The Children's Mobility Foundation

Ella's on the move !

2007-06-04T15:36:00.000-07:00

Meet Ella. At 8 months, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor (optic glioma) that left her PT/OT-involved, with unsteady gait and diminished strength. And, she is blind.

Ella underwent several years of chemotherapy and, in September 2005, a huge surgery that left her with no function on her right side, unable to walk or speak clearly. After her tumor quickly returned, Ella underwent six grueling weeks of radiation treatment at the University of Washington. But despite these challenges, Ella is coming back, stronger and more determined. Today she is in public school and reading Braille and counting on an abacus.

And now, Ella has independent mobility, in the form of a Power Pumper.

"She loves it," said her mother. "We took it out the next day around the cul de sac and one of the neighbor girls ran around with her. It’s just what I was looking for. Something that is low to the ground, so she can reach down and touch the ground to get her bearing, something that is safe and something that works her muscles."

Ella loves to go fast and the Power Pumper gives her that freedom. "I’m hoping to have one for her at school so that she can cruise on the playground or in the gym during winter recess," said her mother. "She came home from school today and wanted to ride it.

Given that Ella is blind, it’s great that I don’t have to worry about her tipping over. She’s run it up the curb and onto lawns. My only concern is whether my homeowner’s insurance will cover any dents she puts into parked cars."

Your donation to the Children's Mobility Foundation will help many other children like Ella.
Thank you for your generous support !

Markham Woods children receive a much needed holiday gift

2007-01-12T12:29:00.000-08:00

Thanks to generous donations during a holiday fundraising event, special-needs children at Markham Woods Elementary School now have a Power Pumper. This Power Pumper will allow several children with developmental and disabling conditions to get therapeutic exercise. The school budget was unable to carry the cost of a Power Pumper or like device.

The Children’s Mobility Foundation President Mike Jones and Development Director Heather Bohannon delivered the rider-propelled device to the Markham Woods gymnasium shortly before the Holiday break.

Click to watch a photo slideshow from the donation

The donation was made possible by contributions received during a Dec. 2 shopping event hosted jointly by Portland-area Toys”R”Us stores and the Children’s Mobility Foundation.

To learn more about CMF or become a donor, e-mail Mike or visit the CMF website.

Swanton Family Foundation commits $5,000 to children’s mobility

2007-01-12T12:05:00.000-08:00

The Children’s Mobility Foundation is proud to announce the generous support of the Norman F. and Elise I. Swanton Family Foundation of Greenwich, Connecticut — our third Legendary contributor in 2006. The $5,000 Swanton donation will be used in the Portland Metro Area to provide special-needs children Power Pumpers for therapy at their schools.

Norman F. Swanton has been CEO of Warren Resources in NYC since 1990. He and his family are known for their philanthropy and generosity throughout the country. Norman is a longtime friend of Robert Pierce of Portland, Oregon. Robert has been a true angel for CMF by professionally, financially and personally supporting our goals to launch the foundation.

Power Pumpers in the news

2006-12-19T12:31:00.000-08:00

Learn more about Power Pumpers creator (and CMF founder) Mike Jones in this news clip from station KSL5 in Utah. See Mike in his home town and learn about what inspired him while inventing the Power Pumper.

Power Pumpers help therapists, kids

2006-12-18T14:41:00.000-08:00

Power Pumpers are more than a fun toy -- they are a piece of effective therapeutic mobility equipment. Check out this video where occupational and physical therapists (and a speech pathologist) at Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital share their experiences using the Power Pumper.

CMF & Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital

2006-12-18T14:33:00.000-08:00

Watch this video to see how The Children's Mobility Foundation worked with a local Portland, Oregon hospital to get Power Pumpers to children with special needs.

More videos coming soon!

Testimonial Four

2006-11-30T17:58:00.000-08:00

"[...] I wanted to follow through and let you know that the Power Pumper has been a huge hit with my secondary kiddos! I have been bringing it from school to school in order to allow lots of kids a chance to try. It has been very motivational to certain students who will now work hard for an entire class period in order to earn time to ride. Other students have been able to get out of their wheelchairs and get great cardiovascular and muscle workouts! [...]

Thank you again for bringing us the Power Pumper. It has definitely been a great addition to my program!"

Amy Henderson
Secondary Adapted Physical Education Specialist
Hillsboro School District

Testimonial Three

2006-11-30T17:57:00.001-08:00

"Our outpatient clinic purchased a lime green Power Pumper several years ago. It has been very popular with many of our children. Of the variety of riding toys in our clinic, it is the most sought after and frequently fought over ridding toy.

Thanks for such a great product."

Jodi Petry, MS, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapy
DUKE University Health System

Testimonial Two

2006-11-30T17:50:00.000-08:00

"Our pediatric rehabilitation department has used the Power Pumper for more than two years. We find that it benefits children with a variety of disabilities including cerebral palsy, hemiplegia, autism, and others. The Power Pumper improves strength, coordination, bilateral integration, vestibular processing (movement), proprioceptive processing (heavy input to muscles and joints) and directionality."

Carrie Wood, MSR, OTR/L
Licensed occupational Therapist
Legacy Emanuel Children’s Hospital
Pediatric Development and Rehabilitation

Become an Angel Donor Today

2006-11-30T17:01:00.000-08:00

Virtually 100% of your gift to the Children's Mobility Foundation goes directly toward placing a Power Pumper or other therapeutic mobility unit with a school or a special-needs child of low-income parents.

Contribution Levels

Platinum Contribution -- $100,000
Gold Contribution -- $50,000
Silver Contribution -- $25,000
Bronze Contribution -- $10,000
Legendary Contribution -- $5,000
Honorary Contribution -- $1,000
Other - Any amount you chose!

Click here to make a donation to CMF via PayPal.

Testimonial One

2006-11-30T16:58:00.000-08:00

The Power Pumper Enables One Boy to Tap His Hidden Potential

"Our son Zack has Cerebral Palsy and has trouble with gross and fine motor skills. He has received good care from the physical therapists, but we wanted to help Zack at home as well. Zack will probably never "go ride bikes" with the kids in the neighborhood. He just doesn't have the coordination or the muscle strength to control a regular bike, but he has found the Power Pumper to be something that he can ride very easily. When we first got it, he couldn't go more than a few paces (his muscle strength wasn't as developed), but he thought that it was fun and continued trying. He can now go quite a few blocks down the road and even up some small hills.

The neat thing about the Power Pumper is that all his cousins want to ride it when they come over to play. It looks like a cool "toy", not something only for a child with special needs. He can ride it in the park and not one kid has ever said anything negative or made fun of Zack for riding it.

It definitely has been a blessing in our life to help Zack get out and play in a "normal" environment and help him develop as well."

-- Rob A.

The challenge we address...

2006-11-30T16:51:00.000-08:00

PROBLEMS facing children in school TODAY

Nearly 84,000 U.S. elementary schools have pupils with physical disabilities or special needs.
Growing numbers of children have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Spina Bifida, Multiple Sclerosis and other learning and speech deficiencies.
The number of obese children has tripled in the last 20 years.
Schools have limited access to equipment that addresses health, medical, disabilities, and/or educational needs.

Our solution:
Enable individual and corporate donors to place needed therapeutic equipment with the people who need it most.