WDSRA’s Hodgkinson a true champion

If you’re really lucky in life you come across a champion ... someone outside your family circle, outside the teaching, coaching or mentoring professions who literally shows you a different path. There is no way to tell a true champion from any other person you may meet walking your dog, attending a school play or shopping.

But someday, someone may ask you if you’d like to volunteer to help coach a baseball team or referee a basketball game or buy tickets for a fund raiser and maybe at the right moment you say, “Sure - I’d be happy to help.”

And maybe after 25 years of being involved with both children and adults and watching children grow to adults, you realize that none of what you have spent your time doing would have ever happened if a champion had just walked by and never said a word.

Through the 25 years I have been associated with Western DuPage Special Recration Association, my family has made numerous contributions in time, money and questionable talent to support whatever we can do to help this outstanding organization and its incredible staff of individuals be they full time, part time or volunteer. In celebrating 30 years with WDSRA, no one in our community has had a greater impact on educating, teaching and loving the rise to the top by making certain there is “Equal Fun for Everyone.”

For your amazing tenure and for your strength of leadership, for your dedication to meet and greet the hundreds of decision makers who write and implement policies, for your tireless efforts to find talent, raise funds and keep it all together to support your special needs family, I can only say best wishes — you will be sorely missed. Jane Hodgkinson: You are my champion.

Gregg Bettcher

Wheaton