RELATED: All the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award finalists
A friendship made a decade ago has endured — and endeared, creating a heartwarming story. Logan Houptley and Mikayla Resh, children when they met, now are young adults who have a special bond that has led to the formation of a special cause.
At the age of 10, Houptley met Resh in his third-grade classroom after moving to a new school district in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Resh was bravely facing the challenges presented by multiple disabilities that included brain damage, cerebral palsy, seizure disorder along with blindness and deafness. Houptley didn’t see those challenges when he looked at Resh. Instead, he simply saw another child in need of compassion and kindness. Fellow classmates saw Resh in the same light.
Collectively, they made sure she knew that she belonged.
“I just found it so fascinating in third grade that the children who had grown up with Mikayla to that point already felt so comfortable with her and included her in the everyday life of the classroom,” Houptley, 20, said. “I just took to that.”
That experience stuck with Houptley. How could it not? And so the friendship continued — and continues still, along the way leading Houptley in 2010 to help found “Mikayla’s Voice.” The organization is dedicated to inspiring children and young adults to embrace individuals of all abilities, while championing cultural change by teaching communities about the importance of inclusion and acceptance. When Mikayla’s Voice was founded, Houptley served as co-president of the Junior Board of Directors until 2015, when he became a member of the Board of Directors.
Houptley, now living in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is proudly representing “Mikayla’s Voice” as one of four finalists for The NASCAR Foundation’s 2016 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award Presented by Nationwide. The award, which honors volunteers who work for children’s causes in their communities, will be presented by France — The NASCAR Foundation’s Chairwoman Emeritus and founder – on Sept. 27 during The NASCAR Foundation’s inaugural Honors Gala at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. The foundation will donate $100,000 to the charity represented by the award winner and $25,000 to each of the other three finalists’ charities. The award winner will be determined via an online vote now underway and running through Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. (ET) at NASCAR.com/Award.
Friends Mikayla Resh and Logan Houptley work on a finger painting together.
Houptley always has been a strong advocate for Resh and other children facing similar challenges. As a founding member of “Mikayla’s Voice,” Logan has spoken at national conventions about a book written on Resh’s life, promoted inclusion in sports and recreation through “Tri for Inclusion” triathlons and led a fundraising efforts for the organization.
Through books, school assemblies, recreational activities, cultural initiatives, and more, “Mikayla’s Voice” demonstrates vividly the importance of inclusion. Approximately 25,000 children have been impacted by the organization’s school assemblies; there have been 440 participants in Tri for Inclusion triathlons which pair able-bodied athletes with physically challenged athletes; and 14,000 children have been impacted by “Wheels of Friendship,” an initiative that allows children to paint with the wheels of a wheelchair and the paws of service dogs.
On Sunday, Houptley will attend the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway where he’ll be cheering for his favorite driver, Tony Stewart, who is making his final start at Pocono.
Most importantly, Houptley will be representing Mikayla’s Voice, meeting with media and other fans to talk about inclusion and acceptance – and the friendship which continues to chart his personal course.
“In terms of inclusion, I think we’ve made a big difference with ‘Mikayla’s Voice,’ ” Houptley said, “but in terms of the big picture, yes, we’ve made some strides there’s still a long way to go. … I’m definitely in for the long haul as far as I can tell.”
To learn more about this year’s finalists for The NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award Presented by Nationwide, and to cast your vote today, go to www.NASCAR.com/Award. Voting is open now until Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. ET.
