Weaver rewarded for efforts
A certificate was presented to Don Weaver by Kiwanis president Jim Maxwell at a meeting Thursday.
Weaver received the award for his work in raising money for Riley Children's Hospital.
Local businesses contribute coffee and donuts to the cause. Weaver and a group of volunteers take the items to the eastbound rest area in Plainfield. They distribute the coffee and donuts to travelers from 7 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.
"The purpose is safety," said Weaver, "to keep the drivers awake, so no decaffeinated coffee is served."
A bucket is placed at the site for travelers to make donations.
"The coffee and donuts are free, but donations are accepted," said Weaver.
This was the fifth year for the fundraiser. The past two years Weaver and the Kiwanis organization has raised and donated roughly $3,000 to the hospital.
Riley is considered among the best in children's hospitals in the country because it embraces excellence, its Web site said.
Five of its specialty programs have been ranked among the top 30 children's hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report's 2008 edition. It is 12th in neonatal care; 14th in respiratory care; 16th in digestive disorders; 25th in cancer; and 26th in neurology and neurosurgery, the hospital's Web site (rileychildrenshospital.com) said.
Nationally distributed Child Magazine has ranked them 11th overall out of nearly 250 children's hospitals in the country. Riley is the only children's hospital in Indiana to be recognized in any category by the magazine.
Children are transported around the hospital in the little red wagons depicted in pictures. There are custom-made wagons with a place for an IV.
"That is what motivates us," said Weaver.
He has been a member of Kiwanis since 1985 and resides in Greencastle.