La Rue Reese

Although La Rue is a quiet and unassuming man, he serves as a powerful inspiration to the staff and clients of the National Ability Center in Park City. During the summer of 2005, La Rue contacted the Center about potential volunteer opportunities. The fact that the National Ability Center is located in Park City, more than 3,000 miles from his home in Pennsylvania, did not seem to matter to La Rue. Whether it required taking on a fleet of adaptive bicycles, working on canoes or fixing and maintaining the summer equipment, he faithfully asked for another task after finishing each job.

La Rue worked hard each week to ensure he maintained his personal time commitment of at least 40 hours each week. As winter approached, La Rue also began volunteering at the Center’s ski facility at Park City Mountain Resort. Here, he quickly assessed the work needing to be done on the adaptive equipment used in lessons for the diverse clientele of the Center. His efforts helped make the ski program a huge success. Now home in Pennsylvania, La Rue continues to keep in contact with the Center, keeping the Center informed about a new idea or approach to a problem he has found. His continual service and selflessness is greatly appreciated, and the National Ability Center is fortunate to be the ongoing beneficiary of his service.