BUZZY ALEXANDER

Born with cerebral palsy, Buzzy Alexander was an Easter Seals ambassador. For many years he has raised funds for Easter Seals and has also initiated a partnership with the Daytona Cubs baseball teams to benefit Easter Seals.

Doctors told Mr. Alexander that he would never walk. As a child, he endured more than 27 surgeries and received regular therapy at Easter Seals, becoming a part of the Easter Seals family. Today he lives in his own home and spends 40 hours per week working as a dispatcher at the Daytona Beach News-Journal, a job that he has held for more than 20 years. Mr. Alexander uses his spare time to volunteer with the Easter Seals.

Mr. Alexander’s activities bring more attention to the purpose and mission of Easter Seals. The funds he raises are directed to programs, which help change lives of those with special needs. These programs include speech, occupational, and physical therapy; aquatic therapy; hippo therapy and a host of other services working to bring independence to the lives of our neighbors with disabilities. He also single-handedly initiated the News-Journal 50-50 along with the Daytona Cubs-Easter Seals partnership, both of which have been ongoing.

The Easter Seals-Daytona Cubs partnership is a major fundraising activity. It involved Cubs ticket sales and special raffles. During 2003, this partnership brought in more than $2,500 with the vast majority of the work being completed by Mr. Alexander. In addition, the 50-50 raffles he has created at the News-Journal where he has worked for more than 24 years is also another major fundraiser. All of the proceeds of the raffle are donated to the Easter Seals. Last year the raffle raised in excess of $2,500.

In addition, Mr. Alexander takes his vacation time from the News-Journal in order to volunteer at an Easter Seals event, the Harley Give-Away booth. This booth is manned each day of Bike Week and Biketoberfest, and Mr. Alexander is at the Easter Seals booths for several hours each day.

Along with these activities, Mr. Alexander has helped transport equipment for special events, has been a spokesperson for Easter Seals and has also recruited additional volunteers. Mr. Alexander’s activities bring more attention to the purpose and mission of Easter Seals. The money he raises is directed to programs, which help change the lives of those with special needs. These programs include various types of therapy and a host of other services working to bring independence to the lives of their community members with disabilities.