THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 11, 1994 TAG: 9409090315
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Alan Fries and Laura Turner never met, but because of her, Alan is now attending Tidewater Community College.
Fries was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to get around. He wanted to attend college after graduating from Salem High School last June, but when his financial aid application was delayed, Fries thought he might have to postpone his plans.
``It was getting closer to the start of school and we hadn't heard anything, so we were becoming anxious,'' said his mother, Linda Fries.
Kathy Prendergast entered the picture. The executive director of United Cerebral Palsy of Southeastern Virginia in Norfolk found out about the Fries' plight and called them.
She told the Fries about the Laura Turner Fund. At her death, Turner left a portion of her estate to assist those with cerebral palsy get employment training, including college attendance. The fund is managed by the Louise W. Eggleston Center in Norfolk.
``Most people don't seem to know about the fund. The money is just sitting there to be used,'' said Prendergast.
On the eve of school opening, Alan Fries found himself the happy beneficiary of the fund.
``The money we received paid for Alan's books, tuition and his transportation,'' said Linda Fries. ``He received half of the transportation cost and an interest-free loan for the balance (of the bus fare).
``Kathy really stepped in and helped, acted as the liaison person.''
Fries uses the services of Tidewater Regional Transit's Handi-Ride, a bus with a special lift to accommodate his wheelchair.
``When I was paying for him to ride during the summer, I didn't notice the cost. It's $33 a week; $568 for the semester to and from TCC,'' said Linda Fries. She and Alan live in the College Park section of Virginia Beach.
Fries is taking 14 semester hours at TCC's Virginia Beach campus. He has classes in computer science, math, English and the required orientation class for incoming freshmen. He also has found a job - working in the campus library.
Linda Fries said the stipend from the Turner fund will give her and Alan breathing room until their application for a Pell Grant comes through.
She is a special early education, primary program itinerant teacher with Norfolk Public Schools.
``I go wherever they may need me. I have worked in the past with emotionally disturbed and mentally retarded children. I also work with those who have physical disabilities now,'' she said. ``Having a child with cerebral palsy has helped me in that regard.'' MEMO: For more information about the Laura Turner Fund, call United Cerebral
Palsy of Southeastern Virginia at 627-2326.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY EDWARDS
Alan Fries is taking 14 semester hours at Tidewater Community
College's Virginia Beach campus.
by CNB