COVER STORY 29 JULY 2022 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition tion and a lot of people impacted by polio have mobility issues, including children,” she noted. As CEO of the Hughes Brothers Theater and matriarch of what USA Today called one of the world’s largest performing families, Lena Hughes said, “BRANSON CARES is good for the community. Branson represents hometown America and the values it has stood for.” Like many of the theater operators, she’s displaying a pop-up banner about providing the wheelchairs in her lobby and plans to show a brief video about the unique pediatric wheelchairs that are highly adaptable. Mike Patrick, General Manager at Grand Country Music Hall, which is home to eight live shows and a weekly television show, said he plans to air a 30-second spot about BRANSON CARES on their syndicated TV show, Branson Country USA. “With a potential audience over radio and television of 80 million, Patrick said, “if they all tune in, the television show may have a huge impact.” He added, “I love that Branson is always a charitable town.” The mission According to Mark Siemonsma, Hope Haven foundation director, “The Hope Haven KidChair can be sponsored for just $275, which is pretty economical. If you were to buy a wheelchair that could do everything that wheelchair can do in the United States, you’d be spending $3,500 to $9,000 per chair depending on the need. What also makes it affordable is that when we put a child in there, they can be from 15 pounds up to about 115 pounds, so it’s amazing the expansion we’ve got. It also bends and conforms to their body shape to make their life as functional and comfortable as possible yet gives them enough support. It’s really a spectacular wheelchair.” Hope Haven International, headquartered in Rock Valley, Iowa, and neighboring city, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is a Christ-centered organization that empowers people with disabilities to unleash their potential so they may enjoy a productive life in their community. Each wheelchair they distribute empowers a child to go to school, interact with their peers and participate in community activities. They’ve provided over 133,000 wheelchairs in more than 109 countries and are expanding their outreach in Romania. “BRANSON CARES could be an opportunity for people all across North American who go to Branson to learn about Hope Haven and possibly support the ministry,” Siemonsma said, “I think it’s incredible for the mayor, the council, the restaurant association, the theater association and the hotel association to get behind it. Now it’s in God’s hands. The impact Sheila Dutton, manager of The Dutton Family Theater and matriarch of the Dutton family, which has been performing together for over 30 years, said, “I was immediately on board with BRANSON CARES. I’ve had a long history of being affected by people in other countries who did not have mobility. We’ve toured a lot and seen, firsthand, people who have had to drag themselves around on the ground for all of their lives, and I’ve seen the joy and delight that comes to them when they get a wheelchair. The fact that they’re helping children who are facing their whole life, and families that have that burden of transporting their children in whatever way they can, was a big factor.” After having seven biological children, Dutton said their lives were changed forever when they adopted seven teenagers who were considered unadoptable. “This was not something we went looking for, but we were approached by someone in the music industry,” Dutton said. “It came and found me just like BRANSON CARES.” One of their adoptive sons was paralyzed from the waist down and had a very expensive wheelchair. “He passed away in 2014, but I always kept the chair to give to someone who would really need it, perhaps someone in Russia or Eastern Europe who were never able to get wheelchairs.” After being introduced to BRANSON CARES, The Duttons agreed to perform a concert in Sioux Center, South Dakota, for Hope Haven and she presented them with her son’s wheelchair, saying, “It was an answer to prayer.” She’s excited about the impact BRANSON CARES is making. “Whenever a community comes together – even if its just a segment of the community – giving of themselves, it creates a good business environment,” explained Dutton. “It helps to create a good community spirit. It develops friendships. In addition to that, Branson has these millions of people who come to visit, so it extends to our audience members as well. Those who feel moved or feel touched have that opportunity to participate. They may think it’s a small thing if they put $5 in a DipJar or a dollar in a bucket, but when that happens, we’re able to accomplish things in a bigger way.” Branson Alderman Marshall Howden, the grandson of Country Music Hall of Famer Mel Tillis and a performer in his own right, is the city’s ambassador to the shows. He said, “I'm thrilled that the Branson theaters are leading the effort in this philanthropic area to organize BRANSON CARES, so we can show that we are a community of faith and family, and we kind of put our money where our mouth is, so-to-speak, to help people around the world who are in desperate need of help. I’m seeing a lot of momentum for it around town, and it’s really exciting.” Branson, Missouri, will potentially be known all over theworld as the city that cares. BRANSON CARES at Branson’s Famous Theater, The Baldknobbers, starring the third generation of Mabe family - Megan and Brandon Mabe. Hughes Brothers Theatre in Branson, pictured - Lena Hughes and Bob Nichols, President of BAAMT.
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