By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Development Services of Northwest Kansas is $3 million toward its capital campaign goal of $5 million.
The agency, which serves individuals and their families with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 18 northwest Kansas counties, launched its Stronger Together Forever campaign in 2017.
DSNWK provides services for disabled individuals from birth to death.
"It's serving people who need a little support in their life," said Jerry Michaud, DSNWK president and CEO.
Services include infant and toddler services, services for families, day services, education, skill building and employment.
"Helping people have full, active and engaged lives in the community is what it's all about," he said.
The funds are being separated into three endowment accounts and one quasi-endowment account.
Michaud said during a Hays Chamber event at the agency Friday the cost to support the needs of the people it serves continues to outpace the agencies funding resources.
DSNWK officials hope to use the endowments to provide supplemental funding for the agency in the future, Michaud said.
"We knew in the developmental disability world the resources are lacking and the unmet needs are many," he said. "That was the driving force behind our effort."
Michaud encouraged area residents to consider not only making cash donations to the endowment, but consider the organization in their estate planning. He noted 70 percent of people don't have wills.
You can donate directly online on the DSNWK website, as well as learn more about planned giving. You can also contact the DSNWK main office in Hays at 785-625-5678 to receive assistance with a donation or estate gift. DSNWK's Allen Schmidt and David Clingan can both help with donation questions.
DSNWK also made two dedications during its open house on Friday.
The first was the dedication of a memorial wall to former client Joey Weber.
"This wall is about a story — a transition from pain and tragedy to purposeful action," Michaud said.
Weber was 36 when he was shot and killed by law enforcement in Hays during a traffic stop in 2016.
Weber, who received treatment for autism, allegedly became flustered when he was pulled over by law enforcement for an expired tag. Law enforcement reported he tried to reach for an officer's weapon, and an investigation determined the officer acted in self-defense.
John and Nancy Weber, Joey's parents, successfully lobbied the Kansas Legislature to pass "Joey's Law," which allows people with developmental or intellectual disabilities to place stickers or placards on their vehicles to alert officers of their disabilities.
On the request of Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, the Kansas Senate passed a resolution designating April 7, 2021, as “Joey Weber Remembrance Day.”
John and Nancy Weber have also created a endowment in Joey's honor to support DSNWK .
"The point of this story ... is in Joey's situation the response of his parents was one to take something that is difficult and do good. They wanted good to come out of this," Michaud said.
Michaud shared some thoughts from Joey's parents, who could not attend the dedication on Friday.
"The Joey Weber fund was established not to remember how Joey's life ended, but to remember how Joey's life was lived with independence, dignity and purpose," they said.
The second dedication was of a donor wall in the Hays main office. The donor wall was made possible from a donation in memory of Donald Werth, who was Jerry Michaud's father-in-law.
