Walking the Walk

(Above) Dennis Higgins (left) helped to organize and marched in the first “Youth March” for then Handicap Village. -Reporter photo by Marianne Gasaway.

50th anniversary event puts total over $2M

by Marianne Gasaway

One Vision celebrated 50 years since the creation of its benefit walk by successfully meeting its $50,000 goal for the event and topping the $2 million mark in the walk’s history.

“We are so grateful for this community and the people who support the mission of the organization. We have made a huge impact on the lives of people with disabilities in North Iowa,” said Jennifer Pinske, of One Vision.

Dennis Higgins, of Mason City, participated in the very first 10-mile walk when he was 15 and again completed the 10 miles this year.  He, along with David McCartney, from Charles City, addressed the hundred who spent much of Saturday afternoon in City Park for the One Vision celebration.

Higgins and McCartney were both high school students when they were invited to attend a dinner meeting with other North Iowa teenagers at the Holiday Inn in Mason City.  After enjoying dinner, Don Boyer was introduced as the guest speaker.  Boyer was the first executive director of a local group trying to establish a local home for adults with disabilities.  It was known as Handicap Village.

Higgins told the audience Boyer made a huge impact on him and inspired him to not only become involved with the first “youth march,” but to support its mission through the years.

Higgins said he and others returned to their schools and began talking about the event.  The goal was 5,000 walkers and $50,000.

In that first year marchers walked 10-miles.  One group traveled from Mason City to Clear Lake City Park,

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while another walked from Garner to the park.  Marchers were asked to get “contracts” with sponsors pledging dollars for miles walked.

Newspaper accounts of that first march estimated 1,500 marches in 85-degree heat, raising approximately $12,000.

McCartney was just 13 when he participated in the Handicap Village Youth March.  He said his strong feelings about the experience prompted him to come back to Clear Lake to participate in the 50th anniversary of the event.

He said he remembers walking with hundreds on the hot spring day.  The experience of fellowship and working with others toward a common goal also stuck with him.

“I hadn’t been involved in anything like it before.  It was a great feeling.  And the cold water we got at the park never tasted so good,” he shared with those waiting to take part in Saturday’s event.

This year the walk followed a course beginning at City Park and looping the downtown.

John Severtson, former executive director of One Vision, then known as Opportunity Village, also participated in the walk along with his wife, Jana.  Severtson said although he did not participate in the first youth march, he remembers the event.  It was held the same weekend he introduced Jana to his family.  He remembers passing the walkers as they were returning to Luther College that afternoon.  The Severtsons eventually made Clear Lake their home in 1983 when John accepted the position of development director at the Village.  Since that time they have participated in the walk, they said.

Unlike the first year, the 2019 event also included foosball teams competing, online fundraising and a letter campaign to raise funds for One Vision.   This year all funds raised were directed to One Vision Employment Solutions.

One Vision Chief Development Officer Mike Mahaffey said approximately $1,900 is needed in charitable support to cover reimbursement shortfalls for each person One Vision helps find employment.

“These services truly connect people with purpose by providing individuals with disabilities a way to connect with their community and cultivate independence through employment,” he said.

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