This summer, George Mason and Phi Kappa Phi alumni Jason Faulkner will
be joining that cross-country trek.
Article updated: 7/29/2010 5:23:22 PM
That journey is continued every summer, thanks to dedicated Phi Kappa Phi undergraduates and alumni, to help educate and fundraise for people with disabilities.
Phi Kappa Phi fraternity founded Push America in 1977 to mobilize their members and enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities. They do this by spreading the message of acceptance, constructing accessible environments, and perhaps most successfully, cycling. Cycling events hosted by Push America raise substantial funds for their cause, but it is the cross-country Journey of Hope event that has raised over $500,000 every summer.
This summer, George Mason and Phi Kappa Phi alumni Jason Faulkner will be joining that cross-country trek. “We spend June 9th to August 14th traveling 4,000 miles from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.,” Faulkner says. “And in each city we will have a friendship visit.”
The friendship visit is the heart of the ride. As the three teams of cyclist travel across thirty states, they stop and meet with children who have disabilities. During these visits, they have dinner with the kids, go bowling, or just hang out. The cyclists even find time to stop at local schools. “We put on a show for younger kids on how they can interact with other kids with disabilities,” says Faulkner.
For Push America, the ride promotes a greater understanding of those with disabilities, but for Faulkner it is so much more. “I’ve wanted to do the Journey of Hope since I was an undergraduate, but at the time I wasn’t able and I truly regretted not going.” Five years ago, Faulkner was able to participate in Gear Up Floriday—a three-week journey hosted by Push America that he described as the greatest three weeks of his life. Thanks to Phi Kappa Phi and Push America, Faulkner devotes himself to working with kids with disabilities and he is honored to finally have to chance participate in the Journey of Hope.
To see how you can support Jason Faulkner in his personal goal, visit pushamerica.org and click donate.
Article first appeared in SBQ Issue #14, May/June | 2010
