t nearly 14,000 feet of elevation, the heart screams for oxygen and the summit plays tricks on the mind. What appears close enough to touch seems to move further away with every step like a carrot dangling in the face of a mule. It calls for us to continue but every step is an accomplishment of its own. What seemed like manageable pack weight at the start of the day now serves as an anchor dragging behind and begging our ship to slow down. But the lush green of the forest fl oor was left behind hours ago and the wind-swept peaks taunting from all sides are daring us to come close. From our vantage point, the mountains look like stepping stones to the clouds and a gateway to endless possibilities. We did not come here for a relaxing respite from civilian life; we came to Colorado to push beyond what is thought possible and prove that, through teamwork, there is no stopping the human spirit.

On June 17, 2013, the team of six awoke to the sun cresting over the San Juan Mountains in the American Basin outside of Lake City, Colo. Th e air was crisp and the breeze whispered through the pine trees lining Williams’ Creek as rainbow trout broke the surface for a morning snack. An explosion of gear lined the campsite as everyone organized their piles eliminating any unnecessary items that would present added weight on the long haul up the mountain. Th e sound of bacon sizzling on the skillet served as a fl eeting reminder that this would be the last taste of meat before such fl avors were

confi ned to powder form and air-tight packaging. Th ough the enormity of the task at hand weighed heavily on the mind, the anxious anticipation was combatt ed by the calming nature of camaraderie within this group of strangers. Having only met the

evening before, jokes and sarcastic jabs promptly surfaced in a familial spirit representing the close nature of this group dynamic.

At about 10:00 a.m., all of the food and gear had miraculously found its way stuff ed into packs.

With the vehicles loaded, the team made one fi nal scan of the site and ventured the last few miles of “unimproved” road to the trailhead. And as soon as the e-break was applied, packs were mounted and the team ascended the trail. As the team climbed for

hours gaining signifi cant altitude with every step, the team dynamic forged into team dependence and every member played a key role in the success of the journey.

Th e Push America Perspective is an offi cial publication of Push America.

Published biannually for the Push America and Pi Kappa Phi family,

the Push America Perspective communicates exciting events taking

place throughout the organization while providing awareness of

opportunities for further involvement and ways to give to Push America.

Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available for all of Push America’s events at

all levels of support.

More info on giving can be found at www.pushamerica.org

Many large corporations have matching gift programs. Aft er you’ve made a donation

to Push America, inquire about your company’s policy.

Push America’s logistics team is always looking to fi ll meal slots for team events.

Th rough a designated monetary donation, one of our teams will have a meal provided.

Each Pi Kappa Phi chapter commits to raising important funds for Push

America. Donations to a specifi c chapter’s fundraising can be done through their

online fundraising page.

Just like chapters, team members have committ ed to fundraising on behalf of Push

America. Each member has been given a fundraising page online where donations

can be made.

Th e 77 Society is a group comprised of supporters who have committ ed to monthly

giving to Push America, an easy way to provide consistent support that will make a

lasting impact.

From Florida, North Carolina, Indiana and Colorado, six athletes—with and without visual impairments—traveled to the mountains to experience adventure, fellowship and exploration of land and soul. With the common goal of enabling athletes of all abilities to explore beautiful and remote landscapes, Push America and the Adaptive Sports Center of Crested Butt e, Colo. teamed up to present the fi rst Summit Vision. For fi ve days, the team found themselves deep in the wilderness exploring remote corners of a landscape more commonly found

in a painting. Climbing some of the last remaining snow banks before the summer sun forced their hibernation, the team scurried up some of Colorado’s highest peaks like the herds of elk and big horn seen in the distance. During the day, the team pushed the mental and physical barriers of what is thought possible. At night, under the light of a full moon, they gathered for hearty meals and hot tea to recap the day’s events and share stories from past experiences.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Kathy Champion, who lost her vision aft er contracting a virus overseas, said it best when describing the event: “You will never understand the freedom I felt at that moment in time on the mountain. It made me realize I am blind, not broken, and the only limitations I have are ones I set on myself. Th ank you for your generous support and risk to allow visually impaired people to feel alive.”

Lonnie Bedwell, retired Navy, lost his sight in a hunting accident nearly two decades ago, but never lost his vision. Lonnie’s desire to break down barriers was the inspiration for this adventure and his excitement

for exploring the unknown brought the team together in Colorado.

“We have developed new friendships that will last a lifetime,” Bedwell exclaimed. “Walls were once solid with no way over, around or through. You not only placed a door in them; you opened the door and led us through it. And on the other side of that wall is the life we no longer thought existed. You have provided us with a new since of hope and drive.”

As the team retreated down the mountain and back to civilian life, the lactic acid and sore muscles were mere reminders of the successful adventure and what it means to truly pull everything we can from the life we’ve been given.

Following the Summit Vision climb in Colorado, Lonnie Bedwell soon became the fi rst blind individual to solo kayak the entire length of the Grand Canyon and Kathy Champion joined a group of injured veterans in South America to tackle the high peaks of the Peruvian Andes. Both individuals will be back in Colorado for the 2014 Summit Vision trip serving as mentors and group leaders to a new crop of visually impaired climbers ready to fi nd strength in the mountains.

Push America is excited to announce a continued partnership with the Adaptive Sports Center with three sessions for 2014’s Summit Vision trip and we are looking for volunteers to help make the event possible.

SESSION ONE: June 16 - 21

SESSION TWO: September 22 - 27

SESSION THREE: September 29 - October 4

If you are interested in being a part of this ground-breaking adventure and want to help provide this experience for another group of athletes, please contact pac@pushamerica.org for more information.

3

Each summer since 2008, the members of each Journey of Hope TransAmerica team experience quite an impactful Friendship Visit in Seatt le to begin their summer. For many of those young men, it could be their fi rst interaction with someone with a disability; for others, it could be a warm meal and a warmer smile to make “home” feel a litt le less distant. At the beginning of what is sure to be a mentally and physically challenging, strenuous and extremely rewarding summer, each and every team member’s summer begins on a high note thanks to Th e Arc of King County.

As remembered by a three-time TransAmerica crew member, “I’ll always remember that visit with Th e Arc as one of the highlights of the summer, especially my fi rst year. Th e staff , clients and volunteers of Th e Arc made us feel so welcome and appreciated for what we were doing. And not only because they were impressed that our guys were riding their bikes across the country, but impressed that we’d given a summer ultimately to increase our understanding and empathy of people with disabilities.”

One of the people behind that Friendship Visit is Sylvia Fuerstenberg, executive director of Th e Arc of King County. Since she joined Th e Arc’s staff six years ago, the TransAmerica team has made a visit each year before kick-off in Seatt le.

“I think it started when someone from Push America called Th e Arc of King County to ask about a Friendship Visit while they were still in Seatt le,” Sylvia said. “Between Journey of Hope and the local Pi Kappa Phi chapter relationship, the relationship between Th e Arc and Push America is a strong one. One that we value deeply.”

Sylvia Fuerstenberg has been serving people with disabilities for over 30 years, aft er she achieved a master’s degree in social work. “Basically, for my entire adult life, I’ve been working with people with disabilities. It’s been an extremely rewarding line of work.”

As would any profession, Sylvia’s work within the disability community has made a tremendous impact on her family. “I’ve always tried to share my experiences with people with disabilities with my family,” she said. “It has added such a rich element to our family. My husband and both my kids have devoted an extraordinary amount of time to many diff erent events over the years.”

One of those events has been the TransAmerica team’s Friendship Visit in Seatt le. Sylvia’s son, Sam, fi rst saw the team in 2009, his junior year in high school. What stuck out to Sam wasn’t so much that it was a group of fraternity men spending their summer with people with disabilities, but more so how they were traveling.

“I think, at the time, I was more impressed by the fact that they were riding their bikes across the country. I was also a junior in high school, and I was starting to think a lot about college life and all that,” Sam said. “I was particularly intrigued that there were so many engineering majors, which was the direction I was heading.”

Just two years later, Sam enrolled at Arizona State University as an engineering major. When choosing ASU, Sam was only concerned with their engineering program. During a Greek life introductory walk through, however, Sam saw something that he immediately recognized: the Th eta Xi chapter of Pi Kappa Phi was actively promoting their involvement with Push America.

“I consider it a very ‘happy coincidence’ that I went to a school with such an active Push America chapter of Pi Kappa Phi,” Sam said. “I was blown away by the chapter’s level of involvement and interaction with people with disabilities. Th at relationship had grown so strong in me thanks in a lot of ways to my mom’s work. To see other people my age encouraging and engaging people with disabilities was prett y great to see.”

Growing up, engaging people with disabilities was a normal part of everyday life for Sam and his family. “I remember not being able to walk more than fi ve steps through our local mall without seeing someone my mom knew from her work. I met a lot of people, and had a ton of great experiences. And I realize now that not everyone had the fortune of that growing up,” Sam added.

Not long aft er his introduction to ASU’s Greek life, Sam joined the Th eta Xi chapter of Pi Kappa Phi. And not long aft er that, Sam made the decision to take the opportunity only off ered to members of Pi Kappa Phi; he joined the 2014 Journey of Hope team as a cyclist, with a preference for the TransAmerica route, of course.

“Now that I have this opportunity, it’s like everything is kind of coming full circle. Obviously it’s an exciting and adventurous prospect to ride a bike across the country, but I also know that I’m going to gain more dedication and excitement for both people with disabilities and Pi Kappa Phi,” Sam said, excitedly. He continued, “I know this is going to strengthen my brotherhood and also my passion for people with disabilities. Interaction is key, and I’m living out that belief through Journey of Hope.”

One might think that Sylvia’s focus might shift to worried parent aft er Sam decided to do Journey of Hope. Her reaction, as it turned out, was quite the opposite.

“Oh! I was thrilled,” she exclaimed. “Very excited when he told me he signed up. Sam has a passion, and he’s also very athletic, so it made perfect sense. I’m VERY proud that he would dedicate a summer to a cause that I care so deeply about.”

While the 2014 team’s arrival in Washington still seems so far off , both Sam and Sylvia are looking forward to being reunited on the Capitol lawn next August. When asked what they each expect that day, Sam said, “Lots of tears, mostly from mom.”

“Tears of pride and joy, for sure,” Sylvia quickly said. “Sam and I are close anyway, and I think this will bond us even more. I hope it’s an adventure that carries on to new adventures, knowing he can persevere and accomplish something like that. Organizations like Th e Arc of King County need people like Sam and the rest of Pi Kappa Phi out there in the world from all walks of life.”

Aft er pausing to refl ect, Sylvia added, “However he chooses to contribute to the world, I know Sam will make a diff erence.”

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searching for passionnick brady, 2013 north team project manager

As an undergraduate member of Pi Kappa Phi, I was privileged to be on the Executive Council of my chapter at Arizona State. I’d teach new members about summer events and go over the history of the organization, but my involvement with Push America was hovering around the minimum. I’d go to the events I was asked to att end, but I never pursued anything out of my own want.

Even the following year as Leadership Consultant for Pi Kappa Phi, I found myself saying how awesome Push America is and how brothers found a new fraternity through Journey of Hope, Build America or Gear Up Florida. I was recruiting members and telling them how Push America makes Pi Kappa Phi diff erent from all other fraternities. I was going through the motions and I knew it. I was talking the talk, but not walking

the walk. I believed in the organization and the mission, but I didn’t know why.

Finally, in 2012, as an alum and past staff , I found myself in position to make a life decision. I could follow my gut and pursue Journey of Hope (the adventure/challenge that kept me up at night) or I could go back out and fi nd another desk job. It wasn’t easy, but I fi nally decided to acknowledge the decision my heart had made a long time ago and signed up.

Th at summer, I cycled the Journey of Hope North route, and was privileged to return as the Project Manager in 2013. My summers with Push America have completely changed my perception of the world around me. I am suddenly more aware of all people’s abilities. My experiences with my teammates will be some of the fondest memories of

my life. Most surprising of all, the self-development I experienced exceeded my expectations. Ironically, through a summer of service, I was the one who grew and was helped.

People are always searching for passion. Be that hiring managers, recruiters, friends or even family. People want to be assured that there are folks out there that are willing to make a diff erence.

Th e events are limitless. Th at is one of the great things about Push America; don’t think that because you are fresh out of college, you don’t have the ability to contribute to Push America in some way, big or small. Instead, challenge yourself to fi nd a way to contribute. I can honestly say that my experience with Push America has not only shown me what fraternity truly means, it has provided me with the tools to help others realize that as well.