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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER, 17 ONTARIO TODAY Mrs, Velleman cuddles 2Va-year-old Sharon Test Of Love HEN Leonard Velleman re- tired from his work as a labor consultant in 1951, he was 60 years old, his three children were grown and on their own, and he was looking forward to the idle pleasures that come with retire- ment, But his wife, Leonora, had other ideas, Mrs, Velleman, a registered nurse and a woman of deep com- passion and great energy, talked her husband into a project to help seriously retarded infants, Once convinced, he threw into the plan the active ability that had made him a success at his job, The result was a Babies Convalescent Home at Halloway, and to the Home came babies heart-breaking- ly handicapped with some serious physical disability as well as men- tal retardation, The demand for the Home's services grew too large for its capacity, and the Vellemans moved to their present location at Plainfield, six miles north of Belleville, They bought an old hotel and converted it to their needs, Until 1955 the Vellemans per- " gsonally sustained the operating deficits, but then the burden be- came too heavy for their means. Belleville citizens and other in- terested persons came to their assistance, and the home was in- corporated as a non-profit or- ganization, operated by an elected board of governors, Until 1959, the home was sup- ported primarily by parents, guar- dians, some clubs, firms and organizations, Last year the pro- ject, now known as the Ontario Homes for Mentally Retarded Children, was recognized by the Cntario Hospital Services Com- mission as a contract hospital eligible to receive financial assis- tance on a one-year contract basis. The hospital receives $6.50 a day to cover operating expenses an amount which does not allow for the servicing of a considerable mortgage, nor for increase of facilities nor for dépreciation, Now in its first public cam- paign for funds, the home is seek- ing $175,000, Of this, $25,000 will go to wipe out existing debt; $50, 000 will take care of this year's operating deficit; and the $100,000 balance will go into an endowment fund and, eventually, towards en- largement of facilities, Campaign headquarters is Box 600, Postal Station F, Toronto 5. The list of honorary campaign di- rectors includes the names of busi- ness men like Grant Horsey, presi- dent of Salada-Shirriff-Horsey, and J.C. Lockwood, president of Lever Bros, Ltd; sports figures like Foster Hewitt and Lew Hayman; men in public life like Senator David Croll and John Winter- meyer, : The only stipulation for entry to the home is that the child must have a physical defect as well as being mentally retarded. "People don't realize," says Mrs, Velleman, "that three out of every 100 chil- dren are born mentally retarded, And it's so hard to refuse them when they come --- oh, so hard" The Vellemans have worked hard to give the home a family rather than an institutional atmos. phere, "When we first moved here," Mr, Velleman recalls, "the hotel didn't have any light, heating or electricity, The neighbors thought we were millionaires the way we fixed everything up. I guess they didn't realize the sacrifices we had to make." | PAGE TWENTY-ONE GET YOUR COMPLETE and this official sire SPALDING VARSITY FOOTBALL (Regular retail value $7.00) CI \ (0, @ A BOTH | => FOR ONLY 290 You change the oil in your crankcase for winter, You fill the radiator with antifreeze, You switch to snow tires, This year, winterize your battery, too, Make sure it will stand up under the power- draining winter months ahead, Get the Willard Winta-Charge and an official Spalding Varsity Football from your Willard Battery Dealer--both for only $3.90! This service includes a com- 'plete inspection and re- charge, brings your battery to tip-top condition, So, get the Willard Winta-Charge and your gift football today! -- See your nearest Willard Battery Dealer NOW!