montana hope project

Montana Hope Project Sponsored by the Association of

Montana Highway Patrolmen

May 2001 Volume 4, Issue 1

President George W. Bush accepts an original painting from Montana Hope Project recipient Amber Olsonand her father, Russ of Belt. See complete story on pages 9, 10 and 11 of this publication.

Official White House Photo

Volunteer Staff:Kelly Mantooth, Lewistown, President

Perry Brown, East Helena, Vice-presidentCal Janes, Townsend, Secretary

Leanne Smith, Helena, Media RelationsLinda Douglass, Helena, Wish Travel Coordinator

Shawn Hazelton, Billings Area CoordinatorSteve Lavin, Kalispell Area Coordinator

Richard Hader and Tiana Weaver,Missoula Area Coordinators

Henry and Jeanne Devereaux,Great Falls Area Coordinators

Association of Montana Highway PatrolBoard of Directors Officers:Gary Becker, Butte, President

Mike Frellick, Missoula, Vice PresidentBryan Adams, Bozeman, Secretary

Keith Edgell, Billings, Treasurer

MONTANA HOPE PROJECTP.O. Box 5927

Helena, Montana 59604Phone: (406) 538-4673 (406) 227-9287

[email protected]

Copyright © Montana Hope Project, 2000. This is the officialpublication of the Montana Hope Project and is published bi-annu-ally. The Montana Hope Project reserves the right to reject anyadvertisements. Third Class bulk postage paid at Helena MT 59604.This newsletter is provided at no cost to subscribers.

From the President’s desk.........

Brooke Darfler and Kelly Mantooth

Isn’t it great living in Montana in thespringtime? By the time this newslettercomes out, the spring flowers should bein full bloom with some leaves growingback on the trees. No more coldweather…well at least not bitter cold. Itis nice to say, “Winter has come andgone.”

Did you happen to see the HopeProject logos in the Town Pump stores?How about the Thriftway/Sutey Oil stores?Did you buy one? What a great shot inthe arm for our late winter fundraising dol-drums.

Thanks to Alice O’Donnell for contact-ing Brian Bossard of Thriftway/Sutey Oiland Maureen Kenneally of Town Pump!Most of our fundraising is done in the sum-mer months and slows down during thewinter. With help from folks like these,raising funds for wish-granting doesn’tstop when the snow flies.

Speaking of wishes, by the time youreceive this newsletter we will havegranted at least eight wishes this year.Several are pending with travel dates set.

That brings us to 164 wishes granted since1984!

The Hope Project doesn’t stop at justgranting a single wish. Each year we havea reunion at the Izaak Walton Inn, Essex,MT. This year marks the 16th annual re-union. This weekend is provided at nocost to past recipients and/or their imme-diate families. It is a weekend of fun inGlacier Park, helicopter rides over Gla-cier (thank you Minuteman Aviation!),clowns, food, truck rides, motorcyclerides, horse and carriage rides, music andlots of plain old FUN! What will be newthis year is the sky bridge over the rail-road from the inn to the “caboose rooms.”Not only can you safely stand above arumbling train as it goes by, but you cansee above the trees into Glacier Park. Weare still planning some other fun stuff forthe weekend but I would be neglectful if Idid not thank the many, many volunteersthat donate their time and services eachyear to make this weekend a huge suc-cess. Thank you all!

The Montana Hope Project establishedan endowment fund though the MontanaCommunity Foundation. This fund is anirrevocable fund that qualifies donors forthe Montana Tax credit. The Hope Projectcannot touch the principle balance of thisfund but can use the interest gained fromthis fund for wish granting. Not only doesthe Hope Project receive a donation fromyou but also you receive a very nice taxcredit. If you, your company, or anyoneyou know is interested in donating to the

Montana Hope Project Endowment Fundcontact us at 406-538-4673 or [email protected].

As you can see from other articles inthis newsletter there are many numerous,fun, events scheduled for this summer. Ilook forward to meeting many of you andto be able to personally say thank you foryour donations and your time. On behalfof the kids and families that have beengranted wishes, THANK YOU! Withyour help, the Montana Hope Project willcontinue making dreams become a child’sreality.

Our new website is awesome!

Special thanks to John Forbes of AppliedInformation Engineering Solutions, Inc.(AIES, Inc.) for all his work and patience!

www.montanahope.org

Check it out at:

Give the gift of HOPEHelp make a wish come true for a critically ill Montana child. Make a donationto the Montana Hope Project in the name of a family member, friend or recipient.

A donation to the Montana Hope Project directly benefits Montana children.HOPE - always the perfect gift

Complete and send to: The Montana Hope Project, P.O. Box 5927, Helena, MT 59604

This gift is made in: honor of ______________________________________________________________ memory

It is being given by: ________________________________________________________________________ Your Name

Send confirmation card to: ___________________________________________________________________ Name________________________________________________________________________________________Address City State Zip

March 3 of this year, the Montana HopeProject lost a dear friend, Frank Risley ofMissoula. Frank was enroute on a three-week trip to Mexico when he lost his lifein a single-vehicle accident outside of ElCentro, Calif. He was riding his Valkyrieand died doing what he enjoyed most.

Frank was a strong supporter of theHope Project and was always bent overbackwards to help. He looked forward toand enjoyed giving the children rides at theannual reunion in Essex. In recognition ofhis efforts, the 2001 Ride for Hope 500 isdedicated to Frank’s memory.

The obitutary that appeared in theMissoulian follows:

MISSOULA - Frank L. Risley, 69, first-born son of Frank and Elizabeth Risley,passed away Saturday, March 3, 2001. Hewas born in Detroit on Dec. 2, 1931.

Frank joined the U.S. Coast Guard atthe age of 17, serving for 21 years, with 11of those years overseas. In 1969, he re-tired as a chief warrant officer.

Frank’s motorcycle travels brought himto Montana. He fell in love with our BigSky state and decided to move his familyfrom Charlevoix, Mich., to Missoula in1975. Frank was involved in many motor-cycle club activities and was highly dedi-

cated to the Montana Hope Project, help-ing Montana’s terminally ill children.

Survivors include his wife Carole; hisdaughter Mary Greil of Missoula and herhusband Tom and their children Ben andKaty; his daughter Karen Servick of NewCastle, Pa., and her husband Joe and theirdaughter Montana; his stepson MattHermes of Missoula and his wife Peggyand their daughter Reilly; his stepson JeffHermes of Greenacres, Wash., and his

wife Kim and their son Jacob; brothersChuck, Bob and Dave Risley and theirwives; and many nieces, nephews andcousins.

A celebration of Frank’s life, with fam-ily and friends was held March 16, inMissoula at the National Guard Armory.

In lieu of flowers memorials were madeto Montana Hope Project.

Frank Risley, December 2, 1931 - March 3, 2001Former Montana Hope Project President Mitch Tuttle, far left, presents FrankRisely and his wife Carole an etched pitcher commemorating their efforts for theProject at the 2000 Ride For Hope 500 in Polson. Project Vice-president PerryBrown, far right, is also pictured. Frank will always be riding beside us andwatching over us.

In Memoriam

Dear Hope Project...Story and photos by Cindy StipcichHelena

My husband, Darrell, was out on fireduty during the 2000 fire season as amember of the Montana Army NationalGuard. The kids and I drove out to seehim one weekend as he was working onthe Toston-Maudlow fire. It was there thatMontana Highway Patrolman BruceCoccoli, Choteau, met James.

Bruce was on the same fire team as myhusband.

After we left, Bruce asked Darrell if wehad ever thought about James making awish through the Montana Hope Project.When Darrell came home he discussedthis with me.

Bruce ran into Darrell a month later atGuard Drill and asked him if we had givenany more thought about James’ wish. Thatis when Darrell gave Bruce the informa-tion about James and he called MontanaHighway Patrolman Sgt. Mike Tooley.

Bruce, thank you so much for beingso compassionate and wanting Jamesto make a wish.

Mike came over to meet James andbrought us an application. We filled outthe application with James and decidednot to tell the other (seven) children whatwe were doing.

Mike, thank you so much for explain-ing the application process to us.

We received a call the day after Christ-mas to find out James, Darrell, our sevenother children and I were going to DisneyWorld! You can only imagine how excitedwe were. Excited, yet a bit nervous, know-ing we were going to have our hands fullwith all the kids. Initially, we were going totry and go in February but that was too soonto get everything all set. Thank heaven, therewould have been no way we would havebeen ready to go in February.

Our next plan was to go in April, over

Easter, so the kids wouldn’t have to missmuch school. Hope Project Wish TravelCoordinator Linda Douglass, was doingall of the correspondence and as it turnedout we were able to go in April.

Linda, thank you so much for ex-plaining everything so thoroughly to us.

April 11, 2001, we had all the kids andall their bags spread out all over the livingroom floor. Darrell and I were thinking,“What are we in for?”

You can only imagine eight childrenfrom 19 months to 15 years old – one adisabled son with Cerebral Palsy! Anddon’t forget Grandma Jeannie who pur-chased her own ticket and went along tohelp with James.

Are we crazy? Maybe just a little!Florida was something else. When we

arrived it was a whopping 94 degrees andvery humid. (It was cold and snowy inHelena.) It was hot, but it was nice.

The Give The Kids The World(GKTW) Village was so wonderful. Thevolunteers were so nice and helpful about

(Please see Dear Hope Project page 5)

James Skonberg, 14, is shown with Montana Highway Patrolman Tom Olds (left)and Sgt. Mike Tooley. James was the 160th child to receive a wish since theprogram began in 1984.

James at his home in Helena the morn-ing he and his entire family left forDisney World. More than 40 companiesdonate money, materials and servicesto Give Kids The World (www.gktw.org)where all Hope Project families stay.

Wondering what to do with your old license plates?Turn those old plates into your County Treasurer’s officewhen you pick up your new plates or take all those old platesgathering dust in your garage to your local Montana High-way Patrol office.

The license plates are recycled and the Montana HopeProject receives a monetary donation.

Dear Hope Project ..........from page 4

everything. This was an experience wewill never forget.

James wore his GKTW button every-where he went and would receive the mostwonderful, caring treatment you couldimagine. The workers everywhere wevisited were so warm and helpful toJames. All of the characters would giveJames just that little bit of extra attention.The special treatment that James and the

rest of the family received is just inexpli-cable!

I guess I had never thought of Jamesmaking a wish because up until three yearsago, he was a healthy child. He camedown with pneumonia in January of 1998and has had chronic, reoccurring pneu-monia ever since. In May of 2000 wewere told to feed him through his g-tubebecause he was aspirating his food anddrink, causing it to go into his lungs, which

cased the pneumonia. He has been doingbetter this past year. We just take thingsday-by-day.

We openheartedly would like to thankeveryone for all that you have done for usand will continue to do for other families.This is a program that we hope will beable to continue for many years to come.

Thank you,James SkonbergCindy and Darrell Stipcich and family

Splish splash with the Skonberg/Stipcich family at Splash Mountain.

James Skonberg is shown with Montana Highway Patrolman Tom Olds (left) hisfather, Darrell Stipcich, sister Kaitie Stipcich (9), mother Cindy Stipcich, brothersJesse Skonberg (13), Kyle Skonberg (10), Kyle Stipcich (13), Cody Stipcich (3);sisters Heather Stipcich (11) and Victoria Stipcich (1 1/2) and Sgt. Mike Tooley.Unlike other wish-granting organizations, the Montana Hope Project involves theentire family in the wish whenever possible. Additionally, the Hope Project invitesevery recipient and their entire families to attend an annual reunion in GlacierPark, all at no cost. The average cost of a wish is $5,000.

Montana Hope Project President Kelly Mantooth accepts a check on behalfof Sutey Oil/Thriftway stores for $1,500 from Alice O’Donnell, Anaconda, asMontana Highway Patrolman Myron Dingley, Stanford, looks on.

Photo by Leanne Smith

Sutey Oil/Thriftway stores have joined theMontana Hope Project fund-raising team.

Last year 11 Thriftway stores began sellinglogos and the event was such a success thatthey have added two stores to the list and willmake it a semi-annual event. This year logoswere sold during April and will appear in storesagain in November.

Montana Hope Project President KellyManthooth welcomes Sutey Oil/ThriftwayStores to the family of Hope.

The event was organized by Alice O’Donnellof Anaconda and Sutey Oil/Thriftway storesComptroller Brian Bossard.

If you have a fund-raising idea or would liketo volunteer at an event, we’d like to hear fromyou. Please contact Kelly Mantooth, MontanaHope Project President, at (406) 538-4673,(406) 949-HOPE or e-mail him [email protected].

Essex ReunionJune 8, 9, 10, 2001

Every Hope Project recipient and theirfamily members are invited to the annualreuinion. This special event is providedeach year at no cost to the families.

Contact: Kelly Mantooth at (406)538-4673; (406) 949-HOPE or e-mailhim at [email protected] Millennium Car ShowJune 23, 2001

The Helena area car clubs are holding theirfirst annual Millennium Car Show with pro-ceeds to benefit the Montana Hope Project.This year’s event will be held in downtownHelena during the Mount Helena Music Fes-tival. The $10 registration fee will be do-nated to the Montana Hope Project.

All car show participants are encouragedto gather pledges toward the Montana HopeProject. The Mount Helena Music Festivalwill donate two admission buttons to the festi-val and the registration will be waived for allparticipants that collect and turn in more than$50 in pledges the day of the event. Registra-tion is from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The car showwill be held on Fuller Avenue in Historic down-

town Helena from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Brochuresand pledge forms are also available on our websiteat www.montanahope.org.

Contact: Duane Preshinger, Helena,(406) 443-7069 or e-mail him [email protected] For Hope Motorcycle TourJuly 28, 2001

The twelfth Annual Ride For Hope 500will be held July 28. This year’s routetakes us to Chico Hot Springs. Rideroutes have been set. They are located inthe brochure which is available at localmotorcycle shops as well as on ourwebsite at www.montanahope.org.

Check-in is from 5 - 7 a.m. the day ofthe event.

Pre-register by July 1 and become eligibleto win a get-a-way for two, compliments ofMain Connection Services of Choteau.

Incentive prize criteria are listed in the bro-chure. Each $100 in pledges earns 1 point.Apply those points to prizes and choose froma wide variety of cloth and leather items.

Each $100 in pledges also earns a ticketthat will be entered into the grand prizetwo, including airfare. The winning ticket

will be drawn at the End of Tour event.You must be present to win.

The phone number for Chico is 406-333-4933 and e-mail address [email protected].

Contact: Cal Janes, Townsend(406) 266-3330 or e-mail him [email protected] Golf Tournament, Fox RidgeAugust 17, 2001

The Montana Hope Project CharityScramble golf tournament is slated for FoxRidge Golf Course.

Power Cheverolet will again sponsorthe hole-in-one prize. Last year DougOlson of Helena won a 2001 fully loadedCheverolet Cavalier on his first drive ofthe day–a 141 yard drive off of holenumber 14. In addition to the car, therewill be many more opportunties for teamsand individuals to win a wide varierty ofgreat prizes. Teams are being formed now.

Contact: Jeff Douglass, Helena at(406) 443-8581 or e-mail him [email protected].

Sutey Oil/Thriftway Stores selling logos for Hope

Mark your calendars for our upcoming events

Continued on .page 12..........................Events

Town Pump and Gaming IndustryFriends to Society (GIFTS) have eachdonated $1,000 to the Montana HopeProject, Dream Come True Program.

Montanans also contributed $3,670 bypurchasing Hope Project bear logos atTown Pump locations. MaureenKenneally of the Town Pump CharitableFoundation said Town Pump employeeshelped make the logo fund-raiser a suc-cess. Top sales honors went to a TownPump in Butte managed by Sharon Sand-ers. Sharon is the daughter of retired pa-trolman Tom Hamaker. Sharon offeredincentive prizes to her employee that soldthe most logos and the top salesman wasTravis Greene. Sharon also awardedTravis with the incentive prize of a trip toFairmont Hot Springs, donated by theMontana Hope Project and Fairmont.

Montana Hope Project President KellyMantooth thanked Town Pump for spon-soring this fund-raiser and said they planto make it an annual event.

From The ‘Round Town Review

Town Pump logo sales bear fruit

Town Pump raised $3,670 for the Montana Hope Project by selling Montana HopeProject Bear logos in their stores for $1 each. Presenting the check are (from leftto right) Maureen Kenneally of the Town Pump Charitable Foundation; AliceO’Donnell, Hope Project board member; Kelly Mantooth, project president; Mon-tana Highway Patrolman Joe Wyant of Anaconda and Sharon Sanders, man-ager of the top-selling Town Pump in Butte.

Photo by Carrie Mantooth

The Albertsons Community PartnersProgram continues to raise funds for theMontana Hope Project. Since the orga-nization became a member of the progamin 2000, more than $1000 has been do-nated to the Hope Project.

Albertsons donates three percent ofeach cardholder’s sales to the projectwhen shoppers present their card at thecheckout register.

Call Perry Brown at (406) 227-9287or email him at [email protected] to re-quest your free card today.

Albertsons CommunityPartnership program growing

Hope Project gets royal treatmentThe Montana Hope Project has been re-ceiving the “royal treatment” from KleenKing since 1999.To date, KleenKing has donatedmore than $2,380to the project.“The MontanaHope Project is areally goodcause,” said LoriBrisbee, KleenKing Administra-tive Assistant. “It gives something backto the community-it’s something for ourkids in Montana.”Every September through April, KleenKing donates a percentage of each wholesystem duct cleaning to the project. Ac-cording to Brisbee, it works out to $25to $45 per job.“It’s good to be part of giving something

positive to kids and their families who aregoing through turmoil. It’s our way of giv-

ing somethingback to the com-munity,” Brisbeesaid.Brisbee said thatboth the Helenaand Bozeman arealocations are in-volved in the do-nation. KleenKing advertises

the promotion on TV, radio and in news-papers.The Montana Hope Project encouragesour supporters to patronize the businesseslisted in these pages and thank them fortheir efforts to raise money so thatMontana’s critically and chronically ill chil-dren can realize their dreams for manyyears to come.

Forgive us for the form letter routine,but a thank you is long overdue and this isthe only way I know it will get done.

Thank you for your prayers, wellwishes, your gifts, your positive energy,your time, your calls of concern, your gen-erosity and all your support during the pastthree years.

Matt is done with chemotherapy andwell on his way to a full recovery. We owethat in part to all of you and your constantsupport. Matthew believed he could getwell and he did.

It is amazing to us still how Matt’s dis-ease has touched us. We have beenblessed by being witness to the loving andcaring side of life. You have showered uswith your love and we are indebted to youall.

Thank you for the boxes of toys to asix-year-old who was told he would behospitalized until his disease could be sta-bilized. Thank you Ronald McDonaldHouse for the inexpensive facility to houseour weary bodies at the end of the dayand so grandparents could be close.

Thank you Missoula County CancerAssociation for your volunteer hours turn-ing donated monies into travel expensereimbursement for financially strappedfamilies like ours.

Thank you for the calling card to keepus in touch with family. Thank you for the

money given with the intent that Tom andI could have an evening out and try to benormal for a night.

Thank you for your visits. Thank youfor your homemade pictures and cards.Thank you for the balloons, stuffed ani-mals and the video games.

Thank you for your willingness to ac-commodate a child with an issue such asthis by getting him a tutor when his im-mune system made it impossible for himto attend school. Thank you for noticingthere was something not quite right aboutmy son’s physical abilities that pointed usin the right direction to get an early diag-nosis. Thank you for being a principal andteachers that cared.

Thank you for being his friend evenwhen he was bald. Thank you for listen-ing so well when he explained his illnessand supporting him.

Thank you East Missoula Lions for theChristmas money to help our Christmasbudget. Thank you for the anonymous do-nation of money when we needed it most.

Thank you for the flexibility with ourjobs allowing Tom and I the freedom tobe with our son when he needed us.

Thank you for your care in his treat-ments. Thank you for your tenderness andexpertise. Thank you Leukemia societyfor reimbursement of medical and medi-cine expenses. Thank you for your ad-

vise in trying to get insurance issues re-solved. But mostly thank you for listeningwith love.

Thank you for your hours on the trackat the “Relay For Life” helping to raisemoney for a cure.

Thank you Montana Hope Project forthe trip to Disney World and the annualreunion. We wouldn’t have a vacationwithout it.

Thank you Camp Mak-A-Dreamwhere both kids get special time andtreated like kings.

Thank you for the opportunity to tellour story and help raise money and givesome back.

Thank you for being sensitive to the factthat it was not only Matt who was affectedby this disease and that each of us neededfriends to lean on.

Thank you for saving pop tops for theRonald McDonald House.

Thank you for giving blood. I have seenfirst-hand now who uses it and will be alifetime donor.

I believe that we get back in this worldwhat we give away. Based upon that be-lief, I have no doubt that you will all beblessed in a very big way.

Thank you for being a part of our lives.Thank you for all you do.

Laura, Tom, Nic and Matt HungerfordMissoula

Dear Montana Hope Project...

Photo by Patrolman Michael DownsBritney Sturgis, 11, of Sidney receiveda voice activated lap top computer fromthe Montana Hope Project in February.She is seen here with Montana HighwayPatrolman Steve Downs. Britney was justreturning home from school when theofficers arrived. It was her first week ofschool since August. The computer andsoftware that accompanied it was a bitoverwhelming to the 14-year-old. Herimmediate goal is to be able to returnto her class swim team which she lovesso much. Her long-term goal is to be-come a pediatric nurse. PatrolmenMichael and Steve Downs also presentedBritney and her sister with Hope Projectbears. Each bear wears a t-shirt with aMontana Highway Patrol shoulder patchsewn onto the front.

Help bring HOPE to MT kidsIf you know of a child who could benefit from a gift

from the Montana Hope Project,contact one of the officers listed above.

Project area coordinatorsBillings Area CoordinatorShawn Hazelton, Billings(406) [email protected]

Great Falls Area CoordinatorsHenry and Jeanne Devereaux,Great Falls(406) [email protected]

Kalispell Area CoordinatorSteve Lavin, Kalispell(406) [email protected]

Missoula Area CoordinatorsRichard Hader, MissoulaTiana Weaver, Missoula(406) [email protected]

Dear Hope Project...Life needs to be more than just an existence. Life needs to be lived. When a life is

changed forever by a serious illness or an accident, a person’s outlook on life canturn from brilliant shades of color to shades of gray or black.

Our daughter, Amber Olson, was the 64th recipient child of the Montana HopeProject and has been associated with it since 1993, when she was nine years old.She has a degenerative neurological disorder of an unknown origin and has been ina wheel chair since 1992. Over the years, she has lost the use of her legs, along withthe use of her arms, hands and speech.

In spite of all that Amber has lost physically, her outlook on life remains joyous. Itis a rare morning that Amber doesn’t wake up to the world with the smile that hasbecome her trademark. The reason for her positive attitude has a lot to do with thefact that so many people have done so much to see that her life has been more thanjust an existence. The Montana Hope Project has been there to smooth out thebumps in the road by sending Amber and our whole family to Disney World and byproviding wonderful weekend reunions each year in Essex.

In the last year-and-a-half, Amber has realized a talent for art that is growingrapidly. Amber’s art is not subdued. It is full of bright, beautiful colors. It is a windowon her soul. It reflects her outlook on life. Amber’s art reflects a life that is no mereexistence, but a thing of beauty.

The Montana Hope Project and many other wonderful people have contributedto making Amber’s life much more than it could have been.

If anyone should wonder if the Hope Project really makes a difference in the livesof the children it touches, one just needs to look at Amber’s art to see that theanswer is, “Yes”. Please see pages 10 and 11 for more of Amber’s artistic journey.

By Russ Olson, Belt

Five-year-old Nicole Renner of Billings holdsher welcome sign at the Orlando airport.Nicole’s wish was a trip to Disney World. Shewas the Hope Project’s 161st recipient child.

Billings - March 26, 2001Grinning broadly, Amber Dawn Olson

of Belt waited in her wheelchair outsidethe Metra Park to meet George W. Bushand present the president with her paint-ing.

“All day long, she had this great glow-ing grin,” said her father, Russ Olson, “andI’m ecstatic.”

Amber has a degenerative neurologi-cal disease of unknown origin — “Thatmeans they don’t know what’s wrong withher,” said her father — but she startedpainting a year and a half ago and she isbecoming noticed.

The Belt High School junior was oneof 32 young artists, and the only one fromMontana, whose works were featured lastweek in an exhibition that opened up theRussell Senate Office Building in Wash-ington, D.C., an opening she couldn’t at-tend.

“We couldn’t go to Washington lastweek, so it’s great the president came tomeet her instead,” her dad said.

Amber also was honored last week ina ceremony in the Rotunda of the StateCapitol in Helena, with none other thanGov. Judy Martz celebrating her accom-plishments.

Amber communicates primarily withgrins and with nods and shakes of herhead, which makes her painting even moreremarkable.

“It takes a great deal of concentration,but Amber really does her own painting,”her father said. “She selects the color, thenaides load her palette and select herbrushes. But she is able to use her ownhands on the brush.”

As he spoke, Clay Schenk ofHarlowton stood outside the Metra Parkholding his cousin’s masterpiece — a bril-liant green Montana landscape.

“Is Amber going to be able to give thisto the president?” her father anxiously

Amber Olson presents painting to President Bush

asked a Secret Service agent.“He’s expecting it,” the agent

replied.Amber grinned.She owes her success to an

art teacher, Leslie DeVoss, whonoticed her potential and encour-aged her to begin painting.

“She tried it and she liked it,”said her mother, Robin Olson.

Amber watched the SecretService agents move a highschool band through their secu-rity checkpoint, then motionedthe Olsons toward a privatemeeting room behind the stagewhere she would greet PresidentBush and give him her Montanamasterpiece.

As they wheeled her in, Am-ber grinned again, another wide,glowing grin.

Above. Amber recently won the attention of those who sponsor the VSA art show.Her painting was chosen to be reproduced on postcards and posters. (VSA arts isan international, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational andcareer opportunities through the arts for people with disabilities. More info onVSA is available at www.vsarts.org.) The painting is in the process of being ac-quired by the Salvatore Dali Museum in Florida. The Holter Museum of Art inHelena, Mont. also acquired one of her paintings.

Photo by Wayne Arnst, Great Falls Tribune. Amber sits surrounded by some of theart she has created. “Winter Snowstorm”, purchased by the Holter Museum,Helena, is at the top right.

By Eric NewhouseGreat Falls Tribune Staff Writer

Belt High School student Amber Olson,has discovered her artistic voice in her highschool art class. One of her paintings,“Winter Snowstorm”, was purchased foran award presentation to the Holter Mu-seum in Helena.

Amber, who has been in a wheel chairsince she was a third-grader, has difficultyspeaking and moving because of a rareneurological disease.

Although Amber has taken art classessince second grade, her gradual loss ofgross and fine motor control made it chal-lenging to find art activities for her.

“My goal at the beginning of (last) yearwas that Amber would respect her ownart work,” said Leslie DeVos, Amber’sart teacher.

Assisted by Amber’s aide, Jaime

Archey, DeVos guided Amber through aseries of paintings, progressing from a re-liance on masked-off areas to control herpainting to her currant ability to controlthe direction, area and energy of eachbrush stroke.

Amber chooses her own subject mat-ter and has a strong voice in the color ofthe pieces. Amber’s aide helps dip herbrush, then holds the canvas in front ofher.

“Jaime is wonderful because she sup-ports her and challenges her,” DeVos said.“She’s her friend and her mentor.”

“This is a kid who hasn’t been able toexpress emotion. It’s like every paintingcaptures her soul. Her first one is so pow-erful–very free. It has lots of energy,”DeVos said.

DeVos recalls watching Amber paintone day during class. “She has such a lookof concentration on her face. Then Ilooked around the room and every highschool student was holding their brushpoised, watching her.”

Belt High School has grown along withAmber, superintendent Calvin Johnsonsaid. Teachers modify course work, al-lowing Amber, accompanied by her aide,to participate in all regular classes exceptmath.

“The one thing I can say is that we’vebeen so blessed by so many people whohave come into Amber’s life,” said RussOlson, Amber’s dad.

Amber’s mother Robin Olson said,“Amber has always loved color. Withpainting, she is the art.”

A Study in colorFinding her voiceBy Mary Ellen HendricksonFor the Great Falls Tribune

Photo by Wayne ArnstGreat Falls Tribune

Amber Olson, with Aide JaimeArchey acting as an easel, workson a new painting. Recently, herart work has gained much recog-nition. She was honored by Mon-tana Governor Judy Martz in Marchand she was chosen to be agreeter for President George Bushduring his trip to Billings March27 of this year. Amber presentedone of her paintings to the Presi-dent. Amber became a recipientof a wish from the Montana HopeProject in 1993.

Montana Hope ProjectP.O. Box 5927Helena, MT 59604

Non ProfitU.S. PostagePaidHelena, MTPermit #81

90 cents of every dollar raised directly benefits Montana children.

The Montana Hope Project is NOT affiliated with any national organization.

The average cost of a wish is $5,000.

The Montana Hope Project is funded entirely by your donations and localfund raising events.

The Montana Hope Project invites each recipient and their immediate familesto an annual reunion held in Essex, on the edge of Glacier Park.

The Montana Hope Project has granted more than 164 wishes since 1984. Theproject granted 14 wishes in 2000; six have been granted as of May 1,

Hope Project Facts

PublisherPerry Brown, Helena

Editor/Layout/DesignLeanne Smith, Helena

Contributing writers andphotographers:Wayne Arnst, Great Falls TribuneMichael Downs, GlendiveMary Ellen HendricksonLaura Hungerford, MissoulaCarrie Mantooth, LewistownKelly Mantooth, LewistownEric Newhouse, Great Falls TribuneRuss Olson, BeltLeanne Smith, HelenaCindy Stipcich, Helena

Published bi-annually by the Mon-tana Hope Project. The MontanaHope Project is a non-profit orga-nization registered with the Secre-tary of State. It is a 501(C)(3) or-ganization and follows all Federalguidelines to maintain its status.

Please send all photos, letters, ideas,information, updates and articles tothe editor at:The Montana Hope ProjectP.O. Box 5927, Helena, MT 59604or e-mail them to [email protected] our website at:www.montanahope.org

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Mail to:Montana Hope ProjectP.O. Box 5927Helena, Mt 59604

Anaconda Fun Run For HopeSeptember 15

Mark your calendars for the Fun RunFor Hope to be held in Washoe Park. Par-ticipants can choose to walk or run in atwo or 4 kilometer race. Each participantwill receive a t-shirt. The entry free is $10.Entries must be received by August 31.

Those entering the race are encouragedto gather pledges. There will prizes avail-able for the top three pledge earners aswell as prizes to the top three finishers ineach race.

Race time is 10:30 a.m. A barbequewill follow the races and will be held atWashoe Park Pavillion.

Contact: Alice O’Donnell, Anacondaat (406) 563-5504 or e-mail her [email protected] Dinner FundraiserSeptember 21

The Montana Hope Project will hold adinner and silent auction at the PerfectPlace.

The event will feature a fabulous din-ner, entertainment and a wide variety ofitems up for auction. Some the items in-clude art work from well-known Mon-tana artists, gift certificates for valuablemerchandise and several entertainmentand travel packages.

Contact: Shawn Hazelton, Billings, at(406) 254-9868 or e-mail him [email protected].

Events........con’t from page 6

montana hope project

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