Maura and Charlie Weis founded
Hannah & Friends in recognition of their daughter Hannah, who has been affected by developmental disorders.
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The Circle of Life by Hannah's Big Brother Charlie
Just this past Saturday, I spent my time being a deejay for the Hannah and Friends dance party. Hannah and Friends is an organization made for people with special needs and disabilities. At Hannah and Friends, there are fun programs for the people with special needs to do. As I played the music, I realized that the dancers who range from all ages, some are just five-years-old and some are as old as sixty-five, just enjoy being themselves. Even with their so called “disabilities,” they have fun dancing, singing, and enjoying their time together. Some of them have trouble communicating, others have visual impairments, and some lacked the ability to walk on their own, but yet I see the beauty of all these wonderful people. They are some of the most loving people I will ever meet and bring a smile to my face every time I am with them. I cannot even describe how much fun they have.
Individuals with special needs are people that are truly living the way God wants us to live. They love everyone and despite the problems they face, they are truly happy. Even one young girl at the dance was once asked what she did when people were mean to her, she replied, “I am even nicer to them.” This is a perfect example of the Christ-like way individuals with special needs act. It is amazing to think this great place would never have been without my sister Hannah. So let's now take a flashback to see the miracle that led to Hannah and Friends. Click here to continue...
Thank You
A Mother's Letter
When I was seven months into my pregnancy with Hannah, the doctors told me she had Polycystic Kidney Disease and wouldn't live for more than a few days. more...
Watch an interview with Maura and Charlie Weis at Hannah and Friends
Coach Weis meets with Warren Buffett and shares the mission of Hannah and Friends
Hannah & Friends Neighborhood
Watch a video about Hannah and Friends Neighborhood
Take a tour of Hannah and Friends Neighborhood
A Place for Good People
By Hannah's Big Brother Charlie
I go there nearly five times a week, and my feelings have never
changed. It’s the strange feeling I get every time I visit Hannah and
Friends that keeps me coming back. No matter what the season, hot
or cold, rain or snow, green leaves or the beautiful autumn leaves,
the feeling never changes. The feeling I get when I go there is simply
a feeling of goodness. Every single time I step on the grounds of the
farm, I just feel better about life itself. It may be the beauty of
the farm, with several animals such as horses, goats, and cats or the
beautiful green grass that covers several acres of land. Perhaps that
feeling of goodness comes from somewhere other than that wonderful
property.
At Hannah and Friends, so many good things happen to good people
there. Children with all different types of special needs regularly
attend activities at the farm. These children are able to go to Hannah
and Friends to escape the troubles of daily life where many
“normal” people do not accept them for who they truly are. The farm is
welcoming to all children with special needs. Children with special
needs enjoy the company of those who they can relate to and those who
love and care for them. It is a wonderful place to go for these
children who often are looked at as misfits to society and have
trouble enjoying themselves in public places. Hannah and Friends
welcomes all children with what I like to call “different abilities.”
The children participate in activities such as singing and dancing at
dance parties, running and playing different games at a fair, and
cooking delicious meals at culinary arts classes. The smiles I see on
the faces of these children give me that good feeling deep down.
My sister Hannah who was diagnosed with global developmental delays
is another reason for this good feeling. Many people stare at Hannah
when we are out in public and look at her like she is not as good as
“normal” people. Seeing Hannah have so much fun at the farm, a place
she essentially created, makes me feel good. My parents knew they
needed to do something for people with different abilities when my
sister Hannah was growing up. They founded Hannah and Friends
specifically for these kids. In less than a decade, their vision has
improved the quality of life for thousands of individuals. When I go
to Hannah and Friends, I am constantly reminded of how much the
charity does for those who are not as fortunate as most. Knowing all
the good that comes from this magnificent place is a feeling I wish I
could have for my entire life.
Hannah and Friends is a place for good people. I may not know
the exact reason why every time I am at the farm I have such a good
feeling, but I have a pretty good idea. The ideas that provoke simply
from knowing what good the charity does make you feel great. Knowing
that I am a part of something that helps thousands of people and
improves many lives each and every day truly gives me a feeling that
is unbelievable.
Hannah & Friends welcomes first residents
Hannah and Friends welcomed its first residents with a 5:00 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 28. Representatives of the organization’s board, including Maura and Charlie Weis, attended a reception at the Eck Rec Center.
While Hannah and Friends has been hosting events for over a year, the four women moving into the Peter Schivarelli and Chicago Home will be the first full-time residents of the 40-plus acre property located in Northern Indiana. Peter Schivarelli, manager of the legendary rock band “Chicago,” has not only made personal contributions to Hannah and Friends, but the band "Chicago" has also been instrumental in donating fifty cents from every “Chicago” concert ticket sold to the organization. Schivarelli and the band have supported Hannah and Friends since its beginning.
Hannah and Friends’ second dwelling, the Jon Bon Jovi Home, were open for tours during the reception. Fundraising continues for the construction of additional residential homes as well as a respite home for families and a community therapeutic pool.
“When Hannah and Friends was founded six years ago, a target date of 2015 was envisioned for the opening of the resident homes,” explained Weis, chair and founder of the organization. “The incredible generosity of both the Michiana community and the Notre Dame family has been overwhelming, and we feel blessed to be able to welcome four special women to our community.”
Hannah and Friends provides housing and care for individuals with different abilities, and a waiting list for future residents is already growing. A neighborhood of four-bedroom homes will enable residents to integrate their lives into both the Hannah and Friends’ operation and the greater Michiana community. Mosaic, a faith-based national organization serving individuals with developmental disabilities, manages the home's direct support professionals and administration.
Hannah and Friends, founded by Charlie and Maura Weis in honor of their daughter, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and adults with special needs. In addition to the ongoing development of Hannah and Friends Neighborhood, the organization also provides monetary grants to families caring for individuals with special needs and fosters an ongoing campaign promoting “Awareness and Compassion.”
Update from Maura and Charlie Weis
Dear Friends,
As I write this letter, I think back to the previous evening at the Eck Rec Center. I brought Hannah to a drumming class, along with 15 other children and adults with different abilities. As I stood in the back of the room, I watched as the entire group with their parents and siblings gleefully banged on sets of drums, all having the time of their lives. In that moment, I could see how much fun they were all having and no one was staring at them, it was just people sharing in a moment of pure joy and friendship. The drumming class is just one of many programs that we’ve initiated this year. We now offer a wide array of programs for all community members with different abilities to enjoy, including yoga, cooking, music, animal club, and even hay rides, just to name a few. Our new staff member, April, coordinates the programs and works with the participants of each class. Through these programs and the love our staff has for the people with different abilities and their families, people are forming lasting bonds with one another, which I find simply amazing.
Through your donations and support, we’ve turned this small piece of land into a permanent haven for all individuals with different abilities. I realize football is what brought notoriety to Hannah and Friends, but we have grown into so much more. We are changing the community, building friendships, and improving the lives of individuals with different abilities and are doing it at a place that will be here forever thanks to your generosity and endowment. We would love to show you how tremendous of an impact you’ve had on Hannah and Friends and this community that I invite you to visit Hannah and Friends and take a tour when you are in South Bend. Continue...
Jon Bon Jovi helps raise money for
Hannah and Friends in New York City
Additional Photos from the Gala with Coach Weis and Jon Bon Jovi
Miles from the Sideline
A Mother's Journey with her Special Needs Daughter
By Maura Weis
Learn more about Miles from the Sideline
Maura Weis discusses "Different Abilities"
I would like to share with you the phrase that I like to use instead of disabilities. The phrase is “different abilities”. I say this because I know first hand how people with so called “disabilities” really just have different abilities. My daughter Hannah has global delays and was originally diagnosed with Autism so she fits in the disabilities category. Now let me tell you what she has done in her 12 years with disabilities.
Hannah has taught me how to truly love someone unconditionally. She has taught me patience. She has deepened my faith in God. She has inspired me to write a book about our journey together. She has inspired me and Charlie to help others in need and not just think of ourselves by starting our organization Hannah and Friends. All of these lessons I have learned thru a child who couldn’t say “mommy” until she was 9 years old. The lessons learned through our friends with different abilities are what God has put us on earth for. Their lives are very difficult and they are not given much credit for having the hardships of mental or physical limitations. They work harder than any of us and they manage to be grateful and happy. How many of us can say the same?
Many people I am sure have felt bad for us for having a child with disabilities but I say “we are the lucky ones”. God has chosen to give us the gift of Hannah, our special angel who keeps life in proper perspective.
As she grows, so do I. The thing that always gets me is the public’s perception of a person who has different abilities. You would think with all of the awareness that is out there about people with Autism or Global delays that they would be more compassionate. Yet this is not really the case. I know people do not like talking about this, but as Hannah’s mom I can tell you it needs to be addressed. I have been in stores where people stare at my daughter and judge her and it hurts. To me, she is 100% perfect in every way. She is not the one with the problem. She may have a melt down and not one person will smile a compassionate smile or offer any assistance. Can you imagine having your child have problems and now you have to deal with these types of situations?
This is one of the reasons we started Hannah and Friends. We want to change the mind set of “normal people.” We want them to know that people with disabilities are people too. If a person has autism it does not mean that they do not have feelings, they do, they just cannot communicate them to us all of the time. Communication is a key issue for many people with different abilities. Can you imagine going one day without speaking? Now can you imagine how difficult it is for them everyday. Compassion is here in our community or we would not be able to build our farm in South Bend so soon.
Read "Perfect Souls" by Maura Weis
View Photos of Coach Weis' visit with soldiers in Germany and the Middle East
