SAN ANTONIO, TX – Gordon Hartman, who since 2005 has devoted his energies to helping the special-needs community, today announced new Morgan’s Inclusion Initiative to coordinate planning, fundraising and communication among all Morgan’s Wonderland-associated projects.
In addition to world-renowned Morgan’s Wonderland theme park, the list of facilities designed and built with inclusion in mind includes Morgan’s Inspiration Island splash park, Morgan’s Wonderland Sports complex, Morgan’s Wonderland Camp and new ventures under construction such as the Multi-Assistance Center at Morgan’s Wonderland, or The MAC. For more information, visit www.InclusionStartsHere.com.
“More than a decade ago, we opened Morgan’s Wonderland, a first-class theme park the likes of which exist nowhere else in the world,” said Hartman, a former homebuilder who sold his business to champion inclusion. “We really didn’t know what to expect, but the popularity and acceptance of the park spurred us to do even more. We went on to build a splash park, a sports complex and a summer camp-type facility that operates year-round.
“Meanwhile, other ambitious projects are moving forward. We’ve got a lot going on, and there’s so much more that we want to accomplish. So, to centralize achievement of our mission, we created Morgan’s Inclusion Initiative to coordinate among our ‘family’ members.”
Morgan’s Inclusion Initiative is a 501c3 non-profit organization, Hartman added, and all donations will directly benefit Morgan’s Wonderland-related endeavors. It will look to the community – caring individuals, organizations and foundations – for continued financial support to expand its mission of inclusion, Hartman explained. Such generosity will help defray costs and will go a long way toward ensuring long-term success for Morgan’s Wonderland-related ventures as they serve those with and without special needs for years to come.
Hartman said the stated mission is “to improve the quality of life for individuals of all ages and all abilities through initiatives that produce fully-inclusive, Ultra-Accessible™ experiences.” He also noted that Morgan’s Inclusion Initiative’s vision is “to spark cultural change in order to create a more-inclusive world” and that “empower, include, educate and innovate” are the values that Morgan’s Inclusion Initiative espouses.
Hartman and his wife, Maggie, created Morgan’s Wonderland as a result of their 27-year-old daughter Morgan’s inspiration. “Her soaring spirit despite physical and cognitive special needs since birth created within us a deep desire to help children and adults needing assistance,” said Gordon Hartman.
Non-profit Morgan’s Wonderland offers more than 25 attractions including wheelchair-accessible rides, playgrounds and gardens for the enjoyment of guests young and older. Since grand opening in April 2010, Morgan’s Wonderland has welcomed approximately 2 million guests from all 50 states and 76 other countries. And, the park has kept its pledge to admit anyone with a special need free of charge. It’s located in Northeast San Antonio, a half-mile west of IH 35 at the intersection of Wurzbach Parkway and Thousand Oaks Drive. To learn more, visit www.MorgansWonderland.com, or call (210) 495-5888.
“We are profoundly grateful to the organizations and individuals that have given generously to support Morgan’s Wonderland and our related endeavors,” Hartman said. “With Morgan’s Inclusion Initiative, we’re looking to generate sustained funding and support that will ensure success for years to come. We’re truly just getting started in carrying out our mission of inclusion.”
Ultra-Accessible™ refers to removing both physical and economic barriers that confront children and adults with special needs. This means that those with and without special needs can come together in a fully-inclusive environment for fun and a better understanding of one another.
