2011 INTERNATIONAL HERO
Kenneth E. Behring
Founder, Wheelchair Foundation and WaterLeaders Foundation
For improving the lives of hundreds of thousands throughout the world by distributing wheelchairs and delivering clean drinking water
The establishment of the Wheelchair Foundation marks the most recent chapter in Kenneth E. Behring’s philanthropic efforts. In 1988, he established the Seattle Seahawks Charitable Foundation, which benefited numerous children’s charities. In 2000, his gift of $80 million rebuilt the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
During his years of travel around the world, Ken has made it his personal mission to help those in need. His donations of food, medical supplies, clothing, toys and educational materials have helped people in some of the most impoverished nations on earth. His first-hand involvement has given him a realistic picture of how much help is needed worldwide. In 1999 he donated shipments of wheelchairs to relief organizations in Eastern Europe and Africa. His personal contact with the recipients gave him a greater understanding of how much hope and happiness can be given to a person who receives a wheelchair. In the following months, he traveled the world delivering wheelchairs to numerous countries. In June 2000, he committed $15 million to create the Wheelchair Foundation, and since that time he has tirelessly traveled the world delivering wheelchairs to the disabled citizens of five continents. The foundation has distributed more than 800,000 wheelchairs to date.
Mr. Behring’s experience with the Wheelchair Foundation inspired him to increase his philanthropy in the area of global health. In 2005, he launched the WaterLeaders Foundation, which evaluates the water needs of communities around the globe, and equips, trains, and enables those communities to provide themselves with safe drinking water. Most recently, he has kicked off Operation Global Vision, with a three-year goal of providing surgery, free of charge, for 275,000 victims of cataract blindness.
Award Presenter
Richard D. King, Past World President, Rotary International; Senior Partner, King, King & King
