greater
pennsylvania
education
foundation

In keeping with its mission statement, The Greater Pennsylvania Education Foundation spends part of its time and resources supporting charity. The charity that the Foundation supports is the Free Wheelchair Mission. The Free Wheelchair Mission transforms lives through the gift of mobility to the physically disabled poor in developing countries. Approximately 100 million people are disabled worldwide and in need of mobility. The Free Wheelchair Mission creatively partners with like-minded international humanitarian and indigenous organizations to distribute 20 million wheelchairs. We believe the works of the Free Wheelchair Mission fits perfectly with the mission of GPEF of keeping people moving and living a productive life.

​

For the past 6 years, GPEF, along with dedicated support from Missy Baily, Tennis Pro Wheeling WV, Jan Irwin, Tennis Pro Upper St. Clair, PA, and Don Williams, owner of Professional Compounding Pharmacists, has held an annual tennis extravaganza with proceeds benefitting the Free Wheelchair Mission.

​

Tennis fanatics and weekend warriors alike pay $71.88 each (the cost of a wheelchair), to spend the day playing doubles matches for fun and prizes. In the first year the event was held at West Liberty State University and raised $3,000. The second year took place at Upper St. Clair tennis center, on August 2012, and raised over $5,400. This amount was enough to purchase over 75 wheelchairs for those in need. Year three raised an incredible $10,000. This helped change the lives of 140 disabled people! In 2014, we again raised $10,000. 2015 and 2016 were great, with total money raised taking us to almost $50,000 over 6 years.

​

If you would like to support the wheelchair mission please call Dr. Hofbauer at 412-849-9862 to pledge your charitable tax deductible donation.