Nearly 3,000 people with disabilities attended the
21st annual Special People�s Ball at the Moody Gardens Convention Center,
Sunday, February 11th. Decked in their Mardi Gras best and bejeweled with
strings of beads, participants danced, ate, had their faces painted and received
balloon animals. More than 200 volunteers helped to make this year�s event a big
success."Everyone had a great time,"
said Yvette Schmidt, volunteer coordinator for Moody Gardens. "The room looked
festive and the music kept people dancing all afternoon. We couldn�t have done
it without help from all of the volunteers."
Jim and Lynda Guidry visited with City Council Member Juan Pena, who also provided some of the photos, Galveston Independent School District Trustee Carol Greaney-Wurst, a volunteer at the event, and Jeri Hamachek, marketing and public relations manager for Moody Gardens. Listen Download
Moody Gardens, a project established by the
Moody Foundation in 1982, traces its early development in part to Hope Therapy,
a program that has changed the lives of thousands of people since its inception.
Today�s Hope Therapy focuses on Horticulture Therapy, through which individuals
with disabilities can improve sensory awareness and motor abilities, regain
confidence, and learn new skills to prepare for employment opportunities. Moody
Gardens� massive greenhouses and Rainforest Pyramid� are tended in large part by
these special clients. In addition to the Special People�s Mardi Gras Ball,
other Hope Therapy activities include Sports Fest in the fall and Camp Discovery
in the summer for individuals with disabilities.
For more information please contact Moody
Gardens at 800/582-4673, ext. 4109 or 4108.