On April 30th, 2017, Dr. Kurt Kavanaugh and many members of his staff took part in the CCVI Trolley Run. The Trolley Run is the largest timed four-mile races in the country, and all proceeds from the race go directly to critical programming at the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired. As the father of a child who is deaf and blind, this cause is particularly important to Dr. Kurt Kavanaugh, and his support of the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired has been ongoing for many years.
Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired
Founded in 1952, CCVI (the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired) provides a comprehensive educational program to children who are blind or visually impaired, including those who have multiple disabilities. The program’s mission is to prepare these young children for adulthood and help them achieve their highest potential in life.
CCVI’s program is open to any visually impaired child between infant- to Kindergarten-age. The program offers education and instruction in two phases, which are based on the child’s stage in life:
- Infant Program: During this phase, CCVI provides regularly scheduled instruction and therapy at the child’s home. The child’s development is evaluated periodically at the Center in Kansas City.
- Preschool & Kindergarten Program: CCVI offers early learning classes to children once they reach the appropriate age. Using highly-specialized instruction, these classes continue preparing the child for entry into a public or private school system.
CCVI offers several additional services, including occupational, speech-language, aquatic and physical therapy, low vision training, orientation and mobility, and braille instruction. Beyond the classroom, CCVI also provides therapies and family education to students and their loved ones.
Trolley Run
Started in 1989, The Trolley Run was pitched to the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired by Michael Forbes Restaurants, Inc.. The company owned two restaurants four miles apart from each other, with one in the heart of Kansas City and the other in The Plaza shopping center. The race got its name from its four-mile course that follows the old trolley tracks in Kansas City.
The race concludes with a huge after party at The Plaza. Runners, walkers, spectators and families can enjoy food, drinks, and entertainment at one of the largest “After Bash” celebrations in the entire country.
Now in its 28th year, the Trolley Run is the largest annual fundraiser for CCVI. It provides critical funding to the Center’s programming budget every year.
Contact Dr. Kurt Kavanaugh Today
To learn more about CCVI and the Trolley Run, we encourage you to visit their websites at https://ccvi.org and http://trolleyrun.org/. Our practice holds this organization and this fundraiser close to our hearts, so if you’re interested in getting involved with CCVI or participating in next year’s Trolley Run, you may ask us about it during your next appointment. To contact us, please call (816) 420-8100 for our Kansas City office or (660) 829-2900 for our Sedalia office.
