The Exchange Club of Ocean City donated five Mobi Chair beach access wheelchairs enabling people with physical challenges to easily access the beach and ocean. From left are Mayor Jay Gillian, Exchange Club President Frank Faverzani, John Lugo and Mark Kampf, both of the Exchange Club, City Administrator Jim Mallon, Scott Denney, Executive Assistant to Bob Barr, and Bob Barr (front).
The Exchange Club of Ocean City donated five high-tech “Mobi Chairs” to the city yesterday, to help beachgoers with physical challenges and other individuals.
“It’s almost impossible to go onto the beach with a conventional chair,” said Fourth Ward Councilman Bob Barr, who uses a wheelchair. “I would definitely try one of these chairs.”
Exchange Club President Frank Faverzani said the chairs represent the latest technology in beach access products used to help all people to enjoy Ocean City’s national award-winning beaches.
“These chairs are designed to help people onto the beach, but because they float, also to help them into the water,” Faverzani said.
Faverzani said the club raised more than $22,000 at its annual Roger LaRossa Golf Outing. In addition to donating to Covenant House and Operation First Response, the club used the funds to purchase the five Mobi Chairs, he said.
The high quality, floating beach wheelchairs provide a much easier transition from boardwalk to beach and ultimately to the water, Barr said. The chairs will be used by people with disabilities, children, adults with special needs and older people. In addition to beach use, the chairs can also be used to assist people into a pool, such as at the Aquatic and Fitness Center.
The Exchange Club of Ocean City was chartered in 1947 by local business leaders who wanted to exchange ideas on making their community better. It was nationally founded in 1911, making it the country’s oldest American service organization operating exclusively in the United States, according to its website.
“The Exchange Club has long been a leader in service to our community, and today’s donation of these chairs is another chapter in a great history,” Mayor Jay Gillian said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the job they are doing for Ocean City.”
Mayor Gillian and Councilman Barr were on hand for a brief presentation ceremony Monday afternoon at the Ocean City Civic Center.
“These chairs will play a big role in our plans to re-think beach access for everyone,” Gillian said. “That is going to be a priority moving forward.”
Other representatives of the Exchange Club at the event were John Lugo and Mark Kampf.
For more information on the Exchange Club of Ocean City, visit its website at 
