Press

January 15, 2006
Mary's Family visits the Governor and First Lady
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Mary’s Family, Disability group chosen to march in Virginia’s Inaugural Parade, also first family to attend Governor’s Open House

Mary’s Family, a respite care program for families who have children with special needs, bravely marched through the rain of The Inaugural Parade held in Williamsburg, immediately after the swearing in ceremony. They were chosen to participate in the parade to represent all of the disability community in the Commonwealth.

This morning Martha Toomey, the Founding Director, her husband Jeff McCord and son Jeffrey McCord, were the first family to attend the Governor’s Open House. They started waiting in line at 11:30 and the doors opened at 1:00. Jeffrey brought a Mary’s Family t-shirt to give to Annella Kaine, the 10 year old daughter of the Governor and First Lady. Ms. Toomey brought a house warming gift to Ms. Holton, a bird feeder.

Ms. Toomey stated, “It is very important for us, as disability advocates and the parents of a child with special needs, to be the first family to visit the Governor and his wife in their new home. We are pleased that disability will be a chief concern for
Governor Kaine and look forward to helping him as he tackles the state budget issues that directly affect our own child, and all children with special needs.”

Mary’s Family is the only non-profit private respite organization in the Virginia Piedmont region, and offers a variety of support activities including therapeutic recreation camps, family retreats and individual help. They also publish a quarterly journal Let Me Tell You, a creative way for families to tell their own stories.

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