Hundreds of people gathered for the Blarney Breakfast Tuesday morning.
Celebrating 40 years, the event was one of the most successful in its history. More than 1,250 people attended with net proceeds in excess of $58,200.
“It’s just a craziest, most fun event I’ve ever been to, and I think that’s why people keep coming back. It’s just so much fun,” said Margaret Shook, chair of Chi Epsilon. The organization has helped sponsor the breakfast for more than 35 years.
The benefit breakfast raises money for Rainbows United. Money from the breakfast went to assist six families from the Wichita-area. All the families have children with special needs.
“The things that they’re getting are really things that they need,” Shook said. “For instance, an iPad. A lot of kids that are autistic have a hard time communicating, and when you take them out in public, it’s just such an immense, wonderful thing for them.”
One of this year’s beneficiaries is Tucker Ciarmoli, a wheelchair-bound child who has other special needs. His mom said Rainbows United has helped them in the past with purchasing a wheelchair lift and an iPad to help him communicate with his mom. Many children with autism use iPads to communicate.
“I’ve been a single mom for 13 years, and having them help support me with anything as far as even briefs, bibs. The small things to the big things,” said Tucker’s mom, Kacie.
This year, Tucker received an iPad mount to attach to his wheelchair, helping enhance communication in their family. Kacie said she was overwhelmed with such generosity from the community.
“It’s very heartwarming to see all these people come out just to support my child and other children like him. That really truly care in the city,” she said.