Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photo by Michael Schlueter
Many believe that when history is written, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols will be viewed as the best player in the history of baseball. But it is quite possible that where he is making the biggest difference is in the lives of individuals—people of all ages with Down syndrome, poor children in the Dominican Republic and abused and single mothers with the Pujols Family Foundation.
Pujols debuted in the major leagues in 2001, but quickly soared to fame when he became the first player in baseball history to hit 30 or more home runs in each of his first five seasons. But it is through the Pujols Family Foundation that Pujols is making a lasting impact on real people. Pujols and his wife Diedre Pujols, are making a difference in the lives of thousands every day by giving hope and meeting tangible needs for families and children who live with Down syndrome. The foundation also helps to give new and exciting experiences to children with disabilities and/or life threatening illnesses, and works to improve the standard of living and quality of life for impoverished children in the Dominican Republic. Most recently, the Foundation has teamed with Leftovers, etc. Of St. Charles to introduce Albert’s Rising Stars, a new program whereby Leftovers, etc. Provides yearround, exclusive performing arts and enrichment clubs to the metropolitan area Down syndrome community. The program offers music instruction in piano, guitar, choir, voice, percussion, violin, band and music appreciation and also includes a theater program with an introduction to theater, theatrical history, acting, prop preparation, costuming, direction and more. Leftovers, etc. offers Albert’s Rising Stars a dance curriculum that includes ballroom (rhythm dance), creative movement, ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hula hoop dance. Leftovers, etc. Executive Director Sandy O’Dell said the program offers socialization opportunities by extending the subjects the organization offers through its Home School Enrichment Center program to the metropolitan area Down syndrome community. These clubs consist of the Science Club, Money Matters Club, Hobby Shop, Creative Art Club and the Travel Club. Leftovers, etc. Was started by Sandy Greiwe in 1989 as a distribution center for household and industrial discards. Today, more than 10,000 people donate and purchase discarded items from Leftovers, etc.
For everything from art and science projects in local schools to badge requirements for scouting projects. It is a community-based educational and environmental resource and learning center that provides free/affordable traditional and non-traditional school supplies for use as learning tools to public and private school educators, home school educators, early childhood educators, and organizations working with low-income parents.
Leftovers, etc. is operated by the Resource Recovery Project, Inc., A 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit educational organization. O’Dell said a teacher may need Pringles cans to simulate telescopes for a science project or burned out light bulbs for Christmas ornaments. The center conducted some 2,500 workshops in 2010. “We may never say we are recycling or reusing,” O’Dell said. “They can see what goes on here. These are things people don’t want any more but someone else does. We teach communication, science, social studies and many other things with discards.” O’Dell said grants for the non profit agency became hard to come by in recent years, forcing the organization to seek out other ways to stay afloat. Leftovers, etc. Held its first scouting workshop in 2005. Then O’Dell started working with home school families. Next came performing arts. She said her board of directors asked her where Leftovers, etc. Fits in with individuals with Down syndrome. She came up with an answer quickly. Of course, the people attending the dance recitals could make their own costumes with discards. “All they need is a leotard,” she said. “My daughter was a professional dancer. I have $20,000 worth of costumes in my basement she wore once. We are a reuse organization. There is no reason in the world that we can’t use all of this material here to make costumes.” O’Dell met Todd Perry, executive director of The Pujols Family Foundation when he was visiting the embroidering shop of her landlord Jim Zimmerman. “Not having any expectation at all I started talking with Sandy,” Perry said. “You could just tell there was a synergy there. It seemed like this wonderful fit, sort of a custom fit made for both organizations. Other organizations should partner with her.” Perry said at the core of the Pujols Family Foundation is “the belief that every person is special in the sight of God. We will strive to provide extraordinary experiences for people with disabilities and/or life threatening illnesses. We will continue to partner with other charitable organizations to make a difference in the lives of thousands of deserving children and families.”
The Foundation’s vision is to live and share its founder’s commitment to faith, family and others. And part of that vision is hope. That describes the Leftovers, etc. Partnership to a fault, Perry said. “We really focus on the encouragement, the hope we can give. I can not stress how important that is to have something to look forward to, something in your life you see as a worth to yourself in that day. Those things are lost sometimes on people with disabilities.” Creating and developing programs that integrate people with disabilities changes everything, Perry said. “By bringing these types of activities to people with disabilities, we meet them where they are. Our society is not built around people who are different. With this program everything focuses on them. the people at Leftovers, etc. have done an extremely professional job at meeting their needs and meeting them where they are. Everyone can find something they can be good at and take pride in.”
For more information on classes offered to the local Down syndrome community contact Leftovers, etc. At 636-946-9779 or visit www.Leftoversetc.Com, or contact the Pujols Family Foundation at 314-878-2105 or www.Pujolsfamilyfoundation.Org.
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