Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Members of the Valparaiso University men's basketball team are used to being heroes on the court, drawing cheers from fans after making a great play or hitting the game winning shot. On October 20, however, they inspired the same reaction during a visit to Opportunity Enterprises, Inc.

The basketball team, accompanied by coaches and managers, toured the organization, which is a non-profit whose mission is to promote self-sufficiency and life choices for challenged individuals. They visited various departments of O.E., including Assistive Technology, Artistic Vision, and Outsource Solutions. During the tour, they got the chance to meet the everyday heroes of Opportunity Enterprises, interacting with clients, posing for pictures, and signing autographs. ?Two things stood out: the excitement and enthusiasm this visit brought to our consumers and the personal character strength of all the players. It was great to see them at ease and enjoying themselves as they took the time to get to know our consumers individually," said Gary Mitchell, President/CEO of Opportunity Enterprises.

Assistant Coach Bryce Drew, son of head coach Homer and a former Valpo star himself, ended the visit by giving a brief speech to the crowd that gathered. The already lively environment grew even louder as Bryce passed along a special message from his dad and invited the clients to a game this season. Clients are already looking forward to this great chance to reconnect with their favorite players, and all involved agree this event will continue for upcoming seasons.

?The Valpo team really enjoyed our visit to O.E. Our players appreciate all the work O.E. and its clients do for Northwest Indiana, and we look forward to making this a regular event each season," said Drew.

Opportunity Enterprises, Inc. welcomes tours for any interested individuals or organizations. For more information or to schedule a tour, please call (219) 464-9621.