Chamber Business Connection Vol. 1, Issue 8 | Page 14

Building a Support System, One Buddy at a Time
A
pproaching the field of Buddy Ball, the first thing you
notice are the sounds of cheering children. The spring
morning is bright, but not as bright as the dozens of smil-
ing facing swarming around the baseball pitch. Kids rush
about – some are disabled, some are not – all having a
great time.
Jeff and Lisha Guminey approach the field with their
daughter, Lauren. Lauren is handicapped and confined to
a small wheel chair – but just like the other kids, she’s all
smiles. Folks of various ages take turns happily greeting
her, and someone hands her a small baseball bat which
she swings with the enthusiasm that only small children
possess. It’s clear she can’t wait for her turn on the field.
Jeff and Lisha take a moment out of their happy morning
to explain How Buddy Ball has helped their family forge
happy childhood memories they may not have had access
to otherwise.
“When you have a child that is born with some challeng-
es – you know, I wasn’t thinking when she was born that
I would ever see her hit a baseball in front of a cheering
crowd…For me, personally, it’s been an awesome experi-
ence,” Jeff says, his hand mimicking a baseball cap to block
the sun from his eyes. “…when buddy ball came around it
felt like Christmas. Now she gets to have normal, typical
summer experiences.”
Lisha relates that Buddy Ball is a much for the parents and
relatives of the disabled, as it is for the disabled kids them-
selves. In these idyllic mornings, just for a few precious
moments, it’s as if no one here is handicapped at all.
“As a parent of a child with special care needs, you’re con-
stantly in a caregiver role. The benefit of the buddy is that
they get to be on the field and help your child play the
game – and you get to sit back on the bleachers and have
one of those rare moments where you can just be a par-
ent,” she says through a wide smile. “That’s been really re-
freshing. You can just enjoy the game instead of having to
worry about, ‘can she do that?’ or ‘does she need help with
that?’
Laundry is our business,
and we hope to make your
visit as pleasant as
possible.
That's why we maintain our
own machines to ensure
that they are in the best
shape possible.
We are always trying to
stay on the cutting edge of
Laundry services by pro-
viding quality machines
and exceptional service.
Feel free to stop in at either
of our two locations today
serving the Grove City and
Columbus areas!
We Are Your Spa & Hair Salon
In Grove City!
J. Anthony’s Salon & Spa is a
locally owned and operated full
service hair salon and day spa.
As you make your search for your
next salon or nail salon in Grove
City, please consider
J. Anthony’s.
We opened in the summer of
2014 and we are featuring some
of the regions finest, most luxuri-
ous hair, nails and skin services.
Conveniently located just
minutes from I-71 S on SR 665, we
invite you to schedule an
appointment with one of our
nationally trained professionals
and feel the J. Anthony difference.
Efficiency meets style in our 1 and
2 bedroom apartment homes with
spacious living areas and updated
features such as wood-style
flooring.
Sterling Park is a small community
of 128 apartment homes located in
a residential neighborhood within
the Excellent-rated Southwestern
City School District.
The community is within nine
miles of thirteen different parks
that offer walking and biking trails,
playgrounds, a skate park, and
baseball diamonds. This nice-
ly landscaped community is two
miles south of I-270 and two miles
west of I-71, and eight miles south
of downtown Columbus and of-
fers garage parking. At Sterling
Park, you’ll find the perfect choice
for both style and convenience.
Check out our newly upgraded
apartments!
CITY DEMOGRAPHICS
“Its just been nice to get out in the community and network with other families and parents and siblings who’s day
to day life is very similar to yours and can point you in the right direction for different needs, you know - a support
system.”
Wayne Kintz, a board member of Buddy Ball, also explained that the games help non-handicapped kids as much as
those with disabilities.“…all these kids and other folks who are buddies – they get more out of it than they ever ex-
pected because they start to understand what it’s like to have true empathy for others, they build life skills that they
will carry with them here and beyond.”
CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION
Member Spotlight
14
POPULATION - 36,079
MEDIAN AGE - 39.5
POPULATION OVER 18 - 7 7%
POPULATION OVER 65 - 14.5%
NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS - 14,393
MEDIAN HOME PRICE - $245,693
MEDIAN INCOME PER HOUSEHOLD - $61,506
NUMBER OF BUSINESSES - 1,455+
Want to learn more about the demographics of Grove City?
Visit http://www.grovecityohio.gov/about-us-and-tourism/community-information/
CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION
15