Media Coverage

About Giving Your BestThe Giving Your Best Award honors people in our community who have made a significant difference in the lives of others. Award Recipients are selected based on their contributions to our community and ongoing efforts, above and beyond their job, to help others. On the first Monday of each month, Jennie Montgomery will feature the latest Giving Your Best recipient during the WJBF News Channel 6 at 5:00 PM newscast. The Giving Your Best Partners include, Georgia Bank & Trust, Solvay Advanced Polymers, Walton Rehabilitation Health Center, and WJBF News Channel 6.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

RECing Crew builds up special needs youths By Charmain Z. Brackett| Correspondent Sunday, October 26, 2008

Chronicle link
Rosemary Bradley regrets that she didn't involve her son Michael with The RECing Crew earlier. "It's been wonderful. Everyone is so nice and welcoming," Ms. Bradley said of the leisure and recreation organization for special needs adults and children. She learned about the program through Anne Comer, an adaptive physical education teacher in the Columbia County school system who is a coach for many of The RECing Crew's programs. Mrs. Bradley's 19-year-old son, a senior at Greenbrier High School, started programs this year. Pam Stickler started the RECing Crew in 2002 with one program -- a bowling league for special needs adults. More than 100 disabled children and adults now participate in its activities, which include the bowling league, basketball in the fall and baseball in the spring, a social group and a Jazzercise class. Most events are held in North Augusta, but participants come from Aiken, Edgefield, Richmond and Columbia counties, Mrs. Stickler said. Allison Meyer has been part of the organization for about five years. "It's fun," said Ms. Meyer, 23. Her mother, Susan Meyer, said being part of the organization has been good for her daughter. "Allison has made good friends," she said. Most of The RECing Crew programs are free or have a nominal cost. An annual spring fundraiser called Sweet Celebrations helps to offset expenses. In addition to the regular activities, there are special events throughout the year, including a visit with Santa Claus at Christmas and a kickoff event at the beginning of the school year. For more information, call Mrs. Stickler at (803) 279-8820 or visit www.therecingcrew.com

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Augusta Family Magazine\ September2009 Inspiration Station by Charmain Z. Brackett

Founding a non-profit organization wasn?t part of Pam Stickler?s plans. The North Augusta mother, whose 30-year-old son, Stephen, has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair, simply wanted to provide a social and recreational outlet for him. ?I picked bowling. I thought, ?If I get 15 kids, I?m going to be happy.? I had no idea it would blossom into this,? says Stickler, who had 25 show up for the first bowling match in 2002 at North Augusta?s Northside Lanes. Since then, Stickler has never looked back. This spring, her organization, The RECing Crew, received its 501-C3 status and instead of just bowling for 25 adults and children with special needs, The RECing Crew has a variety of programs with participation of more than 100 adults and children last year. The organization?s year runs similar to the school calendar with programs from August through May and a break during the summer. A Dearth of Opportunities in the CSRA Finding programs for Stephen to be a part of was never a problem for the Sticklers when they lived in larger metropolitan areas such as Chicago and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. ?Other areas had special recreation associations with after- school and recreation activities,? she says. ?You name it, they had it?separate soccer programs, movies once a month, dance, karate, swimming.? These areas even offered program guides with numerous activities available. But when the family moved to the area in 2001, the opportunities were extremely limited, especially once special needs children graduate and move out of the school system. The Programs Grow From the Alley Cats bowling team, which had 70 bowlers registered last year, came the second group within The RECing Crew?the Cruisers. The Cruisers take part in social activities. Members may go to the movies one month or to see the Augusta GreenJackets another month, but their favorite activities are the dances, says Stickler. Dances often have different themes including a 1950s sock-hop which featured an Elvis impersonator, and the Winter Wonderland Ball, sponsored by Grace United Methodist Church, in January. There?s also a Jazzercise program. With bowling, most of the participants were older than 21, but Stickler didn?t want to exclude school-aged children. More young children became part of The RECing Crew when the T-RecS (tri-recreational sports) program offered adaptive baseball and basketball programs and cheerleading. One of the volunteer coaches is a recreation therapist for the Columbia County School System, Anne Comer. She works with special needs children in the schools and has helped develop that portion of the program. Longtime North Augusta recreation coach and North Augusta City councilwoman, Pat Carpenter, also works with T-RecS.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ _

10 year anniversary

10 year anniversary
By Nikasha Dicks Staff Writer

Pam Stickler created the RECing Crew out of a desire to find something for her son Stephen to do. Now, 10 years later, the organization has grown significantly and provides leisure and recreational activities to about 150 members from Aiken, Edgefield, Richmond and Columbia counties. “They get to enjoy and have a lot of experiences,” said Stickler, executive director. “They learn something they can do and it helps build confidence. It makes them feel like they belong.” On Saturday, members, their families, volunteers and other supporters joined Stickler in celebrating the organization’s 10th year. The organization reaches out to those with disabilities and its programs include T-RecS, which consists of adaptive basketball and baseball; Alley Cats, for bowling; Jazzercise; ART-ability Studio with art instruction and music therapy; Cruisers for social activities; and it has a team that participates in the Family Y’s Miracle League program, which offers competitive adaptive baseball. Alley Cats, which was the nonprofit’s first program, began with an average of about 25 participants each week. Now, it averages 80 to 82 participants per week. For member Michael Bradley, it’s his favorite activity out of the several activities he participates in. “I have fun bowling,” he said. He enjoys and looks forward to seeing his friends each week, he said. Other programs were added over the years as families talked with each other and began sharing ideas about what else the organization could offer, said Stickler. Peg Monahan was among the first group of parents to get involved in the organization along with Stickler. Her daughter, Katie, like Bradley, is also involved in many of the activities. “She likes to get out amongst her friends,” said Monahan. Seeing it grow to what it has become has been unbelievable, she said. “Word of mouth is very powerful,” she said. “People hear about it from the schools, from reading articles in the paper, or from other parents and they pass it on.” The organization’s program teaches members life skills, said Monahan. “I think it helps them gain some independence,” she said. While there are volunteers and instructors involved in the programming, family input and support is very valuable and has also been a key to its success, said Stickler. “Our families have a say,” she said. “We share ideas. They also get very involved.” Rose Mary and Philip Bradley, Michael Bradley’s parents, have also been involved with the organization for the past several years. “We were so incredibly happy we came,” said Rose Mary. One of the important things about the organization is that the program’s participants are among peers and they get to enjoy activities without judgment. “They can be themselves,” she said. “They make friends here and most importantly, they’re not judged.” The organization has also created a support system for parents. “It’s like a big family,” she said. “We all get together and socialize. We’re also able to share mutual experiences. We’re able to network. It’s a good network for parents.” Looking toward the future, Stickler would like to duplicate the activities in surrounding cities and bring the activities closer to some of the members’ homes. It would also be a way to reach even more people and families in the area. “I truly believe we’re only touching the surface, she said.