in North America and he has
arranged to get space in a wheelchair shipment to deliver much
needed computers to the Costa Rican schools. "I was told by
former school teachers that a typical Costa Rican school of 1,000
students might have two to three computers, " said Gunsaulus.
According to former educators in Costa Rica, the children need
computers, Pentium II or newer, to increase their computer literacy
and help prepare the developing county for the digital revolution.
If you have an obsolete computer, Pentium II or newer, to donate
(the donation will be to an IRS approved charitable gift) or are
interested in hearing more about the effort, contact Stephan
Gunsaulus at est. 3153 or email him at sgunsaul@cuesta.edu.
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