AMBUCS™ is a non-profit service organization consisting of a diverse group of
men and women who are dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people
with disabilities.
Our local AMBUCS chapter (Ponca City Noon Chapter) was chartered January 5th
1927.
Currently, there are nearly 6,000 AMBUCS members in over 135 chapters in 30
states. Why are so many people plugged in?
Because AMBUCS is the fun way to serve!
Visit the national website for more information, http://www.ambucs.org/
By working together, AMBUCS volunteers make their spare time go a long, long
way. When someone joins AMBUCS they join a group of individuals who are ready to
make a difference in their community. AMBUCS local and national service programs
generate intense satisfaction and pride.
No doubt about it, service to others is what AMBUCS is all about. As members
work together, they contribute to chapter activities and goals while learning
new skills that can pay lasting dividends in their professional lives. They also
have the opportunity to make valuable contacts and develop essential leadership
skills.
So, what do the Ponca City Noon AMBUCS do?
They meet weekly, on Thursday afternoons at the Ponca City Country Club where
they not only discuss their current AMBUCS activities, but also address the
appropriate business issues and enjoy a nice lunch together. The AMBUCS also get
together regularly for committee/planning meetings and have occasional socials
that are loads of fun.
By far, the biggest project the AMBUCS are responsible for is the National
Motocross Championship event held at their track in Ponca City every year since
1978. With the help of the City of Ponca City and the Race Promoter, they all
work together to bring a full week of championship motocross racing to Ponca
City. This race is the largest single event in the area and brings thousands of
people to Ponca City every year from all over the country, not only because it
is a great motocross event, but also because they have one of the top ten
motocross tracks in the United States. The money raised from these races is
mainly used for the funding of their meaningful projects around the community
and is also used to assist other agency's in Ponca City when needed.
Other examples of AMBUCS projects would be, every year the Ponca City Noon
AMBUCS awards at least two $500 scholarships to students going into the field of
therapy.
The AMBUCS hosts the Olympic Fun Day for their friends who live with various
challenges, they touch the lives of well over 100 deserving special athletes
each year.
The AMBUCS hosts the Ponca City Easter Egg Hunt at Lake Ponca where children up
through age 12 can hunt for candy eggs and new shiny money. Special prize eggs
are included and once found they are redeemed for larger prizes. Prize eggs are
available to 5 different age categories making it a very fun event for the local
children.
The AMBUCS prepare and deliver Thanksgiving baskets to families in need every
year just before the holiday so they too can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with
family and friends.
Christmas Aid is another heartfelt project lead by the AMBUCS where Christmas
gifts and/or gift cards are provided to family's in need, creating wonderful
Christmas memories for children who may not otherwise get to enjoy the joy of
receiving gifts at Christmas time.
The AMBUCS build and install handicap accessible ramps to those who need them
around the community, they recently completed a new state-of-the-art, handicap
accessible playground at Lake Ponca Park. In recent years the AMBUCS have
completed projects such as funding and building handicap accessible cabins at
Camp McFadden on Kaw Lake, funded the building of the AMBUCS Pool, a very nice
public swimming pool, and other projects all of which are enjoyed by the people
of Ponca City on a regular basis.
AMBUCS continues to provide AmTrykes (therapeutic tricycles) to anyone that can
benefit from them and any of the AMBUCS will be glad to tell you that there is
no better feeling than the one you get when you put someone with special needs
on a fun tricycle that not only helps them, but allows them to have fun and be
mobile in a way that they probably never have before.
The Ponca City Noon AMBUCS are a busy bunch of volunteers who not only do all of
these great things in their community, but they continue to support other groups
in the community such as Habitat for Humanity, The American Red Cross, Hospice
of North Central Oklahoma, Operation Pioneer Spirit, supporting soldiers over
seas.. and The Hope Ranch. They also give to groups like Ponca City Junior
baseball, Girls softball, Boys state delegates, Marland’s Children’s Home and
the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce.