Do you have willpower?

HOLYOKE, Mass. (Mass Appeal) - The Willpower Foundation helps people with different abilities reach their full capability. There is a story behind the name - and lucky us - we are joined by the inspiration for the organization. To fill us in are Maria Burke, co-founder of the foundation and her son Will Burke, six-year-old son of Maria and Craig and namesake for the willpower foundation.

Will is the namesake for the WillPower Foundation in so much as his spirit and ability to lead a fully abled life inspires our organization mission: to provide financial support to local families and individuals with disabilities in Western Massachusetts when private insurance or other institutions do not.

The WillPower Foundation exists to lend financial assistance to families and individuals with little to none of the bureaucracy normally associated with this process. Since its inception in 2008, the WillPower Foundation has granted more than $12,000 to families in Western Massachusetts to help them meet the varied needs of their family members.

William (Will) Michael Burke was born with a rare brain malformation called schizencephaly. His condition limits his gross motor skills significantly meaning he cannot move about by himself and needs several adaptive devices to maintain a high quality of life.

To get involved in WillPower Fundraiser on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 7:00 pmemail tlach2006@yahoo.com or call (413) 545-5040.

For more information on the WillPower Foundation, located at 290 Cabot Street in Holyoke, visit willpowerfoundation.org or call (413) 533-7131.