Right At Home Gives The Gift Of Mobility In Vietnam And Costa Rica
The World Health Organization estimates that 70 million people need a wheelchair but cannot afford one. Free Wheelchair Mission believes in a world where everyone who needs a wheelchair has one. FWM exists to provide the transforming gift of mobility to people with disabilities living in developing nations around the world — a gift that embodies in-home care provider Right at Home's mission, "to improve the quality of life for those we serve."
To date, FWM has provided more than 1 million wheelchairs to people most in need, and their goal is to provide the next million wheelchairs by 2025. Right at Home is committed to supporting FWM in this lofty goal. Since beginning their partnership with FWM in 2016, the Right at Home system has raised nearly $200,000 and improved the quality of life of more 2,250 families.
The partnership with FWM has allowed Right at Home to extend the reach of its mission beyond the eight countries in which it operates by hand-delivering the gift of mobility during FWM Vision Trips. Last October, a team of 12 Right at Home representatives from across the U.S. and Canada traveled to Costa Rica where they assembled and delivered 62 wheelchairs to a variety of inspiring individuals with incredible stories.
One such recipient was Ervin, a 35-year-old who was paralyzed after a tragic spinal cord injury when he was 18. With the mobility his new wheelchair gives him, Ervin now has the independence to go to the supermarket down the street for his family and can enjoy life's simple pleasures like spending time outside.
Last November, another team of 14 Right at Home franchisees, employees and corporate team members traveled to Vietnam, where they provided 42 wheelchairs to members of the community. Here, the Right at Home team met 61-year-old Guy. After a career spent working in jobs ranging from soldier, to sticky rice chef, to leader of the people's committee for the Van Lang District, she retired to spend time with family, but a motorbike accident and subsequent stroke left Guy with weakness on the left side of her body and a loss of feeling in her legs. Before receiving a wheelchair, Guy spent all her time doing rehabilitation exercises and therapy on her legs; with her newfound mobility, she is looking forward to going to the market and picking up new hobbies.
"We're absolutely thrilled to have found a partner that shares our global vision," said FWM Development Officer Georgia Kloos. "This initiative is really special and powerful, and we have benefited greatly from Right at Home's resources. The brand feels like an extension of us, and we are so grateful for this relationship."
"After such a memorable first Vision Trip in Costa Rica in 2017, we knew our partnership with Free Wheelchair Mission would evolve to be extremely special," said Right at Home CEO and President Brian Petranick. "The enthusiasm for this initiative throughout the entire Right at Home system has been nothing short of inspiring, and we are grateful to have completed our third Vision Trip as a franchise system. The backbone of our partnership with FWM is the mission both organizations share, and Right at Home franchisees and corporate team members alike are excited to continue making an impact on a global scale with Free Wheelchair Mission. We're just getting started."
Right at Home's 2019 goal is to raise $88,000 (enough for two containers of wheelchairs) for FWM to continue their efforts to provide the gift of mobility to those most in need around the world. Right at Home invites the public to help the in-home care provider achieve its goal. To get involved, join Right at Home's fundraising team and learn about the Right at Home and Free Wheelchair Mission partnership here.
ABOUT RIGHT AT HOME
Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care and assistance to seniors and adults with a disability who want to continue to live independently. Local Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff, each of whom is thoroughly screened, trained, and bonded/insured prior to entering a client's home. Right at Home's global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with more than 500 franchise locations in the U.S. and seven other countries. Right at Home is the highest-ranked senior care franchise opportunity on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 list in 2018, coming in at No. 49 overall. In 2018, Forbes Magazine ranked Right at Home the No. 1 franchise to own under $150,000. For more information on Right at Home, visit About Right at Home at http://www.rightathome.net/about-us or read the Right at Home franchising blog at http://www.rightathomefranchise.com/blog/. To learn more about franchising opportunities, please visit http://www.rightathomefranchise.com/.
ABOUT FREE WHEELCHAIR MISSION
Free Wheelchair Mission is a humanitarian, faith-based, nonprofit organization that provides wheelchairs at no cost to people with disabilities living in developing nations. In collaboration with a network of like-minded partners, FWM has been providing wheelchairs to those in need around the world since 2001, providing dignity, independence and hope through the gift of mobility. Free Wheelchair Mission will be a leading provider of mobility, transforming the lives of 2 million people with physical disabilities by the end of 2025.