Volunteers, donors and staff celebrate
KETCH's 40 years of service

On Tues., Nov. 9, KETCH honored volunteers, donors, and businesses for supporting KETCH for 40 years as a rehabilitation agency dedicated to meeting the needs of adults with disabilities. Wilma Martin was honored for her pioneering efforts over 40 years ago, changing the way people think and care for people with disabilities. The Kansas Elks Association was honored for adopting KETCH as its major project. Incorporated in 1964, KETCH is a statewide, nationally recognized organization that has successfully job placed more than 35,000 Kansans with disabilities.

Over 100 guests attended the celebration hosted at the Wichita Airport Hilton. Original founders, past presidents and future leaders listened to keynote speaker Tom Laing, executive director of InterHab—the resource network for Kansans with disabilities. Laing spoke of the changes he witnessed in his lifetime. From institutions to integrated lifestyles in the community, people with disabilities have come a long way in the past 40 years and KETCH is a major reason why so much has been accomplished.

John Kirkwood was honored with the Wilma Martin Pioneer Award. Kirkwood is the sole surviving committee member of the Kansas Elks Association that, in 1964, agreed to adopt The Wichita Training Center and turn it into KETCH. The award, named after Wilma Martin (one of the original founders of The Wichita Training Center), is in recognition of those who had the courage and the fortitude to help people with disabilities become an integral part of their community.