City News

“Imagine how surprised our senior citizen will be when the volunteer who picks them up is the Mayor of Winter Park,” said Tom Porter, Executive Director of ITNOrlando.

Click here to read the full article.

Tom Porter, Executive Director, ITNOrlando

Ann Nicolson

Ann Nicolson was the first ITNOrlando volunteer to drive for us, even if it was just “pretend.” One of the local news shows did a story about us and Ann drove for the television camera weeks before we gave our first “real” ride. Over one hundred times since then, Ann got into her car, picked up a customer and drove them to their destination. Ann, like all of our volunteers, was a very generous person.

One of Ann’s first riders was Eleanor Irvine. They discovered they had a lot in common and quickly became good friends. Ann would drive them to lunch, to look at the newest stores and restaurants that had recently opened and to evening social outings. On the news clip, Ann said that she liked to drive and mentioned that she wanted to ensure she had a place in someone’s car when she could no longer drive. That place was in my car on January 11, 2008, sooner than any of us expected and it was from a hospital to Ann’s temporary home in a Winter Park rehabilitation center. Ann passed away on Thursday, January 31, 2008.

The following Monday, I picked up Eleanor Irvine and we drove to the memorial service. I was not surprised when several of Ann’s lifelong friends and family members noted her many interests, her sense of humor and her zest for living. I was not surprised when they recounted the many ways that she helped others and generously gave of herself. And I was not surprised when Ann’s daughter Lucy told me she learned generosity from her mom and directed that the mileage credits Ann earned go to Eleanor and that Ann’s car go to ITN.

It’s sad knowing that I will no longer talk to Ann or see her smiling face at our volunteer celebrations. I’m sure that those of you who knew her will miss her, too. I hope that Ann’s family (and I believe Ann) will take comfort in knowing that she is still giving generously to our customers and still providing rides to Eleanor Irvine.

Jennifer Knight-Ari, East Orlando Sun

Taking away car keys, not mobility.

Click here to read the full article.