Kevin Guice has Cerebral Palsy and uses a motorized wheelchair for mobility and independence. Despite his severe disability and health problems, Kevin always focuses not only on his love of family and friends, but also how he can give back to his community on the whole -- and always with a smile on his face and a positive attitude.
For example, Kevin does presentations with his service dog, Nina, educating different organizations in the community about how service dogs help alternatively-abled citizens; how he got Nina, and all about “service dog etiquette.” Additionally, he makes presentations for Orange County's chapter of UCP (United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County), our local school district (Orange Unified School District), for which he has done presentations at the request of teachers for individual classrooms, and the school psychologists (a total of about 35 mental health professionals in all). Kevin also continues to represent Canine Assistants (the Alpharetta, Georgia organization that provided him his “service dog”).
And Kevin still finds the time, the energy, and commitment to give still more back to his community. Kevin has served as a youth ambassador for the “CHOC Walk” fundraiser for Children’s Hospital, Orange County. Kevin personally raised 850 dollars for one of the walks, logged in over thirty hours of community service for the Public Service Announcement, the promotional video, and radio interviews. Kevin’s work has had an impact. The Children’s Hospital funding drives have raised one million dollars this year, and his scout troop’s efforts in just one charity alone have earned 4,500 dollars this year, as well. Now a 17-year-old Boy Scout (currently working on his Eagle project), Kevin finds time and makes the effort to contribute to his community as an Extra Class Amateur radio operator, Red Cross Volunteer, member of Children's Hospital of Orange County Youth Advisory Counsel, and Kid Chair of the 2005 CHOC Walk around Disneyland fundraiser. Since 2000, Kevin Guice has contributed nearly 1000 hours of community service via the Boy Scouts, UCP Orange County, Canine Assistants (Alpharetta, Georgia), American Red Cross, and Children's Hospital of Orange County.
Even though Kevin Guice must struggle with severe disabilities, he still finds the heart and the strength to overcome his afflictions and contribute to the betterment of his community. This makes Kevin a true hometown hero to us all.
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