Easter Seals Michigan Privacy Practices

The Story of Easter Seals

Easter Seals has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives for more than 90 years. Whether helping someone improve physical mobility, return to work or simply gain greater independence for everyday living, Easter Seals offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life's challenges and achieve personal goals.

Tragedy Leads to Inspiration
In 1907, Ohio-businessman Edgar Allen lost his son in a streetcar accident. The lack of adequate medical services available to save his son prompted Allen to sell his business and begin a fund-raising campaign to build a hospital in his hometown of Elyria, Ohio. Through this new hospital, Allen was surprised to learn that children with disabilities were often hidden from public view. Inspired by this discovery, in 1919 Allen founded what became known as the National Society for Crippled Children.

The Birth of the Seal
In the spring of 1934, the organization launched its first Easter "seals" campaign to raise money for its services. To show their support, donors placed the seals on envelopes and letters. Cleveland Plain Dealer cartoonist J.H. Donahey designed the first seal. Donahey based the design on a concept of simplicity because those served by the charity asked "simply for the right to live a normal life."

The lily -- a symbol of spring -- was officially incorporated as Easter Seals' logo in 1952 for its association with resurrection and new life and has appeared on each seal since.

Easter Seals Emerges
The overwhelming public support for the Easter "seals" campaign triggered a nationwide expansion of the organization and a swell of grassroots efforts on behalf of people with disabilities. By 1967, the Easter "seal" was so well recognized, the organization formally adopted the name "Easter Seals."

Easter Seals Today
Easter Seals assists more than one million children and adults with disabilities and their families annually through a nationwide network of more than 450 service sites. Each center provides top-quality, family-focused and innovative services tailored to meet the specific needs of the particular community it serves.

Visit our Quality Assurance page to learn about our agency's dedication to quality.

Visit our Financials page to learn more about how your donations are used.

Senior Leadership Team

	Brent Wirth - President and CEO
	Rich Hollis - Senior Vice President of Finance & Operations
	Juliana Harper - Senior Vice President of Programs & Business Development

Leadership Team

	Jeff Camboia - Director of Procurement & Contract Compliance
	Denise Durkee - Director of West Michigan Therapy Center
	Jackie Hooper - Vice President of Human Resources
	Toby Horner - Controller
	Claire Hulleza - Director of Information Technology and Systems
	Kevin Kelly - Director of Development
	Melissa Moody - Director of Specialty Adult Services
	Wendy Standifer - Director of Behavioral Health Services
	Susan Styf - Director of Family Services
	Stephanie Wolf Hull - Vice President of Quality, Compliance, and Utilization Management