"I now realize that while I was picking Butch up, he was also picking me up as a fan and his strength and optimism have provided me inspiration throughout my life!”
— Sean Fitzsimmons '91
One of Middlebury’s longest service traditions is the special relationship that the College shares with Butch Varno. Butch is a Middlebury native with cerebral palsy. Back in 1960, Roger Ralph ’63, saw Butch's grandmother struggling to push Butch in his wheel chair through snow and mud on the way home from a football game, and offered to pick them up. Little did Roger know that “picking up Butch” would become a 48-year tradition that continues today.
Reilly column
appears again in
Sports Illustrated
The much-publicized Sports Illustrated column by Rick Reilly, “Picking Up Butch,” appeared again in SI this fall as part of a collection of Reilly's best work. The column ran in the issue dated October 1. The piece originally ran in the issue for March 10, 2003. The best-of version includes an update with info on the current Butch Varno Initiative.
CLICK HERE to read the original article. |
Butch’s story has drawn national attention, inspiring coverage in Sports Illustrated (see box), ESPN, and at the Emmy Awards. The deep and abiding friendships that have developed over the years between Butch and countless Middlebury volunteers and student-athletes are truly remarkable. As a fan, a friend, and an inspiration, Butch has picked us up in ways we never imagined. Butch Needs Your Help
On March 16, 2007, the apartment that Butch shared with his mother, Helen, was flooded in ankle-deep water. With help from Butch’s friends at Middlebury, the Varnos were able to find transitional housing, supported by the Middlebury Congregational Church.
Without a long-term solution in sight, Middlebury College responded to the crisis by offering to renovate a house that would include a handicapped accessible apartment for the Varnos. The College has donated half of the $400,000 renovation costs up front, and has invited the Varnos to stay as long as needed. Additionally, the College intends to endow a Community Response Fund that will initially be used meet the needs of Butch and Helen well into the future.
The timing and success of this initiative is critical— these life-changing disruptions have occurred as Butch and Helen are aging and their adaptive abilities are more at risk. Butch celebrated his 60th birthday last November and Helen celebrated her 77th just last month.
We need your help to raise:
- $200,000 to finance apartment renovations;
- $200,000 to endow a Community Response Fund to meet the needs of Butch and Helen.
How Can You Help?
Please note that all these efforts will also help us as we look ahead to 2010 when we will be celebrating 50 years of Picking Up Butch!
For More Information, Contact:
Russ Reilly, emeritus athletic director and former men’s basketball coach, reilly@middlebury.edu
Tiffany Nourse Sargent ’79, director, Alliance for Civic Engagement at Middlebury, tiffanys@middlebury.edu
Patrick Berry ’91, major gifts officer, pberry@middlebury.edu
Kristy Laramee Kerin ’01, senior annual giving officer, kkerin@middlebury.edu