Butch Varno Team

Butch and some of his many Middlebury College friends.

Butch's Team
One the longest service traditions enjoyed by the College, locally, is our commitment to Butch Varno, an adult with boundless energy and enthusiasm to offer, despite his cerebral palsy and confinement to a wheel chair.

Volunteers enjoy a flexible but long-term commitment. Transportation, accessibility training, and support for activities are available. Butch lives within walking distance of the campus, and volunteers typically spend 1-2 hours per week with him. Volunteers can also receive training if they'd like to be authorized to drive the College's wheelchair accessible van.

VIDEO: Click here to view the Emmy Award winning video produced by ESPN's SPORTSCENTER (2003), "Picking Up Butch!" [Duration: 7:10; Windows Media Player. Alternate mode, click here for Quick Time version.]

Volunteer Needs for 2009-10:

Seeking a few new volunteers to take Butch for walks and do other social kinds of activities
Seeking volunteers to specifically help with physical therapy exercises on a weekly basis. Volunteers will be trained by Butch's physical therapists and work with Butch under his PT's guidance.

Background
It all began back in 1960 when a former student, Roger Ralph '63, saw Butch's grandmother struggling to push Butch's wheel chair through the snow and mud on the way home from a football game. The student offered a ride and "picking up Butch" quickly became a valued routine. There has even been coverage in Sports Illustrated and ESPN, including a video that won an Emmy Award (see above link). Butch was later presented with his own Emmy on the ice of Kenyon Arena in front of throngs of friends and hockey fans.

Recently, a celebration occurred during Reunion 2008 when the Class of 1963 made Butch an honorary member of their class! Click here for coverage of this event.

Students who befriend Butch develop a lasting bond through such as activities as bringing him to sporting events and other on campus activities, helping him practice physical movement, taking him for walks around Town or rides on the ACTR bus, reading with him, and helping him practice basic living skills--but mostly, just by being a friend and hanging out together.

The core of the tradition connecting Midd students with Butch centers around our athletes. The fall starts with players from the Men's basketball team, who bring him to home football games. And the long winter months are eagerly anticipated, as football players pick up Butch and bring him to home basketball games. Even other athletes, such as Track Team members, join in on the fun. Butch loves to cheer on "his" teams and is a most dedicated and loyal Panther fan! These connections with the College are augmented with individual students, who meet with Butch, weekly. These students are also of critical importance and even helped Butch earn his G.E.D.!

Community Response Fund Initiative
When Butch and his mom were flooded out of their apartment, an initiative was launched to help meet such community needs, now and into the future! Click here to learn more. You can also make an online gift to the Community Response Fund. Enter the dollar amount of your gift under "Other" and put "Community" in the "Please Specify" box.

Questions? Interested in Volunteering? Contact:
Tiffany Nourse Sargent '79, Director
Alliance for Civic Engagement
tiffanys@middlebury.edu
802-443-5082

Contact Butch!
Click here to e-mail a message for Butch as he would love to hear from his friends!
[Please note that this message will be sent in care of Tiffany Nourse Sargent '79, Director of the Alliance for Civic Engagement.]

Alliance for Civic Engagement

About ACE

Activism & Advocacy

Anti-Poverty Initiatives

Community Service

Community-Connected Teaching & Research

Democracy & Citizenship

International Initiatives

ACE News & Events

Funding Opportunities