A MO BETTER VISION:

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To make life a more happy, more fun and overall, “more better” for individuals in Missouri living with physical disabilities. ​

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A MO BETTER MISSION:

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Funded by corporate and individual donations, MO Better Foundation (also known as MO Better) was established to enhance the quality of life for Missourians with physical disabilities. We provide funding to assist in purchasing items that aid in daily living. Our support is available when no other funding sources are accessible or when existing funding is insufficient to cover the costs of assistive technology, equipment, mobility aids, access modifications, and other essential needs.

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A MO BETTER LEADERSHIP TEAM:

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MO Better Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and administered by a professional staff of one. David Welborn, the founder of MO Better, serves as the Executive Director, overseeing day-to-day operations, compliance, mission fulfillment, marketing, public relations, and event planning. A volunteer Advisory Council, consisting of regional and state experts across various fields, offers valuable insights to help guide the organization in fulfilling its mission.

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• Board of Directors and Officers:

• Board President: Andrew J. Tessmer, Marketing Manager, Neighborly of St. Louis

• Board Secretary: Cecilia Barbaglia, RT(R)(M) MRI Technologist at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis County, MO, a long-time community volunteer, and the sister/caregiver of an individual who passed away from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

• Board Member:  Kat Wheeling, Client Success Director, Largely

• Staff:  David Welborn, Founder & Executive Director. Welborn is an accomplished executive leader with over 40 years of experience in nonprofit management, having led organizations like the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), KEEN St. Louis, Unlimited Play, and other local and regional nonprofits. Through his volunteer work, he has developed personal relationships with many individuals served by these organizations.

 

ADVISORY COUNCIL: Chair:  Aimee Wehmeier, Chief Development Officer, Starkloff Institute

 

The MO Better Foundation Advisory Council is a team of regional and state experts— all volunteers— who contribute their expertise to help MO Better carry out its important mission. Members include physical therapists, occupational therapists, child life and recreational therapists, independent living advocates, special education teachers and aides, social workers, orthoptists and prosthetists, financial advisors, individuals living with physical disabilities (young and old) and their parents and caregivers, as well as community and business leaders.

 

MO BETTER INSPIRATION:

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What began as a volunteer opportunity at a week-long summer camp for kids with muscle diseases turned into a life-changing journey for the founder of MO Better, David Welborn. At just 18, Welborn had little experience assisting individuals with physical disabilities but was eager to learn. He discovered that, although they faced physical limitations, these kids were just like any others.

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At the end of the camp, it was customary for counselors and campers to gather around the campfire and sign each other’s yearbooks. One of the kids in Welborn's cabin, Benji, who was 8 years old, asked him to sign his yearbook. Benji was struggling to think of what to write, so Welborn suggested he write about what he planned to do for the rest of the summer. Benji simply wrote two words: "Have Fun." In response, Welborn added, "Be Happy!"

Welborn stayed in touch with Benji and many other campers over the next 30 years. Tragically, Benji passed away in 2005 at the age of 33. Nevertheless, the four words he wrote in Welborn's summer camp yearbook “Have Fun. Be Happy!" became Welborn’s mantra, guiding him throughout his life and career, including the founding of the MO Better Foundation, dedicated to Benji and all his friends living with muscle-wasting diseases and other disabilities.