“A” is for Ability Experience

Welcome back, Lovies!

I have decided to participate in “The Alphabet Challenge.” This is a challenge that requires writers to make a post each week focusing on a specific letter of the alphabet. For this, I will be posting every Wednesday evening for the next 4 months! I hope that you’ll enjoy this and will participate in the challenge with me! This week’s letter is “A.”

“A” is for The “Ability Experience.” 

As you all know, I’m part of Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity as part of the Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Bowling Green, Ohio. There are many reasons to why I joined “Pi Kapp,” but none greater than our philanthropy. Pi Kapp’s philanthropy is helping people with disabilities through the Ability Experience (AbEx)! Our philanthropy began when

“In 1976, Durward Owen, then Executive Director of Pi Kappa Phi, called a meeting of the minds with the leaders of Pi Kappa Phi in an effort to mobilize the work force that was the fraternity’s undergraduate members. At that time, he approached a man named Thomas Sayre who designed a therapeutic play unit for children with severe disabilities. Little did they know that their collaboration would spur a philanthropic initiative that is, to this day, an unparalleled success in the Greek world. Ingenuity has allowed for The Ability Experience to develop premier programming for Pi Kappa Phi undergraduates and alumni. What started out as construction of Thomas Sayre’s play unit has evolved into nationally recognized programs that work collectively to promote a greater understanding of people with disabilities.”

When I was being recruited to Pi Kappa Phi as a re-founding father at BGSU, I admittedly made up my mind that I wanted to be a part of this and help it grow. As you know, I grew up with developmental and physical disabilities that are now “invisible” conditions because they are detectable to the naked eye anymore since I overcame them. I also work with people with developmental disabilities, so this philanthropy was right up my alley. 

Pi Kappa Phi has a lot of programs through our AbEx that brothers can participate in to make a difference and raise awareness. 

One of the programs are Ability Camps. As many of you know and can read about on my blog, I participated in an Ability Camp over spring break in Guatemala. This was a 2 week long camp (1 group per week. I was in week 2) to help renovate a special education school in Santiago Atitlan. It was a great week that created so many memories and changed how I view the world. My decision to go was impulsive, too. At Pi Kapp College for Chapter Officers, where I was a proxy, I learned about the camp as soon had my delegation were introduced to the conference. Matt Sutter gave us an introduction and spoke to us about all the experiences that Pi Kappa Phi has available for us. I was intrigued by this and attended an information session the next day. Thereafter an electrifying pitch from Chris Shade, a BGSU alumni, I signed up. I signed up for two reasons. The first reason is I could help underprivileged kids in an underprivileged country. The second being that my brother had went to Australia last year to run for team USA and I needed to get out of the house and go international. It was a great experience to learn about another culture and be a part of it in some ways. It also took a great deal of courage and faith because most of us haven’t flown internationally; a few of us (me) hadn’t flown in a plane before that AbEx camp! I encourage everyone, whether you are part of Pi Kapp or not, to visit Guatemala.

It is an amazing place where one can truly experience humanity and unity. Along with the weeklong camp, Pi Kapp has many 3 day weekend camps around America. Fortunately for my chapter brothers and I, we have a camp 25 minutes from campus at the Sunshine Communities in Maumee, Ohio. I attended this camp in the spring during my birthday weekend with my philanthropy chair, Riley. The camp was a lot of fun and we got a great deal done. This included making and painting flower beds, painting offices, clearing out forest area, etc. It was a great opportunity to meet brothers from our general area such as University of Toledo, University of Cincinnati and Case Western Reserve University. Also, for BGSU, it was an opportunity to make a partnership with Sunshine for further events for years to come. 

Another program that the Ability Experience has to offer is “Build America” aka “BAM.” Pi Kappa phi defines BAM as “Started in 2003, Build America is a six-week team event traveling the country promoting accessible recreation for people with disabilities. From the construction of accessible amenities at camps to wilderness adventures with athletes with disabilities, Build America teams exemplify our mission better than anyone!” This is a great opportunity for those who like working with their hands and creating. I think this is also a great program because the work that is done will last for a long time and one can come back to the sites and see the structures that they have built. That aspect of it is much like seeing the stairs and painted classrooms that brothers and I did in Guatemala. We can go back or look at the pictures and see that they’re still there. I may participate in BAM at one point in my life.

Next up is Gear Up Florida. ”GUF” as we call it, it an 800 plus mile, 2 week cycling trip across Florida. Pi Kapp defines this as “Since 1997, over 500 Pi Kappa Phi men have participated in Gear Up Florida. Each year, the team raises over $80,000 to benefit people with disabilities. Gear Up Florida was created with one mission in mind: to reach out to as many people as possible across the state of Florida, spreading a message of acceptance and understanding on behalf of people with disabilities. Gear Up Florida has served that mission well by creating an event that is touted as “The best two weeks of programming The Ability Experience has to offer.” A good thing about this is that not everyone has to cycle. There are crew member opportunities for the behind the scenes work and some even give out internship credit! A benefit of this is, it’s right after school ends most schools (not BGSU. Thanks J-term) and one can get the experience of a lifetime and have the rest of their summer to themselves. 

Lastly, the program that we’re known for worldwide is Journey of Hope (JOH). JOH is basically GUF on steroids. This is a bike ride across the nation from the west coast to the capitol by 3 different routes: north, south, and trans-America. In over 60 days, the brothers will travel over 12,000 miles to raise awareness and funding for the development disabilities community. Pi Kappa Phi defines this as “ In 1987, one man’s dream of riding his bike across the country came true. What he did not know was the inspiration and motivation his trek across America would give to The Ability Experience. The very next year, his ride inspired The Ability Experience to create the largest fraternal fundraising and awareness event of its kind, the Journey of Hope. Today the Journey of Hope covers 32 different states, cycling over 12,000 miles combined; it is solely comprised of members of Pi Kappa Phi and continues to spread a message of acceptance and understanding for people with disabilities.” It’s the biggest commitment, but it’s the most rewarding. Like GUF, one does not have to cycle to be a part of it. My chapter brother, Riley, who went to the spring camp with me, joined JOH as a crew member and received internship credit through the fraternity for school. JOH and BAM are great if one wants an adventurous summer and love to travel. These two programs allow brothers to visit much of the United States and spend time in major cities and surrounding areas. Through that, one can appreciate the beauty and diversity of America.

Another part that makes the Ability Experience wonderful and meaningful are the friendship visits. Friendship visits are when we visit local development disability centers and spend time with the individuals. These are great because we feel the appreciation that they have for us for our contributions to their establishments and for awareness. Also, they love to dance and sing with us, so we have a lot of dance parties, as well. When I went to Guatemala, on the last day of work at the school, the students and faculty performed a mini fashion show for us. They dressed in their traditional Mayan clothing and performed a fashion for us and show us traditional Mayan and Spanish dances. After that, they allowed us to join in and dance!

When I go to Sunshine, the individuals there will yell out, “My boys are back! My boys are back!” It’s a real touching moment and humbling experience. When I first heard it in April, I was taken aback by it because I didn’t know anybody there and most of us didn’t because it was our first time there. Then I realized that the “My boys are back” didn’t mean me or us individually, it meant us as a whole, as brothers of Pi Kappa Phi and that’s what it’s about. 

That’s the Ability Experience of Pi Kappa Phi. It’s a great experience and I hope to continue to participate in it for many years to come. Fraternity is a lifetime commitment and I don’t take that lightly. If you are or know of any college men, please check out Pi Kappa Phi and learn what we’re about. It’ll be one of the best decisions that one will ever make! 

Next post we’ll be about the letter “B.”

Until next time!

DRG!