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V O L U N T E E R O F T H E Y E A R
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WILLIAM M. HULL
Heart st ri ngs Communi t y Foundat i on
The Capital Group, LLC
Questar Capital
Integrating people with developmental disabilities into the
community is priority No. 1 for William Mack Hull and his wife,
Anne, founders of the Heartstrings Community Foundation in
Overland Park, Kansas.
Mr. Hull is a principal of the Capital Group, LLC, also in
Overland Park.
When the Hulls realized that there were no career paths available
to people like their two sons, who have special needs, they
created Heartstrings, which consists of six businesses that
employ about 50 adults with moderate to severe disabilities in
normal jobs such as sales and delivery.
The businesses include a specialty candy packaging and delivery
service and ve retail stores.
All are convenient to transportation, and give the workers ample
opportunities for interacting with customers and avoiding social
isolation.
The employees are so proud of their efforts and the reward of
friendships. They want to be called upon as friends because they
have difculty doing the calling, Mr. Hull said.
Heartstrings success has inspired the Hulls to develop plans and
licensing to expand and replicate the model.
The employees are just like everyone else, he said.
We all have our special needs, and they shouldnt be ignored.
Think about your own, and think about others.