About Us

Click here to read Christy's Story 

     Dick Dunphy's family started this charity to honor Dick and continue his efforts to help children with special needs.   The charity was founded on 5/4/07 shortly after he passed away following a tough fight with cancer. He spent most of his lifetime helping children and adults with disabilities and he loved the idea of a charity in his name. He spent a lot of time in his garage with children in need, teaching them handy skills.  He built a three wheel bike, converted a golf cart adding a lift, made a bird house building jig for a student with Down Syndrome, created an apparatus to hold a tripod and communication device on a wheelchair, and adapted boats for wheelchair access just to name a few.  He and his wife, Fran, also owned a business for 10 years that made homes and businesses wheelchair accessible.  He had a unique ability to get others to believe in themselves and do things they did not think they could do. Dick's daughter, Mary Kostka, is a school Occupational Therapist in WA and his daughter, Christy, is a Special Education Teacher in IL.  They are acutely aware of the needs of children in their own communities and beyond.

      Initially when Mary first ran into the mother of the child that we wanted to get a three wheel bike for she was moved to tears when she realized what we were up to.  Her son has autism and has been experiencing a lot of stress. We are hoping this bike will give him some joy, and as Christy says, "wind in your face". 

Dick Dunphy’s Biography

        Dick was born on Oct. 14th, 1940 in Trenton, New Jersey.   Grandson of Irish immigrants, he grew up in the house his father and older brothers built in Bordentown, New Jersey. As a child Dick spent most of his time enjoying the outdoors, exploring the woods and spending time with his dogs. At the age of 12, his family moved to San Diego, California. He enjoyed football, auto mechanics, metal and wood shop.

         When Dick was 17, he joined the Army Airborne (1958-1961) and was an active member of 82nd Airborne Skydiving Club. He was very proud of earning  U.S. Parachute Assoc. lic. number D-40. When he returned from the Army he taught skydiving at Lake Elsinore, California where he met his soon to be wife, Frances. They were married in Alhambra, California,  and had many adventures skydiving together. He also built and raced dune buggies at Lake Elsinore. Dick and Fran started their family in 1965 with the birth of their daughter Mary. Thirteen months later, their second daughter Christy would join the family. In 1975, Dick and his family moved from Covina, California to Romeoville, Illinois.

          Throughout his life, he worked at many different jobs and started several businesses involving his mechanical skills. The last 10 years before retiring, Dick and Fran had a business making homes and businesses accessible to people with disabilities called Facilis. This was by far his most satisfying work. Retiring in 1999, Dick and Fran moved to Leavenworth, Washington to  live with his daughter, Mary and her family. Even in retirement, he continued to help people with disabilities, especially children.

      Dick will always be remembered for his adventurous and playful spirit, sense of humor and love of life. He had a unique ability to inspire people to believe in themselves and do things that they did not think they could do. He loved to play practical jokes and issue nicknames that would last a lifetime. Telling stories of his crazy antics and being out in nature (especially on a boat) were his favorite pastimes. He always had time to teach neighborhood teenagers mechanical skills  and to “fix anything” with his creative problem solving skills. Most of all he had deep love and appreciation for his family, friends, and pets.