Rehab Center Hosts '70s Band America at Fundraiser

It was all peace, love and daisies on Thursday night at the McNease Convention Center, when the West Texas Rehab Center (WTRC) brought in ‘70s rock band America as part of their annual Dinner Show.

Over 550 tickets were sold to businesses, donors and individuals in support of the center’s services, which seeks to offer therapy to all in need, regardless of income or insurance status.

“West Texas Rehab is the only rehab center in this part of Texas that will help children and adults with their physical therapy and issues whether they have insurance or not,” said Donor Relations Director Mark Clark. “It started in Abilene in 1953…and since we opened our doors we have not turned one person away because they did not have insurance or couldn’t pay for our services.”

Those services go above and beyond physical therapy, extending to occupational speech therapies, audiology for hearing aids, prosthetics and orthotics.

Bronte resident Donna Poehls was at the event for the first time. Expressing the meaning of the event for her, she said. “My son used the program. For me, it’s very important.” Poehls’ son had visited the center for speech therapy several years ago. For Donna, it was important to give back to the center that helped her family.

Approximately 30 percent of the services provided at WTRC are funded through the Donor Sponsorship Program, which makes events like the annual Dinner Show integral to the center’s survival.

The dinner and concert on Thursday night was the 21st the WTRC has hosted, and was also a celebration of the center’s 60th birthday. Each year, dinner is catered and some sort of entertainment is brought in, usually in the form of bands from the ‘60s and ‘70s who are still touring and who’s prices are within range.

“My wife is like a walking ‘70s and ‘80s rock encyclopedia,” Clark says. She’s the one who suggested America as this year’s entertainment act.

The band, which formed in 1970 in London, isn’t without its local ties. One of the group’s founding members, Dan Peek is a former San Angelo resident and attended Central High.

Peek was a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, and contributed his musical skill on a number of instruments to America albums throughout his time with the band.

Of their many hits, Peek is known to have helped write “Don’t Cross the River,” “Lonely People,” “Today’s the Day” and “Woman Tonight,” on which he also sang lead vocals.

San Angelo native Dave Stinnett remembers Peek from high school. “He was a great musician, everybody knew him,” Stinnett said. “He was instrumental in all of their hits.”

Stinnett came to the event with a group of friends for a night of fun in support of a good cause.

“It’s very important to support them and what they do in the community, especially for children,” he said.

The funds raised for the event will be used to cover just about everything, from expenses to training and equipment, and also for helmets aiding the growth and formation of babies born with misshapen skulls.

“One story that we tell right now, and it’s unfortunate that we have to tell it, but there are babies that are born with a flat spot on their head or they may not have a normal-shaped head, “ said Clark. “In our orthotics department we have cranial helmets that they can wear to help shape their head correctly, so they can lead a normal life. Those helmets cost about $3,000 apiece and Medicaid won’t pay for those…we’ve given about 18 of those away this year…this money would go to help that.”

By the afternoon of the show, WTRC had sold 550 tickets, some of which were sold to businesses and groups for a table price. Tickets were $175 apiece, or a table of 10 cost between $1,500 and $3,000, depending on location.  

The event featured a gourmet sit-down meal catered by A Catered Affair, a cocktail hour, and a couple of hours of musical entertainment.

America played all of their top hits to a cheering crowd, including “A Horse With no Name,” “Ventura Highway,” and several others.

“We’re entering that part of the show where they say ‘Oh, I forgot they do that song,’” said lead singer Gerry Beckley about 30 minutes into the show. “We’re going to do a few more from that collection now.”

The band played until 9:30 p.m., wrapping up yet another successful year at the WTRC Dinner Show.

For more information on the West Texas Rehab Center, visit the website at: http://www.westtexasrehab.org/