Eastburn Shares His Story At 'Help For The Holidays'
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Born with no arms and no legs, Brett Eastburn, of North Liberty, also believes he was born with no handicaps. He believes a person is a success only if they choose to be and handicapped only if they allow themselves to be.
Eastburn, 26, will be the featured speaker at the second annual "Help for the Holidays," to benefit those served by the Cardinal Center.
Eastburn was born with a congenital birth defect known as Quadmembral Limbs Deficiency. As his self-esteem grew, his artificial limbs were put away. Besides using a wheelchair, he developed a unique way to be mobile using the strength of his own body.
While in school, Eastburn played baseball, football and basketball. An accomplished swimmer, he became a member of the wrestling team in junior high. In high school, he wrestled on the varsity team. He placed fourth in 1988 in the national wrestling competition with the Amateur Athletic Union.
He became a green belt in the martial arts after graduation and is an accomplished artist with national recognition.
Eastburn gives presentations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Okinawa and Panama. He has talked to more than a million students and adults worldwide.
Cynthia Pergrem, Cardinal Center director of development, said "Help for the Holidays" began when "Ramada Plaza approached us last year about partnering with us to do a fund raiser event, that event being a dinner and entertainment event."
She said during the holidays is a time to help others and share. And "Help for the Holidays" is "to help people realize it's more than getting gifts. It's helping people."
As for Eastburn, Pergrem said, "His story is such that he sees himself with no handicaps."
She said his goal is to be a motivational speaker and help companies' employees realize problems are "all in their mind."
She said the purpose of the event also is to help the community see that people with disabilities can be employees, can live in their own homes and can be productive members of the community.
Awareness of the Cardinal Center is another goal of "Helping for the Holidays."
"When it comes to our adult area, when it comes to the holidays, the people we serve here at the Cardinal Center have challenges to overcome. Sometimes those disabilities are hidden. Others are obvious. If we can just help corporations and (people in corporations) give these people a chance - a chance to interview, a chance to work, a chance to succeed," Pergrem said. She said the people served by Cardinal Center have dreams of being employed and of living on their own.
"With our children, we see children who need encouragement," she said.
There will be only 300 tickets for the dinner and they will be on sale until they're sold out.
"We're hoping they're gone by the first of December," Pergrem said.
Cardinal Center board members and premier and platinum corporate sponsors for the "Hole In One" golf outing will be recognized.
Cardinal Center provides a wide range of services for people with disabilities. Cardinal Center administers the Healthy Families and the First Steps programs, which receive funds through the Kosciusko County United Way. Other children and family services available through Cardinal Center include Kosciusko County Head Start and Women Infants and Children. All proceeds from the event will go to Cardinal Center Inc. to benefit individuals with disabilities and children with needs.
Sponsored by the Ramada Plaza Hotel, the event will take place Dec. 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Ramada's 2517 Restaurant.
The evening will begin with a meal served before Eastburn's presentation. The price of the tickets includes dinner prepared by the View Point Restaurant. The cost of the tickets is $35 for adults and $10 for children. Tickets can be purchased at the front desk of the Ramada Plaza Hotel, the Pill Box Pharmacies and at both Cardinal Center locations (504 N. Bay Drive or 811 S. Buffalo St.). [[In-content Ad]]
Born with no arms and no legs, Brett Eastburn, of North Liberty, also believes he was born with no handicaps. He believes a person is a success only if they choose to be and handicapped only if they allow themselves to be.
Eastburn, 26, will be the featured speaker at the second annual "Help for the Holidays," to benefit those served by the Cardinal Center.
Eastburn was born with a congenital birth defect known as Quadmembral Limbs Deficiency. As his self-esteem grew, his artificial limbs were put away. Besides using a wheelchair, he developed a unique way to be mobile using the strength of his own body.
While in school, Eastburn played baseball, football and basketball. An accomplished swimmer, he became a member of the wrestling team in junior high. In high school, he wrestled on the varsity team. He placed fourth in 1988 in the national wrestling competition with the Amateur Athletic Union.
He became a green belt in the martial arts after graduation and is an accomplished artist with national recognition.
Eastburn gives presentations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Okinawa and Panama. He has talked to more than a million students and adults worldwide.
Cynthia Pergrem, Cardinal Center director of development, said "Help for the Holidays" began when "Ramada Plaza approached us last year about partnering with us to do a fund raiser event, that event being a dinner and entertainment event."
She said during the holidays is a time to help others and share. And "Help for the Holidays" is "to help people realize it's more than getting gifts. It's helping people."
As for Eastburn, Pergrem said, "His story is such that he sees himself with no handicaps."
She said his goal is to be a motivational speaker and help companies' employees realize problems are "all in their mind."
She said the purpose of the event also is to help the community see that people with disabilities can be employees, can live in their own homes and can be productive members of the community.
Awareness of the Cardinal Center is another goal of "Helping for the Holidays."
"When it comes to our adult area, when it comes to the holidays, the people we serve here at the Cardinal Center have challenges to overcome. Sometimes those disabilities are hidden. Others are obvious. If we can just help corporations and (people in corporations) give these people a chance - a chance to interview, a chance to work, a chance to succeed," Pergrem said. She said the people served by Cardinal Center have dreams of being employed and of living on their own.
"With our children, we see children who need encouragement," she said.
There will be only 300 tickets for the dinner and they will be on sale until they're sold out.
"We're hoping they're gone by the first of December," Pergrem said.
Cardinal Center board members and premier and platinum corporate sponsors for the "Hole In One" golf outing will be recognized.
Cardinal Center provides a wide range of services for people with disabilities. Cardinal Center administers the Healthy Families and the First Steps programs, which receive funds through the Kosciusko County United Way. Other children and family services available through Cardinal Center include Kosciusko County Head Start and Women Infants and Children. All proceeds from the event will go to Cardinal Center Inc. to benefit individuals with disabilities and children with needs.
Sponsored by the Ramada Plaza Hotel, the event will take place Dec. 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Ramada's 2517 Restaurant.
The evening will begin with a meal served before Eastburn's presentation. The price of the tickets includes dinner prepared by the View Point Restaurant. The cost of the tickets is $35 for adults and $10 for children. Tickets can be purchased at the front desk of the Ramada Plaza Hotel, the Pill Box Pharmacies and at both Cardinal Center locations (504 N. Bay Drive or 811 S. Buffalo St.). [[In-content Ad]]