Department of Veteran Affairs
Puget Sound Health Care System
To Whom It May Concern:
It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I recommend Al Foxx as a speaker for an organization or agency. Mr. Foxx recently spoke at our October 2005 Disability Employment Awareness Month diversity program at the Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, sponsored by the Equal Employment Opportunity Office, and hosted by our People with Disabilities Special Emphasis Program.
Employees and patients at our Seattle division had the opportunity to attend Al’s performance, and each group of attendees found useful and inspirational information in Al’s presentation. Since the program, I have received an overwhelming number of positive comments about Al, and specifically about his ability to address his situation with humor and grace.
Although many of the employees in attendance are health-care providers, and daily work with disabled veteran patients; they expressed a new appreciation of their patients’ experiences, frustrations and triumphs.
Many patients (and specifically those enrolled in our alcohol and drug dependency programs) informed me that they now realized that their own problems seemed minor, when compared to Al’s challenge and successful rehabilitation. These patients mentioned that they planned to chant Al’s mantra “Winners don’t quit, winners don’t quit, winners don’t quit,” if and when they encountered obstacles during their own treatment process.
Most importantly, Al’s message served to remind us of the purpose of our event: that we recognize the intellect, skills, abilities and contributions of people with disabilities; and our commitment to helping them achieve their full inclusion in our workforce.
Sincerely,
Diane B. Anderson, J.D.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Diversity Manager
Brain Injury Association of Washington
Dear Mr. Foxx:
On behalf of all of us at the Brain Injury Association of Washington and the nearly 300 people who attended BIAWA’S Annual Conference on October 17,1998, I want to thank you for the excellent comedy routine that you performed at the conclusion of the conference. Your half hour program was the culmination of a conference that offered education and hope. Your presentation provided comic relief, laughter and insight into not only brain injury, but into life. I hope that you had an opportunity to see the expressions on the faces that you were entertaining. You, through your comedy, touched upon the pain and difficulties that people face in a way that brought laughter and joy.
Thumbs up were evident all around the room.
You touched many lives on October 17th, mine included. Thank you for the gift of laughter that you provided. You are an inspiration and received rave reviews from all in attendance.
If I can assist you in any way, please contact me at 425-895-0047.
With Warmest Regards,
John W. Andrews,
Executive Director
Seattle Medical and Rehabilitation Center
To whom it may concern,
Inspirational comedian Al Foxx performed for our residents here at Seattle Medical and Rehabilitation Center as a special event hosted by the Activities department. The material he covered was drawn from real life situations that our residents were able to relate to.
We appreciated his work and will have him back again.
We recommend him highly as both funny-man and inspirational speaker. He has an uncanny ability to see the humor in everyday human hardships, and people of all kinds can see themselves in his stories.
Sincerely,
Rhonda Soikowski
Delta Rehabilitation Center, Inc
8/25/98
Al Foxx has done a stand-up comedy routine on three occasions for the residents of our nursing home. Our clientele consists of people recovering from traumatic brain injury. Al's humor centers around his personal experience of living with a brain injury. Our residents enjoyed each of his performances and related well to his jokes.
Sincerely,
Beth Bell, Activity Coordinator
Delta Rehabilitation Center
Woodinville Treatment Center
State of Washington, Dept. of Health & Social Services
August 18,2000
Dear Al,
Thank you for your inspirational message to the residents of Woodinville Treatment Center. All of the residents had positive comments and enjoyed the humorous manner in which you described your accident and your rehab program during the past 20 or so years.
I will inform Mrs. Shirley Wallace, my successor at WTC, about your program and availability. I will also keep in touch and let you know what I will be doing in the educational field. Where possible, I will help promote your program and refer you to other educators.
Thanks again and I wish you well in your pursuit of corporate and national audiences.
Sincerely Yours,
John Laxdal,
Educational Coordinator
Woodinville Treatment Center
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